We are a Sydney, Australian band. We released our debut album "Escape From Tomorrow Today" in May 2004 on Ivy League Records in Australia and on Bittersweet Records in Spain and followed it up in August 2007 with "El Sol" on the same labels. We have had a bit of a revolving door of great musicians coming and going. The current line-up of James, Harry, Graeme and Bruno spent 4 days recording in July 2010 with Tim Kevin recording it as the beginnings of recording album no.3. It wasn't up to scratch so Harry, James and Graeme (Bruno now overseas) started the whole album again in 2011 (keeping just one song from the first sessions) with Tim recording at Oceanic Studio. Mixed at Grey Nurse in Marrickville and Mastered in May 2012. New album called 'I JUST GOT TO BELIEVE' out 14 September 2012.
HISTORY
Two brothers (James and Harry Roden) grew up playing guitar together in Canberra -Australia's planned capital - listening to anything with melody and punch: The Clash, The Who, The Jam, The Sunnyboys, The Kinks, The Stems, The Huxton Creepers, Otis Redding, The Byrds, Motown, soul, punk, pop. After moving to and playing in bands in Sydney (James in the John Reed Club and Harry in Hoolahan) they finally started a band together, asked Danny Allen (Youth Group) to play guitar and some keys and Shane Melder (Sidewinder) to play drums, finished off songs about politics and love, optimism and regret, recorded them with Michael Carpenter on the mixing desk, called it "Escape From Tomorrow Today" and released it on Ivy League Records in Australia and on Bitterweet Records in Spain. They toured like crazy. Shane left the band and so Kit Warhurst (Rocket Science) stepped in on drums for a 2007 tour of Spain and the band brought Bruno Brayovic (Peabody) on the road 'cause Danny couldn't do all the gigs. Complicated?! Yes. Fun? Definitely.
(l-r Danny, Gra, James, Kit, Bruno, Harry at Everyone Out video shoot 2007)
Then The City Lights tried being a rock collective for a while. This meant members were free to come and go but the band never died. The second album featured the Roden brothers joined by Graeme Trewin (ex-Peabody) drums, Bruno Brayovic (Peabody) on guitar, Danny Allen (Youth Group) on guitar and Kit Warhurst (Rocket Science) on drums as well as guests on trumpets, keys and vocals. "El Sol" was recorded at Big Jesus Burger Studios, Surry Hills, Sydney by Trumpy. It was a musical tribute to their time in Spain.
The City Lights finished a January 2009 tour of Spain as a four piece featuring James, Harry, Bruno and Graeme
VIDEO TO HERE TO STAY - FROM 2ND ALBUM "EL SOL"
VIDEO TO EVERYONE OUT- FROM 2ND ALBUM "EL SOL"
VIDEO TO WHAT YOU GONNA DO - FROM 1ST ALBUM "ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW TODAY"
VIDEO TO YOU STAND ACCUSED YOUNG MAN - DEBUT SINGLE AND FROM FIRST ALBUM "ESCAPE FROM TOMORROW TODAY"
VIDEO TO STAMP DUTY (BY THE JOHN REED CLUB- IN 1997 - WHERE CITY LIGHTS BEGAN)
CLICK THE LINK BELOW
STAMP DUTY ON TV SHOW RECOVERY IN 1997
