Sat 4/12 @ 9PM
Two of the hottest local bands will share a bill at the Beachland Ballroom: Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites andthe Modern Electric. It’s not a combination that seems to make sense on paper but the Hi-Lites’ soul hipsters and the Modern Electric’s enthusiastic teen following should make this a high-energy night.
The seven-member Hi-Lites, fronted by dynamic vocalist Brent Wesley, play horn-driven soul music in the classic ’60s/early ’70s style — what’s been dubbed “northern soul.” Though the founding members of the group — bassist Bob Basone and drummer Nick Fritsch — have been kicking around the Akron music scene for years, this band is a new thing. They’re less than three years old, and has really been drawing crowds for the last two years with only a pair of singles out. Expect their debut album sometime this year.
The members of the Modern Electric are younger, but the band itself is considerably more seasoned. The group won the 2008 High School Rock Off at the House of Blues. Instead of basking in their moment of glory and then heading off to college, the members of the Modern Electric used the victory to launch the band onto the local club and concert circuit. Their keyboard-heavy, dramatic pop music contains the DNA of ’70s glitter rock, a style they pay homage to in their ridiculously catchy tune “David Bowie Save Us All.” They released an album in 2009, and have been making tracks available online since. They too have an album in the pipeline for this year.
DJ Alright will be spinning as well.
It’s $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
Both bands are featured in #ThisIsCLE Music Now: Who’s Rocking NE Ohio Today, a photo show devoted to Cleveland music acts on the rise, at Space: ROCK Gallery next door to the Beachland. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5pm.
facebook.com/WesleyBrightAndTheHiLites
