South Carolina’s Stop Light Observations (affectionately called SLO) were one of the very best performances I saw during South Florida’s five-day SunFest music festival earlier this May.
The “southern-retro-electro-rock” six-piece outfit warmed up the main stage and proceeded to rattle my eardrums for just over 30 minutes.
The band consists of lead singer Will Blackburn; songwriter, pianist and synth master John-Keith “Cubby” Culbreth; and Louis Duffie, who handles guitar, percussion, and some more synth (there’s never enough). Rounding out the group is drummer Luke Withers, bass/violinist Coleman Sawyer, and Wyatt Garey on lead guitar.
Some shirts and shoes were missing from the show. There was no time to mind. I was bewildered by their powerful sound and creative control. The boys were constantly shifting, shuffling instruments, jamming on fiddles, guitars, and saxophones. Blackburn spent most of his time offering his throat up to the crowd, front and center, with his eyes tightly shut.
Their single “Smilers of the Night" is a spectral, eerie track. I love the unusual guitar whines and Blackburn’s falsetto warnings. My guess is you will, too. Keep your eyes and ears on this group over the next year. I believe 2015 will be exceptionally good to them.
SIMILAR SONGS
