Night Beats

Night Beats

Night Beats at Mount Rainier National Park in 2010.
Background information
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Garage rock, psychedelic rock, soul, surf rock
Years active 2009 — present
Labels Heavenly Recordings
Trouble In Mind
The Reverberation Appreciation Society
Holy Twist Records
Associated acts White Light Fever
The UFO Club
Night Sun
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Website thenightbeats.us
Members Danny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley
James Traeger
Jakob Bowden
Past members Tarek Wegner

Night Beats are an American psychedelic/garage rock band, formed in 2009 in Seattle, Washington. The band consists of lead singer and guitarist Danny Lee Blackwell (born Daniel Rajan Billingsley),[1] drummer James Traeger and bassist Jakob Bowden.

The band incorporate elements of early R&B, Texas psychedelic rock, English blues rock, folk and soul[2] and have toured with the likes of The Black Angels (band) (in the UK, Europe and U.S.), Roky Erickson, The Zombies, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Strange Boys, Black Lips, and The Growlers.

History

Danny Lee Blackwell had previously fronted various bands in his hometown of Dallas, Texas under variations of his birth name Daniel Rajan Billingsley including The Old Explosives, White Light Fever, and Medicine God Box.[3] With White Light Fever, who were initially called Japanese Auto Clinic,[4] he released debut album Heavy Knife Blues in 2007 and the band were reportedly courted by Columbia Records. A second album Count All Your Father’s Wealth was seemingly abandoned.[5][6]

Raised Catholic and Hindu, Blackwell moved to Seattle to study comparative religion at the University of Washington.[7] Leaving Dallas, which he saw as "a wasteland of music", he founded Night Beats in 2009. Named after the Sam Cooke album 'Night Beat',[8] the solo self-recorded Street (Atomic) EP was released that year via Holy Twist Records.[9][10][11] After trying out a couple of different lineups, he asked high school friend and former B.B Mercy drummer James Traeger who was studying in Austin, Texas[12] to move to Seattle to join Night Beats. After playing a duo for a while, they recruited bassist Tarek Wegner in January 2010.[13][14] Wegner, originally from Tacoma, Washington, had previously played with The Drug Purse and Paris Spleen.[15]

The Night Beats toured extensively early on, completing multiple North American tours during 2010 and were signed within weeks of self-releasing the H-Bomb EP. Picked up by Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records (Ty Segall, Fresh and Only's, Hex Dispensers, etc.).[16] The re-release of the EP topped several college radio charts competing with other Artists' full-length efforts. (September 6, 2010)[17]

In 2011, the band released a split EP with The UFO Club on the Austin label The Reverberation Appreciation Society.

On June 28, 2011 Trouble In Mind released the band's self-titled debut album.[18]

In June 2012, The band released a split single with TRMRS on Volcom Vinyl Club.[19]

On September 24, 2013, the band released their second album "Sonic Bloom" via The Reverberation Appreciation Society.[20] They toured North America, Europe, Israel, South Africa and Australia in support of the album.

In late 2014 Tarek Wegner left the band. No announcement was made, it only becoming apparent when new press shots were released with a different bassist.[21] He has since gone on to release solo material.

In 2015, the band signed to London-based label Heavenly Recordings and released their third album "Who Sold My Generation" in January 2016. The album featured Black Rebel Motorcycle Club member Robert Levon Been on bass, who also co-produced the album.[22] The band recruited Jakob Bowden to tour the album. In September 2016, the band embarked on a UK/EU tour without drummer James Traeger.

Band members

Current

Former

Discography

Studio albums

Singles/Splits/EPs

Compilations

References

  1. ↑ http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&querytype=WriterID&keyid=550178778&keyname=BILLINGSLEY+DANIEL+RAJAN&CAE=627098234&Affiliation=BMI&term=
  2. ↑ Archived September 19, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ http://mail.okcthunder.info/artist/Danny+Rajan
  4. ↑ http://thesub-rosa.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/heavy-passionate-blues-of-white-light_12.html
  5. ↑ http://www.dallasobserver.com/music/white-light-fever-readies-new-cd-while-battling-those-underage-blues-7075033
  6. ↑ http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/gimme-that-old-time-innovation/Content?oid=1973656
  7. ↑ http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/gimme-that-old-time-innovation/Content?oid=1973656
  8. ↑ Maguire, Paige (2010-04-09). "Austin Psych Fest Preview: For the Benefit of Mr. Night (Beats)". Austinist. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  9. ↑ http://www.arbobo.fr/night-beats-street-atomic-ep/
  10. ↑ https://play.spotify.com/album/21mE0XfIOJ1K2FYSMWTxlS?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open
  11. ↑ http://www.thestranger.com/lineout/archives/2009/08/06/tonight-in-music-night-beats-sunn-o-fatal-lucciauno
  12. ↑ http://m.staugustine.com/surf-drift/2012-04-16/night-beats-deliver-raw-beautiful-psychedelic-rock#gsc.tab=0
  13. ↑ http://doyouevenpsychedelic.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/a-quick-interview-with-night-beats.html
  14. ↑ http://diffuser.fm/night-beats-interview-2013/
  15. ↑ http://www.northwestmilitary.com/music-and-culture/features-and-columns/2013/02/MUSIC-CRITICS-PICKS-feb-8-12-tacoma-olympia-Pat-Doherty-Andre-Nickatina-Jake-Shimabukuro-Night/
  16. ↑ Troublemakers (2012-03-15). "Trouble In Mind". Troubleinmindrecs.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  17. ↑ "Top 30 Albums |". Kdvs.org. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  18. ↑ "Night Beats | Trouble In Mind Records". Troubleinmindrecs.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  19. ↑ https://nightbeats.bandcamp.com/album/night-beats-trmrs-volcom-split
  20. ↑
  21. ↑ http://instagram.com/p/xPVsRKS6TG/?modal=true
  22. ↑ http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/night-beats-who-sold-my-generation
  23. ↑ Archived August 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  24. ↑ "iTunes Store". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  25. ↑ "Volcom Entertainment - Vevc". Store.volcoment.com. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  26. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Get Wyld! Volume 1 by Various Artists". itunes.apple.com. 2010-04-05. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  27. ↑ "Portable Shrines Magic Sound Theatre Vol. I | Light In The Attic Records". Lightintheattic.net. 2011-04-16. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
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