Taking a plethora of interesting twists and turns to get to this point, The Footlight District are a Garage Rock band comprised of siblings, making this creative endeavor truly feeling like a family affair to a literal degree. The Chicago-based band of talented Indie musicians are set to release their newest single – ‘Lightning’ – on September 9th, promising a range of electrifying vocals and punctual riffs to make the most of their blood-bred chemistry as an act together while developing the broad essence of their anthem-like discography by making the most of their core connection.
Set to tour across the UK in the coming months – stopping off at locations such as Brighton, Liverpool and Edinburgh in September and playing at venues in Dublin, Galway and London this October – the band have been collaborating with the incredible producer Russell Marsden from Band Of Skulls for ‘Lightning’, the latest in-studio work from the eclectic 5-piece in order to bring his multiple years of alt-rock experience to the table. They also linked up with Enrico Berto from Mushroom Studios, who has worked intimately with them to bring their synergy and vision to life.
Battling through a rough start when their home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina back in 2005, which rendered them homeless for some time, The Footlight District have since learned how to find success due to their combined efforts and how to use their ancestral bond as a catalyst for a vital relationship by creating two critically acclaimed LP’s and an unforgettable stage presence.
Moving on to ‘Lightning’, you’ll be forgiven for tuning into the beginning and expecting a more somber tone due to the sparse guitar melodies and subtle Jazz-Soul fusion of gentle melodies before getting caught quite off-guard as the pace abruptly quickens. The Footlight District unleash a heavy barrage of Garage Rock blueprints and Post-Punk guitar riffs paired to raspy vocals that resembles the early Riot Girl movement of the 00’s and 10’s as they call bands like DEHD and Gossip to mind. The production is closely DIY in terms of delivery as the raw and unpolished sounds contribute to this aesthetic while the bridge is much more soulful and Gospel-oriented, calling back to artists like SAULT or Brittany Howard. The band do a great job of fusing elements of different genres such as Blues, Jazz, Soul and Gospel into their sound and making their structure feel unpredictable, effectively forming a decent mish-match of other influences to create a love letter to classic rock itself. Varied and appealing, ‘Lightning’ creates a thunderous reception with its flavorsome sounds and bold ambitions, and it’s begging to be experienced live.
Words by Jacob Braybrooke
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