With an unorthodox approach to being a native Floridian, songwriter Derill
Lee, taking a cue from transplanted northerners who endlessly flock to the
sunshine state, emigrated to Pennsylvania, where the twenty-four-year-old
would meet up with friends John Murphy (Drums) and Dan Hendricks (Lead
Guitar) in the pursuit of a musical endeavor branded Barlights. After taking
demos that documented the groups progress in early 2007, the lineup was
solidified with the introduction of Mike Brelling ... (more)
With an unorthodox approach to being a native Floridian, songwriter Derill
Lee, taking a cue from transplanted northerners who endlessly flock to the
sunshine state, emigrated to Pennsylvania, where the twenty-four-year-old
would meet up with friends John Murphy (Drums) and Dan Hendricks (Lead
Guitar) in the pursuit of a musical endeavor branded Barlights. After taking
demos that documented the groups progress in early 2007, the lineup was
solidified with the introduction of Mike Brelling on bass.
An earnest blend of old-time rock'n roll, a southern attitude that tips its
hat to the Outlaws, and the grit of modern day punk positions this quartet
somewhere along the lines of Ryan Adams, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, and
Social Distortion. Although spawned from the northeastern birthplace of
American Democracy, Philadelphia, the band maintains a southern feel that
sounds as it were a well-crafted hodgepodge of New Orleans' blues,
Nashville's country, and Gainesville's punk.
There's more to the inner workings of Barlights than simply just four
musicians. Solidarity between the four had them questioning if they were
simply recording songs or instead having the best time of their lives, while
in the studio. "We would hang out on a balcony that overlooked train tracks
and throw empty bottles, smashing them against moving trains" explains a
laughing John Murphy, "I'd say we went through two cases a night."