'Lights Resolve' Give Fans Preview of Upcoming LP

New York-based band Lights Resolve kicked off their set in Hoboken Sunday night with an atmospheric buildup of guitar, bass and percussion. While their hour-long performance showcased older fan favorites like the energetic "Lost and Jaded" and the ambient "Dreaming of Love," newer tracks off their upcoming release received similar excitement.

"We're going to play some new songs for you guys," frontman Matt Reich told the crowd before the band began "My Gemini."

Luke Daniels' edgy bass accompaniment and Neal Saini's aggressive percussion combined well with Reich's vocals and guitar distortion. As a result, the track soared at the right places and held concertgoers' undivided attention.

"We got exciting news today. We got the last mix of the last song on the new record," Reich said. "We're going to bring the van around at the end of the show and give you candy during our listening party."

One of the hardest working indie bands I've come across, Lights Resolve has spent the past four years incessantly touring and building their fan base. Whether on the road or online, they continue to form relationships with fans and Sunday night was their way of thanking fans for that support.

For nearly 40 minutes, Lights Resolve diehards piled into their van and listened to their soon-to-be-released debut full length. Parked outside of Maxwell's, it was the first time they heard the record in its entirety.

"Whenever you guys want to leave, you can. We're not holding you," Reich joked.

By the tenth and final track most were still there, often singing along to the songs they heard earlier that night.

While bass heavy tracks like "Misfire" introduce a darker sound for Lights Resolve, fans didn't seem to mind. "That's my favorite song so far," one said. With instrumental buildup complete with guitar distortion and seductive percussion beats, it's a song that stands out on the album and transitions well onstage. Dark bass lines complement Reich's vocals as he alternates between whisper and yell.

"Rhapsodize" continued with heavy guitar distortion as Reich's vocals power through the music while crowd pleaser "Stick Em Up" rounded out the intensity with fans singing along in the van. With a flushed out sound, tracks like "Stick Em Up" and "Hips" kept the listener intrigued and wondering what will come next.

Current album closer, "Another Five Days" has been a staple at live shows for years. The most radio friendly of their material, it helped Lights Resolve garner a slot opening for Panic at the Disco and Dashboard Confessional. Every show ends with this track, Maxwell's being no exception. The energy in the room skyrocketed as soon as Lights Resolve began the song and in their van it did the same thing.

Easy to picture in an arena setting, I'm interested to see how Lights Resolve transform their epic rock sound onto the big stage. Having been compared to Muse and the Bravery in the past, it's only a matter of time until they sell out stadiums.