Biography
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Founded In
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Members
- Matt Murphy
- Stephen Pitkin
The Flashing Lights was a Canadian alternative rock band that was active in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The band was founded by Matt Murphy, as a side project, when not performing and recording with the band The Super Friendz. Their debut album, Where the Change Is, was released in 1999. A second album, Sweet Release, followed in 2001. The band has been on hiatus ever since.
"I met Henri when I was in grade 8," Matt Murphy reminisces. "He came over to my neighbor's house wearing a Jam shirt. I was like, Hey, right on! I like the Jam." Thus began a rock 'n' roll friendship that would eventually lead singer/guitarist Murphy and bassist Henri Sangalang to move from Halifax to Toronto and become the exceptionally fine Flashing Lights, along with drummer Steve Pitkin and keyboardist, tambourine tapper and harmonica hooter Gaven Dianda.
Sangalang and Murphy formed their first band together in grade 12, and Sangalang insists that the music they made at the time was influential on what they're playing now, except with some proficiency in their playing.
Murphy was playing in various other bands around Halifax (including good-time country outfit Little Orton Hoggett) when he decided to jumpstart The Flashing Lights as a 60ss cover band, playing songs by The Kinks, The Yardbirds, and [artistTthe Who.
Alongside The Super Friendz, Murphy made The Flashing Lights a time vehicle for his own 60's inspired yet undeniably '90s creations.
While it might be thought that Murphy's instantly recognizable voice would make The Flashing Lights indistinguishable from The Super Friendz, the band's distinct flavour is apparent.
While gems like "Elevature" and the first single, "Where Do the Days Go", could have been Slide Show - era Super Friendz numbers, the punchy power-pop arrangements are uniquely Flashing Lights.
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