The Arizona desert bestows one of their greatest local music gifts in recent memory with the release of Black Bottom Lighters debut LP, '2 or 2000!' The title indicating the band's desire to bring their message and
music to a crowd of 2 or 2000, 10 or 10,000, 20 or 20 million... Their message none other than proving yourselves worthy through hard work, perseverance, and God-given talent. The bass bumping, drum thumping, steady rocking, smooth styling rhythms highlighted throughout the 14 all-original tracks set-up a strong foundation for the band's very bright future.
Since issuing their self-titled EP in 2012 they've been quite busy growing as people, developing their sound as a band, and living their lives. Their new album efforts who they are now with "conscious music," their guitar player/vocalist T calls it. He says, "It's all about what we're living and real stuff - a lot of our new music has a positive message... we just want to influence people in a positive way, put good music out in the world, and do what we love." Front man Stilly iterates, "We wanted to establish what we are now. We sat down and made sure everything was original and made a conscious effort to make everything that we are."
Since issuing their self-titled EP in 2012 they've been quite busy growing as people, developing their sound as a band, and living their lives. Their new album efforts who they are now with "conscious music," their guitar player/vocalist T calls it. He says, "It's all about what we're living and real stuff - a lot of our new music has a positive message... we just want to influence people in a positive way, put good music out in the world, and do what we love." Front man Stilly iterates, "We wanted to establish what we are now. We sat down and made sure everything was original and made a conscious effort to make everything that we are."
The Black Bottom Lighters were able to to partner up with the 93.9 KWSS morning show TMI with Beef Vegan to release their new song "Carousel" for a free download competition on Reverb Nation. Hard Rock Cafe and Reverb Nation teamed up for an international contest among thousands of bands and Black Bottom Lighters were fierce contenders. After live performance reviews and additional download release "We Were Here" they nearly won the grand prize of an all-inclusive trip and play Hard Rock Rising Music Festival in Rome, Italy. They did earn themselves a slot among bands Jimmy Eat World, 30 Seconds to Mars, Stone Temple Pilots, Pepper, The Dirty Heads at the Big Ticket Music Festival in Jacksonville, FL. They've also been featured at numerous Southwest music festivals Wild Wild West Fest, Uplift Music and Arts Festival, Unity Festival, True Music Festival, McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Apache Reggae Jam, and Tempe Beach Park with headliners Rebelution and Atmosphere.
Strangely enough in the midst of the Reverb Nation/Hard Rock competition their drummer McPhatty suffered a snowboarding accident to his elbow and was unable to use his left arm, but that didn't stop him! He pulled a full Rick Allen (Def Lepard's infamous one-armed drummer) and played through the injury down one drumstick! It was an example of the band's perseverance over obstacles. Frontman Stilly said, "You gotta be confident in who you are and stick to your guns. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do anything. We wouldn't be (where we are now) if we didn't."
Essentially they want to give their fans their money's worth while living the life they love. Stilly has become a father, a soon-to-be husband, and entrepreneur by starting HEINA clothing. He designs custom men's and women's tanks, shirts, hoodies, shoes - even coffee tables! Their guitarist Philly Cheese you won't find anywhere on social media. "People hound me everyday to get one," he explains. "Life is real without it - I'm not a social kinda person. If I
do end up getting one ever, my name would be different and it would be
strictly for music." Bassist/vocalist, Jose, really stepped up his harmonies and also his guitar playing. During their "Smoked Out Sessions" at Copper Blues, a popular rock pub where the band is featured at their Phoenix and Tempe locations regularly, Jose plays entire sets on guitar and vocals with T and Phil both taking turns on bass. It also happens to be where they recorded their live acoustic album that is still yet to be released.
However, what has been released shows a collective progression of the band's abilities. The first 15 seconds of '2 or 2000' is complete silence. Maybe a chance to save on your car insurance? Maybe calling their shot for their "15" minutes of fame? Whatever the case may be the keys, guitars, and drums soon ring in and then the bass takes a little walk. The Intro takes the listener for about a minute and a half heart pumping, adrenaline rushing ride! It runs right into rock ballads "Rockin and Rollin" and "Carousel' to continue stirring it up. Then comes the lady killer, "Lil Mama!" This song strums the ladies' heartstrings with a great call and response with Stilly, Phil, T and Jose all harmonizing. In the studio and on stage Phil and Jose switch guitar and bass next on "Changes," yet another way for them to symbolize how the band can remain diligent in their versatility while singing about change in world. And they keep it going with "Herbal Essence," a retooled song from the BBL vault. As is "Can't Take Me," originally recorded acoustic on the Arizona Appetizer. The song "Astronauts" has self-explanatory uplifting references and assuming ears can relax to the vibrations. The deep message of "How Good" encourages people to look out for each other, spreading good feelings, and ultimately is what the band is about in a nutshell. It was even featured on the NFL Network during the week of the Super Bowl! Sublime-esque "Language of My Soul," powerful but subtle "No Time to Lose," lost love provoked song "Liar," and the aforementioned single/ballad "I'm Still Here" round out the track listings.
The overall talent and the production really shine throughout the album! The release needed to prove not only the album's credibility but their own. They took the CD release to the state of the art Live Wire, a very near sell out crowd at the center of the Entertainment District in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ. The location a highlight itself, Black Bottom Lighters being the first Arizona local to headline the impressive, brand-new venue. The sound, light, and stage productions were phenomenal and the band invited friends all over the state of Arizona and all over the country (as far as Florida) to come share the success with them. The moment of most importance was the amazing support received when they took the stage. The energetic frontman Stilly, threw himself into the crowd to stage dive - except something was notably different about it this time. He says, "I've staged dove before and it was kinda half-assed but this time it was super clean, they caught me, they were all there like a trust exercise."
In the language of symbolism that is exactly what the CD and CD release amounted to; one big trust exercise. The band gave the fans everything they had. Then when they didn't have anymore to give the Black Bottom Lighters dug deeper in themselves, giving even more than they thought they could initially and came out champions. The crowd caught Black Bottom Lighters that night and will carry them on going forward. '2 or 2000?' It's beginning to look a lot more like 2000 these days, but humble beginnings and tremendous growth that make it that much more 'Warrior'-like... "Can you dig it?"
However, what has been released shows a collective progression of the band's abilities. The first 15 seconds of '2 or 2000' is complete silence. Maybe a chance to save on your car insurance? Maybe calling their shot for their "15" minutes of fame? Whatever the case may be the keys, guitars, and drums soon ring in and then the bass takes a little walk. The Intro takes the listener for about a minute and a half heart pumping, adrenaline rushing ride! It runs right into rock ballads "Rockin and Rollin" and "Carousel' to continue stirring it up. Then comes the lady killer, "Lil Mama!" This song strums the ladies' heartstrings with a great call and response with Stilly, Phil, T and Jose all harmonizing. In the studio and on stage Phil and Jose switch guitar and bass next on "Changes," yet another way for them to symbolize how the band can remain diligent in their versatility while singing about change in world. And they keep it going with "Herbal Essence," a retooled song from the BBL vault. As is "Can't Take Me," originally recorded acoustic on the Arizona Appetizer. The song "Astronauts" has self-explanatory uplifting references and assuming ears can relax to the vibrations. The deep message of "How Good" encourages people to look out for each other, spreading good feelings, and ultimately is what the band is about in a nutshell. It was even featured on the NFL Network during the week of the Super Bowl! Sublime-esque "Language of My Soul," powerful but subtle "No Time to Lose," lost love provoked song "Liar," and the aforementioned single/ballad "I'm Still Here" round out the track listings.
The overall talent and the production really shine throughout the album! The release needed to prove not only the album's credibility but their own. They took the CD release to the state of the art Live Wire, a very near sell out crowd at the center of the Entertainment District in Old Town Scottsdale, AZ. The location a highlight itself, Black Bottom Lighters being the first Arizona local to headline the impressive, brand-new venue. The sound, light, and stage productions were phenomenal and the band invited friends all over the state of Arizona and all over the country (as far as Florida) to come share the success with them. The moment of most importance was the amazing support received when they took the stage. The energetic frontman Stilly, threw himself into the crowd to stage dive - except something was notably different about it this time. He says, "I've staged dove before and it was kinda half-assed but this time it was super clean, they caught me, they were all there like a trust exercise."
In the language of symbolism that is exactly what the CD and CD release amounted to; one big trust exercise. The band gave the fans everything they had. Then when they didn't have anymore to give the Black Bottom Lighters dug deeper in themselves, giving even more than they thought they could initially and came out champions. The crowd caught Black Bottom Lighters that night and will carry them on going forward. '2 or 2000?' It's beginning to look a lot more like 2000 these days, but humble beginnings and tremendous growth that make it that much more 'Warrior'-like... "Can you dig it?"
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