Black Light Saints

The first Black Light Saints album, Impossible Picks, is streetwise and edgy, so until you hear it a few times, you only feel, but don't realize, how carefully they build their musical thoughts. Since completing the album, they've picked up Danny Lucero and Fonz and have been playing those don't-wait-too-long-to-see-them shows that you can only ever find when a really good new band comes along. They've got one at the Art Institute After Dark Friday the 11th, and then they're on the road, in on the South By Southwest madness in Austin at Cedar Street on Wednesday (March 15) and the next night in San Antonio at Limelight.

The band has also kept up the heat on the recording side --- there's a new web-exclusive release at dopecouture.com, and their first remix package is being put together now.

Britton Wetherald and Dan Agosto (producer of Impossible Picks) stopped by Heart & Soul to talk about all of this --- about how it all got started and why, and about where it's going now. Here's what they had to say:


All the while, Impossible Picks keeps getting more attention, like when Kate Stahl is doing a story at popsugar.com about fashion designer Christina Fan and has this to say: "Fan let us in on some of her favorite Chicago things — and even introduced me to awesome new Chicago band Black Light Saints". Black Light Saints' Impossible Picks is at Amazon, Amazon U.K. and iTunes. You'll love it.

Black Light Saints Britton Wetherald Dan Agosto Johnny Nevin Music Production Podcast
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SXSW --- Black Light Saints at Cedar Street March 15
Wed, 03/09/2011 - 11:20pm — Johnny

South By Southwest runs March 11 through the 20th in Austin, and Black Light Saints will be there to play Cedar Street Courtyard on Tuesday the 15th, after which they head to San Antonio for a show at Limelight on the 16th. Their Impossible Picks album is getting heard alot in alot of places --- I just listened to it again when Britton Wetherald and Dan Agosto stopped by Heart & Soul to do a podcast, which we'll have in a day or so. There's a new release from the band at dopecouture.com called "Research The Obvious" (along with a great write-up) if you can't make Austin or San Antonio.

Black Light Saints Britton Wetherald Dan Agosto Live Music
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Black Light Saints: Three Excerpts From Impossible Picks
Fri, 10/15/2010 - 1:38am — aotpr

Here's a first listen to three excerpts from Black Light Saints' new EP Impossible Picks ---- "What Happens Next", "Baby Girl" and "Cattle Skull". The record is already getting talked up a lot, both because everybody who's heard it is so into it, and because of the high profiles of the members --- Ephraim Cuellar, Britton Wetherald, and Alex Brandi, not to mention the production by Dan Agosto. More from us in our story about Black Light Saints and from them on their Facebook.

Black Light Saints Dan Agosto More Artists Music Production
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Black Light Saints Finish Mixing Impossible Picks EP
Tue, 10/12/2010 - 11:42pm — Johnny

Dan Agosto was at Heart & Soul Studios all last week completing the mixing and mastering for an exceptional debut EP by Black Light Saints, and even though he only delivered the masters on Sunday, there's already a great review on the EP out of the UC Berkeley paper The Daily Californian --- but more on that in a minute. I can't post the link to the review until I explain a couple of things, even though it was pretty amazing. "In Impossible Picks, Black Light Saints know what the electronic genre begs for and deliver it in 27 minutes of hypnotic synths and infectious bass" is the way Daily Californian writer Cynthia Kang closes the first paragraph of her well-written review, and she goes on, even more enthusiastically.

- All Over The Place Records

BY ERNESTWILKINS · Monday, January 24, 2011 11:44am Leave a comment
(Did you miss out on our last RE-mix playlist series with Andrew Barber of Fake Shore Drive? Check that here. )

This time around, I went to one of the best local music influencers around town. Jaime has consistently been breaking newer artists and hitting people over the head with Chicago music and things you need to be checking out.

The lineup is after the jump, his list is called: Ten Tracks I Loved From Chicago Artists in 2010 (In No Particular Order)


Take it away, Jaime!


“Weapons For War” A Lull
As big, wonderfully eclectic, and undeniable as any song in 2010, this preview of A Lull’s forthcoming Confetti album dominated my year.

“In A Dream” (The Hood Internet remix) Skybox
The Hood Internet break from crafting mash-ups to enhance this already super poppy summer anthem.

“DDF” Loyal Divide
If you ever go see Loyal Divide live (and you should), make sure you’re not off at the bar for this song. An absolute barn burner.

“Thug Maniac” Dirty Diamonds
A new and darker side to Dirty Diamonds’ ever-evolving sound. So much more than just motown for hipsters.

“Everything Changes” Suns
Moody but melodic, tumultuous guitar work and an assault of percussion rules this busy production. An emotionally rewarding listen.

“What’s The Hurry” Rockie Fresh
What if someone told you one of the coldest Chicago hip hop tracks of 2010 would revolve around an Imogen Heap sample? What if they were right?

“Destroy” Moneypenny
Ready to smoke the dance floor even without the remix treatment. Blazing electro pop that was practically created solely for DJ setlists at Berlin.

“C.H.I.C.A.G.O.” BBU
Everyone knows BBU for “Chi Don’t Dance,” but I love this song, as well. A proper hometown anthem.

“Aragon Sound” Apteka
Ferocious riffs here from guitars that aren’t afraid to be guitars. Chicago needs much, much more of this.

“Could Care Less” Black Light Saints
Post-punk indifference from Black Light Saints, which features members of Chicago nightlife mainstays Perfect Kiss and talent from the KDM DJ collective.

“Spotlight (New Regrets)” Patrick Stump
Former Fall Out Boy frontman leaves the angst in the past, reinvents himself as a forward thinking soul pop solo artist, is all the better for it. - RedEye

BY ERNESTWILKINS · Monday, January 24, 2011 11:44am Leave a comment
(Did you miss out on our last RE-mix playlist series with Andrew Barber of Fake Shore Drive? Check that here. )

This time around, I went to one of the best local music influencers around town. Jaime has consistently been breaking newer artists and hitting people over the head with Chicago music and things you need to be checking out.

The lineup is after the jump, his list is called: Ten Tracks I Loved From Chicago Artists in 2010 (In No Particular Order)


Take it away, Jaime!


“Weapons For War” A Lull
As big, wonderfully eclectic, and undeniable as any song in 2010, this preview of A Lull’s forthcoming Confetti album dominated my year.

“In A Dream” (The Hood Internet remix) Skybox
The Hood Internet break from crafting mash-ups to enhance this already super poppy summer anthem.

“DDF” Loyal Divide
If you ever go see Loyal Divide live (and you should), make sure you’re not off at the bar for this song. An absolute barn burner.

“Thug Maniac” Dirty Diamonds
A new and darker side to Dirty Diamonds’ ever-evolving sound. So much more than just motown for hipsters.

“Everything Changes” Suns
Moody but melodic, tumultuous guitar work and an assault of percussion rules this busy production. An emotionally rewarding listen.

“What’s The Hurry” Rockie Fresh
What if someone told you one of the coldest Chicago hip hop tracks of 2010 would revolve around an Imogen Heap sample? What if they were right?

“Destroy” Moneypenny
Ready to smoke the dance floor even without the remix treatment. Blazing electro pop that was practically created solely for DJ setlists at Berlin.

“C.H.I.C.A.G.O.” BBU
Everyone knows BBU for “Chi Don’t Dance,” but I love this song, as well. A proper hometown anthem.

“Aragon Sound” Apteka
Ferocious riffs here from guitars that aren’t afraid to be guitars. Chicago needs much, much more of this.

“Could Care Less” Black Light Saints
Post-punk indifference from Black Light Saints, which features members of Chicago nightlife mainstays Perfect Kiss and talent from the KDM DJ collective.

“Spotlight (New Regrets)” Patrick Stump
Former Fall Out Boy frontman leaves the angst in the past, reinvents himself as a forward thinking soul pop solo artist, is all the better for it. - RedEye

Within the last 67 days of living in Chicago I’ve met people that I would take a bullet for, people I would take a secret to the grave for, and people I expect to be up there next to me if and when I ever get married. When I tell you some of the most solid people I have ever met are in the band Black Light Saints, I mean it.



I came to Chicago knowing only the lead singer Britton Wetherald from a DJ gig we had done together at his loft a few years back but quickly met the rest of the group: Alex Barandi, Ephraim Cuellar, Danny Lucero (my current roommate) and Fonz. You don’t have to take my word that these dudes are the truth, you can check them out for yourself. Britton and Ephraim are Thursday Night resident DJs at Evil Olive for Lets Get Weird and Danny Lucero and Fonz are also in Perfect Kiss, another local band getting booked nonstop. These dudes do it all. - Dope Couture

There’s a new Wicker Park super group shaking things up on the scene and they go by the name of Black Light Saints. A key question to ask right about now would be “what do you mean, Wicker Park super group?” Well, lets break it down in a mathematical scene equation.

Britton Wetherald (DJ British Knights, ½ of Disco Death Threat, 1/3 of KDM and host of Lets Get Weird at Evil Olive)

+

Danny Lucero (Current member of Perfect Kiss and international Wicker Park man of awesomeness)

+

Alex Barandi (former member of Otter Petter)

+

Ephraim Cuellar (Current member of Dynasty of Poseidon, ½ of Disco Death Threat, 1/3 of KDM and host of Lets Get Weird)

+

Le Fonz Mayen (Current member of Perfect Kiss and live drummer for Moneypenny)

= Wicker Park supergroup Black Light Saints

In a short amount of time they have already conquered Wicker Park, SXSW, REHAB at Debonair, Schubas, A Little Bit Louder Now at Viaduct Theater and After Dark at The Art Institute of Chicago. Summer will be treating them well with likely shenanigans all over the ‘hood and a EP drop.

Anthony Spina is a RedEye blogger. - RedEye

Black Light Saints
The boys of Black Light Saints are back from SXSW and ready to rock with us this Sunday at Beauty Bar. Part dance, part indie rock, and part new wave, BLS is the ultimate mashup of genres made to make you move. Meet music’s new party starters.

PHOTOGRAPHED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CY BY SADIYYA AMEENA IN CHICAGO, IL



What’s the origin of the Black Light Saints name?

Britton: The name originates behind the idea of nightlife and the juxtaposition for bringing words and thoughts like a saint to examine what we and others do living in this generation.

Where is everyone from? Why the move to Chicago?

Britton: I’m from L.A, Ephraim and Alex both lived in Cleveland before, Danny and Alphonso are from Chicago’s Southside… honestly I moved because my friend wanted me to help her run an art gallery and then I stayed to play in the band… plus the summer here is amazing.

Danny Lucero, Guitar


Britton Wetherald, Guitar


We hear quite a few types of genres in the music, what bands and sounds are inspirations?

Britton: We drew heavily from LCD Soundsystem, neu!, Spoon, Interpol, (chk chk chk) and post punk and new wave such as Wire Gang of Four, Public Image LTD, Talking Heads and disco sounds from the late 70's; also classics like The Rolling Stones, etc.

The track ‘Shake You Off?’ sounds like a breakup with a city, what’s the idea behind the track?

Britton: Well its actually about a break up with a past girlfriend and challenging the reasons we all give to excuse a relationship ending and the sense of being able to forget about the reasons, even though your calling it out and moving past it. But it could be about any sort of relationship where your just fed up with excuses and just want to unwind.



Shake You Off by Blacklightsaints

Alphonso Mayen, Drums


Remixes and collaborations are big these days, are there any people you would like to collaborate with, remix or otherwise?

Britton: I’d love a remix from Holy Ghost! I think they’d get the sound. I’d love to work with James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem as well.

How was the Art Institute After Dark set and what are your thoughts on the mesh of art and music?

Britton: Well I come from a very heavy DIY background. So music and visual art and fashion all are very close knit and feed off each other to create a community so I think they go hand in hand. That being said I thought it was awesome to play at the Art Institute and interact with a crowd that is not normally seeking the kind of stuff we do, and to see how they digest that is always interesting.

BLS @ the Art Institute of Chicago’s Art After Dark event




What’s next for BLS?

Britton: We are trying to figure out a tour possibility and summer shows right now nothing quite set in stone yet!

Visit the Black Light Saints @ Soundcloud and Facebook

Ephriam Cuellar, Keys


Alex Barandi, Bass


well Im from La Before moving here, and e and alex both lived in cleveland before

danny and fonz are from chicago southside… honestly i moved because my friend wanted me to help her run and art gallery and then stayed to play in a band and the summer here is amazing
- CY Magazine