Those Nights

Originally a three-man project, San Marcos’ Those Nights have evolved into a five-man festival. During a live performance, you are so entertained by each member of the band that your eyes are battling to look at two different performers at the same time. The same holds true for the ears in Those Nights’ self-titled debut. Throughout the album, Lindsey James (who in the band’s live shows can be seen spouting spoken word raps and tapping the bass drum with a mandolin swinging from his chest) provides a layer of rhythmic texture to the already neatly stacked variety of sound that includes the moaning of background vocals and the swanky, sexy trombone of Pete Martin. Those Nights creeps into unsuspecting air with a short instrumental intro, “Golden Mean,” featuring a soaring cello, eerie but soothing. After that, the second track, “Drought,” seamlessly introduces the rest of the band — most notably the soulful vocals and dancing keys of Evan Styles. The entire album plays off of this indie/folk/something that just sounds great flowing from beginning to end. It plays like a movie, gently ushering you from song to song and lyrically speaking for anyone who has ever struggled to do what they love.
— LAUREN MECKEL - Lone Star Music Magazine

My first stop after refueling was a street show by Those Nights. You don't have to blow a trombone too loud before I come running, so they their brass hooked me immediately. Their sound had a high-desert rumble to it, which was accentuated by the soaring vocal lines that I heard. The crowd was roped in to singing and clapping, ensuring my love for them. It's more American than Tejano music, but less American than Bon Iver folk; it exists in an extremely Texan space. I loved it.
- Oklahoma Gazette

Those Nights, based out of San Marcos, was created June of 2010, by Evan Styles and Chris Balcom, former band mates of the Earle Brown Band, and Lindsay James former band mate of Olive Street. The title, “Those Nights,” was based off a line in a song Chris Balcom wrote, “we liked the idea of it being based off a memory, a feeling,” said Styles. Eager to have their music heard, this trio put themselves in the middle of one of the biggest festivals in Austin. “Our first moment as ‘Those Nights’ was on a street at South by Southwest last year in Austin,” said Styles. Little did they know their trio was about to expand.
“I just got done playing a gig and was walking by Those Nights with my trombone, and tagged along to see if this science project would work, and it never stopped,” said Pete Martin, who later joined the band in September of 2011. Pete relocated to Texas three years ago and was familiar with Those Nights, “I was a big fan for almost a year. I sometimes opened for them.” For Pete, having the opportunity to play for Those Nights was due to a twist of fate, “It was really crazy how I met Lindsay, my keyboardist from Pennsylvania used to room with a good friend of Lindsay, so he was a direct line to the band. When you get odds like that you play the lottery.” Later, the band acquired their final band mate, Ephraim Wickline, a cellist, and a student at Texas State. Together this band delivers catchy hooks that resonate in your ears, vocals that captivates you, and sounds that get your feet tapping.
Proof that this band is talented they recently won the ‘Expose The Arts’ at Tantra Coffeehouse. The prize was 5 free songs to go towards a recording album. In April, Those Nights will be working on their first new full length album set to release this summer of 2012. Their album is being recorded at Greyskull Productions. Needless to say, Those Nights is heading in the right direction, UP!

“We might not get that stadium tomorrow, we may never get that stadium, but our music is out there.”~ Pete

Those Nights is set to perform this April for Mr. Fest and will be back at Tantra Coffeehouse May 5th. You can sample their music by “liking” their fan page at http://www.facebook.com/those.nights3/app_2405167945

-Stephanie Cavazos
- KTSW