Stephen & the Strangers and the bisexual garage rock anthem - "Lights of the Party" (Official Video)

"there's a girl that he came to see / he said he wouldn't kiss her but he would kiss me..."


Stephen & the Strangers, the solo project of singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, DIY producer Stephen Jones, pushes buttons that, in my mind, sends me to dark L.A. clubs back in the early 80's. There is a pitch perfect distillation of power pop that feels informed by artists like The Plimsouls, The Beat, 20/20 and The Quick. I realize that Jones may not even be inspired by or shaped by these bands but I hear it and revel in it as I immerse myself in his "Rad Steve" album from a few years back. But, as they say, I digress, as today the focus is on his latest release "Lights of the Party". 

From the onset, this track cajoles with a hooky lo-fi synth line. The clean, yet chunky guitar, a framework for Jones raspy choked yet clean wails, moves in interesting ways. The chorus has a pained sense of celebration with sparkly keys that give way to a Farfisa-esque classic piano jag. Of the track Jones shares:

"This tune is an out-and-out bisexual garage rock anthem. And it all started when I woke up in the middle of the night with a single lyric echoing in my head: 'there's a girl that he came to see / he said he wouldn't kiss her but he would kiss me.' It's got loud guitars, creamy synths, crashing cymbals, shy-boy verses, and a scream-along chorus."

and

"When I sing this song I think about what it's felt like having a crush on a guy and at the same time being jealous that he's so out and happy. The lyrics describe him: "he was so self-assured / pride like I couldn't afford." But I think I'm finally at a place in my life where I can afford to have that kind of pride."

"Lights of the Party", in the end, feels somehow too brief but bounces in my head in such a lovely way. You can feel the passion within the sparse production that, again, harkens back to a decade that seemed to strip back the bluster of rock to the essentials so you could hear the passionate stories being told.

-Robb Donker Curtius 

Stephen & the Strangers · Lights of the Party

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:


https://www.facebook.com/stephen.and.the.strangers

https://www.instagram.com/hughfitzgerald/

https://twitter.com/hughfitzgerald

https://stephenandthestrangers.bandcamp.com/

https://linktr.ee/stephenandthestrangers

https://www.youtube.com/user/bass2496/videos

https://soundcloud.com/hughfitzgerald


STEPHEN AND THE STRANGERS is the solo project of bass player and songwriter STEPHEN JONES, recording out of his studio in Los Angeles, CA. Influences include Elastica, Elvis Costello, Big Star, and Sleater-Kinney. Jones has played bass as backup for various singer-songwriters around LA, won charity cover battles-of-the-bands, and released a series of duets with his brother Bill Jones. The three Jones boys grew up playing punk and alternative music in SoCal. They've mellowed out with age.

If you love what we do please consider a one time donation to our GoFundMe- Thanks

 Garage Rock, Emo, Alternative Rock, Stephen & the Strangers, "Rad Steve", "Lights of the Party", early 80's tones, 90's college radio vibe, power pop, indie rock, Stephen Jones,