Big Light
Encyclopedia
Big Light is an independent rock and roll band from San Francisco, California. Founded in 2007, the band originally consisted of Fred Torphy (songwriter, guitars), Steve Adams
(bass) from ALO
, Bradly Bifulco (drums), and Colin Hoops (keyboards). In addition to writing their own material, the band also covers songs by modern American songwriter, Nathan Moore
. After Hoops left the band in early 2009, he was replaced permanently by Jeremy "Swordfish" Korpas (guitars).
As the story goes, Torphy was inspired by his generation’s current wave of great American rock groups like My Morning Jacket, The Slip, Dr. Dog and Wilco. Joining forces with drummer Bradly Bifulco, they set out to form a band that would follow in those footsteps. "We love to experiment and keep things as weird and interesting as possible, but it all needs to come back to serve the song," says Torphy.
On the strength of that vision, Torphy and Bifulco were able to recruit bass player Steve Adams, who added instant recognition and legitimacy to the early line-up. A fixture in the Bay Area music scene and founding member of pop/rock jam stars ALO, Adams was offered the opportunity to flex his rock & roll muscles in Big Light. "I’m definitely turning my amp up and using more fuzz" says Adams. "One thing I really love about Big Light is its true garage rock sound. It’s gritty in all the right ways."
Proving there’s little question that timing and luck can be a factor in success, Big Light became a beneficiary of both in 2008 when guitarist Jeremy Korpas needed a place to crash and landed on Torphy’s couch. A friend of a friend, Korpas didn’t join the band immediately. However, his first official show with the band on May 13, 2009 at San Francisco’s Make Out Room was a turning point, solidifying Big Light as it’s known today.
With the pieces firmly in place Big Light quickly climbed the S.F. club circuit, going from bar gigs like Bottom of the Hill to headlining The Independent to playing support at the legendary Fillmore; they’ve shared bills with Spoon, Broken Social Scene, The Mother Hips, Dead Confederate, Everest and Howlin Rain to name a few. A hit on the festival circuit as well, Big Light has already performed at Outside Lands, Noise Pop, Wanderlust and the High Sierra Music Festival.
Their first seven song EP was self-released, and distributed by reapandsow.
Big Light released their first full-length LP Animals In Bloom through reapandsow on March 2, 2010. The band celebrated the occasion with a performance at The Independent in San Francisco on March 4, 2010.
Steve Adams (musician)
Steven Rue Adams is a California-based American bassist and co-founder of San Francisco rock/pop/jamband Animal Liberation Orchestra . In addition to his work with ALO, Steve has toured and recorded with many other musicians. Recording credits include Forest Sun, Tim Bluhm, Nicki Bluhm, Zach Gill...
(bass) from ALO
Animal Liberation Orchestra
Animal Liberation Orchestra is an American musical group, currently signed on Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. They have released three full length albums...
, Bradly Bifulco (drums), and Colin Hoops (keyboards). In addition to writing their own material, the band also covers songs by modern American songwriter, Nathan Moore
Nathan Moore (United States musician)
Nathan Moore is a United States-based folk music guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for being a founding member of both ThaMuseMeant and Surprise Me Mr. Davis. Moore has also released numerous solo albums on Frogville Records, an independent record company he co-owns with John Treadwell...
. After Hoops left the band in early 2009, he was replaced permanently by Jeremy "Swordfish" Korpas (guitars).
As the story goes, Torphy was inspired by his generation’s current wave of great American rock groups like My Morning Jacket, The Slip, Dr. Dog and Wilco. Joining forces with drummer Bradly Bifulco, they set out to form a band that would follow in those footsteps. "We love to experiment and keep things as weird and interesting as possible, but it all needs to come back to serve the song," says Torphy.
On the strength of that vision, Torphy and Bifulco were able to recruit bass player Steve Adams, who added instant recognition and legitimacy to the early line-up. A fixture in the Bay Area music scene and founding member of pop/rock jam stars ALO, Adams was offered the opportunity to flex his rock & roll muscles in Big Light. "I’m definitely turning my amp up and using more fuzz" says Adams. "One thing I really love about Big Light is its true garage rock sound. It’s gritty in all the right ways."
Proving there’s little question that timing and luck can be a factor in success, Big Light became a beneficiary of both in 2008 when guitarist Jeremy Korpas needed a place to crash and landed on Torphy’s couch. A friend of a friend, Korpas didn’t join the band immediately. However, his first official show with the band on May 13, 2009 at San Francisco’s Make Out Room was a turning point, solidifying Big Light as it’s known today.
With the pieces firmly in place Big Light quickly climbed the S.F. club circuit, going from bar gigs like Bottom of the Hill to headlining The Independent to playing support at the legendary Fillmore; they’ve shared bills with Spoon, Broken Social Scene, The Mother Hips, Dead Confederate, Everest and Howlin Rain to name a few. A hit on the festival circuit as well, Big Light has already performed at Outside Lands, Noise Pop, Wanderlust and the High Sierra Music Festival.
Recordings
First Big Light EPTheir first seven song EP was self-released, and distributed by reapandsow.
Big Light released their first full-length LP Animals In Bloom through reapandsow on March 2, 2010. The band celebrated the occasion with a performance at The Independent in San Francisco on March 4, 2010.