The System Lights

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OnMilwaukee.com Reporter

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Published May 24, 2014 at 11:36 a.m. 0
When The System Lights takes the stage at the Y-Not III Sunday night alongside special guests Alex Vucelich and Penny Mouth, it'll be a debut of sorts for the five-piece Milwaukee-based rock band. The only odd thing: The band's been around for years already. In fact, they've even released a five-song EP, "Bright Water and Backroad Trips."

"Up until now, The System Lights has been a studio project," said David Rangel, the frontman, lead vocalist and writer for the band. "It really didn't start out as a group. It was really started off as two people just wanting to get together some music and put it out there for the enjoyment of putting out art."

That was 2010. At the beginning, it was just Rangel and an old high school guitarist friend, playing and recording some songs Rangel wasn't able to use in his previous bands. At first, Rangel – now a father and a bit tired of the touring side of the music business – had no interest in starting up a proper band. However, as they regularly kept playing together, the passion began to grow yet again.

"If that's what's in you – in your blood and soul – it's hard to stay away from it," Rangel said.

From that point on, Rangel started searching out members for a full five-piece rock outfit. However, it wasn't an easy search. Some had personal matters that kept them from committing to The System Lights; others weren't the right fit for where the band was hoping to go. It took a while, but eventually Rangel unexpectedly found his second band member in Jim "Slim" Jacobs at a 2012 Pablove Concert at Turner Hall.

"I met him a years previously when he was originally looking for band members," Jacobs recalled. "It just didn't work out timing wise; I was busy with a project at the time, a little too busy too really step in and help with songwriting. At this stage, though, I was actively looking for bands. So when I bumped into David, I made it a point to shake his hand. It took that nice little twist: David and Wendy (Sobczyk, the band's business manager) were networking and looking for lead guitarists. The concert's over, they're kind of heading out for the night and I just happened to say hello."

The two ended up hitting it off, becoming the core members of The System Lights.

While hunting down three more members, Rangel and Jacobs have worked on perfecting the songs off "Bright Water and Backroad Trips" – which despite finishing recording back in 2013, was only released this past January – as well as further developing their sound, a mix of American and British atmospheric rock with lyrical references ranging from Los Angeles to Jack Kerouac, in various acoustic shows around town.

They've even managed to record some material for a new album. Six tunes are already recorded with four more, according to Jacobs, hopefully recorded soon.

"Both Slim and I have a vision of putting out music that is timeless, that can be listened to now or ten years from now, and it won't sound dated," Rangel said. "We really try to stay clear of gimmickry or fads. Ultimately, I would like people to listen to what we're doing now in ten years and still think, 'Wow, this is pretty cool.'"

Nobody can say what'll be the case in a decade, but right now, The System Lights's brand of rock has already gathered some fans. Thanks to their use of iTunes, Reverb Nation and other music-focused social networking sites, "Bright Water and Backroad Trips" has received some radio play on stations nationally and internationally – even as far as Ecuador, Indonesia and beyond.

Even so, their current mission hits a bit closer to home. In recent months, Rangel and Jacobs have finally found their final three members: second guitarist Russ Spice, bassist John Schneider and drummer Erik Byhardt. With the band all together, rehearsed and ready to go, and five shows set up throughout the city during the summer, The System Lights are finally ready to take the home stage and say hello.

"We're kind of introducing ourselves to Milwaukee," Jacobs said.

Tags: the system lights, music, concerts, david rangel, slim jacobs, rock, y-not iii - OnMilwaukee.com

The System Lights' 'Bright Water and Backroad Trips' is a wonderfully produced EP where Britain's Union Jack is cojoined with America's Indie Rock.

The 5 song EP begins with 'Dreams Never Leave' which opens with the haunting vocals of David Rangel and set the mood for the rest of the album...

Track 2 is the disc's single, The Colourful Facade, which deserves to be heard on any and all station that fancy themselves worthy of an indie rock format...

'Ether' is the EP's middle track and is indie at it's finest which is followed by 'Unfulfilled' which is a mix of chiming guitars and mood setting melodies and my personal favorite...

'Died Pretty' brings it to a close and is a song that quickly envelopes you like your favorite blanket on a cool spring night...

Throw Death Cab For Cutie, The Gallagher Brothers, and Nick Drake in a musical cocktail shaker, mix well and what pours out is The System Lights...and I'll gladly have another round! - Kent Waush, President - The Great Unknown Radio http://www.thegreatunknownradio.com/

There is something incredibly unique about The System Lights. Singer, David Rangel’s vocal and writing style definitely stands out, especially locally (I am from Milwaukee and so are they). Both (vocal and writing styles of Mr. Rangel) are reminiscent of british indie pioneers of the 80s and early 90s, specifically former Smiths front man Morrissey and Noel Gallagher (british solo artist, formerly of Oasis). TSL songs are emotionally driven, melodic, vulnerable, beautiful & deep lyrical and instrumental art. You can feel the influence british music had on the band and their style. Yes, I said feel, not hear. Anyone who can hear can hear a song, feeling it is different. Morrissey and Noel smashed together, that’s how I would describe David. The style of writing is similar but does not mirror the aforementioned artists, as well as Stone Roses front man Ian Brown, former Blur vocalist Damon Albarn and Noel’s brother, former Oasis and current Beady Eye front man Liam Gallagher.

System Lights songs, however, are totally original. They have created something all their own. Which is something I love about them, their originality. “The Colourful Façade” (co-written by a cool dude named JT Lawton) is my favorite song by the band. I recommend every song on Bright Water and Backroad Trips, however! They are all great! I will reword this and say it again – vocalist David Rangel is an extremely talented, brilliant creative force. I hope this band gets the recognition they deserve. I have been bragging up David, but do not count out guitarist, Slim, he is really, really good! Music needs more people like them. There isn’t much more I can say, aside from, you really should check them out, the songs speak for themselves.

You can feel my sincerity can’t you? Good! Find them on FACEBOOK (WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THESYSTEMLIGHTS), THEIR WEBSITE (WWW.THESYSTEMLIGHTS.COM), CD BABY (www.cdbaby.com/cd/thesystemlights) or, I don’t know, Google search them! Because there are a few more places you can find ‘em. Be sure to support them by purchasing a copy of their debut album if you like what you hear (you’d have to be insane not to if you like the same music as me, really).

The System Lights are a perfect example of why I fell in love with music to begin with. It is rawest form, it is beautiful ever evolving art. It, much like love, holds the power to change lives.

Lyricist, music lover, System Lights fan,

Joey Clancy - Joey Clancy, Independent Music Reviewer