The Flashing Lights

The Flashing Lights were a Canadian alternative rock band, active in the late 1990s and early 2000s.^[1]

Originally a side project that primarily played as a cover band when Matt Murphy was not occupied with his primary band The Super Friendz,^[2] the band consisted of Murphy on guitar and lead vocals, Gavin Dianda on keyboards, tambourine and harmonica, Henri Sangalang on bass guitar and backing vocals, and Steve Pitkin on drums, and became Murphy's primary band following the Super Friendz' breakup.^[2]

The band released its debut album, Where the Change Is, in 1999 on Halifax independent label Brobdingnagian Records, scoring a hit on modern rock radio stations in Canada with "Half the Time". They followed up with the EP Elevature in 2000; Sangalang also appeared on Neko Case's album Furnace Room Lullaby the same year, and the band appeared at Edgefest on July 1. Their second album, Sweet Release, was released in 2001 and was produced by Thrush Hermit's Ian McGettigan.^[3]

The band subsequently went on hiatus; Murphy reunited the Super Friendz for their 2003 album Love Energy, and then took an acting role in the film The Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico. He later joined the now-defunct Toronto band City Field, is currently a member of Cookie Duster, contributed a song to the soundtrack for the 2009 film Defendor, and had a small acting role in the film Leslie, My Name Is Evil.

Dianda currently plays with the band Saffron Sect,^[4] and Pitkin played with The Violet Archers and is currently a member of Elliott Brood.

Discography

• Where the Change Is (1999)
• Elevature (2000, EP)
• Sweet Release (2001)

References