The Bigger Lights

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The Bigger Lights
The-Bigger-Lights.JPG
The Bigger Lights in 2010
Background information
Origin Vienna, Virginia, U.S.
Genres
Years active2007–2011
Labels Doghouse
Past members
  • Christopher "Topher" Talley
  • John Kendall "JK" Royston
  • Dan Mineart
  • Chris McPeters
  • Mikey Davis
  • John Paul Holt
  • Ryan Seaman
Website thebiggerlights.net

The Bigger Lights was an American rock band based in Vienna, Virginia. The band signed with Doghouse Records less than one year after forming. [1] Fiction Fever was released on October 7, 2008. Their self-titled debut album was released on March 30, 2010. The Bigger Lights announced on Twitter and Facebook on July 5 that they will be releasing their second full-length album, Battle Hymn, on July 12. [2]

Contents

History

"The band started with JK and Dan. They were in another band for five years together and they weren't happy with the way that it was going and they searched for a singer for about seven or eight months and then they ended up seeing me (Topher) at a show and stealing me from my band that I had just started and that's how I got started with them. We went through a couple people as far as drummers and guitarists and stuff and then we ended up, one of our good friends, Aaron Stern who played for a band called matchbook romance actually hooked us up with the guy that's our permanent drummer now, his name's Ryan Seaman and he actually used to drum for a band called I Am Ghost and he did stuff with Jeffree Star, which is silly and awesome I guess but now he's with us full time and we did another tour with this band called Tyler Read it was the Atticus Clothing Tour and we actually meshed really well with this one guitarist named Chris who played for Tyler Read and we thought he was the best guitar player we'd ever seen live and we had the opportunity to bring out a second guitarist. We wanted him hands down. He was at the top of the list so that's how that got set up and we love everyone and we're very very happy with the people we have." -Topher Talley [3]

As of March 2011, The Bigger Lights were listed on Doghouse Records website as Alumni. They released their second album, Battle Hymn, in July 2011. The Bandcamp digital download for Battle Hymn included a pdf "manifesto", which described the band's trials and tribulations leading up to their final release; "We left our record label and turned our back on the institutionalized music business. We declined tours that would have boosted our profile and generated income because they didn’t excite us. We rejected co-writes and production deals. We sold everything we could live without to resolve the debts that were driving us to make bad decisions based on the business of art rather than the integrity of the art itself. We burned the house down and stood on the smoldering ash and swore to each other that the next thing we did would either be the gutsiest, most relevant thing we had in us or we’d do nothing at all...“Battle Hymn” is as honest and self-actualized a record as the four of us were capable of making at this pivotal point in our lives." [4]

In May of 2011 Ryan Seaman left the band on amicable terms, and the band ultimately went on an indefinite hiatus after 2011. The band has teased reunions and new music over the years on social media, but nothing has been confirmed or released.

In October 2023 the band once more teased a reunion on Instagram, and in early 2024 Talley, McPeters, Royston, Mineheart, and Seaman got together for a Bigger Lights reunion, although it's unknown if they recorded new music or if any future releases or shows are planned. As of 2025, nothing has been announced.


Band members

Discography

Tours

This is a list of tours that The Bigger lights have participated on, or will be participating on; individual concerts are not included.

Tour nameParticipating bands Continent Participating from – to
The April Nights & Highway Lights Tour My Favorite Highway, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America April 11–21, 2008
The Get Rich Slow TourThe Scenic, Sparks The Rescue, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America October 9–18, 2008
Stereo Bear Presents... Tour Hey Monday, There For Tomorrow, My Getaway, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America December 26–30, 2008
Come See Fight Fair On Tour Fight Fair, Thieves & Villains, School Boy Humor, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America January 25 – February 7, 2009
The Let's Get Happy Tour Never Shout Never, The Honorary Title, The Scene Aesthetic, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America February 26 – March 26, 2009
No Parents, No Rules Tour The Secret Handshake, The Morning Of, The Dangerous Summer, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America May 5–28, 2009
Let's Make a Mess Tour Hey Monday, This Providence, Stereo Skyline, The Friday Night Boys, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America June 10 – July 24, 2009
Cartel/ This Providence Fall Tour 2009 Cartel, This Providence, The Summer Set, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America October 22 – November 27, 2009
Once It Hits Your Lips Tour The Friday Night Boys, Anarbor, The Bigger Lights, The Ready Set Flag of the United States.svg North America January 22 – February 13, 2010
'Bout Damn Time Tour This Providence, Anarbor, The Bigger Lights, Artist Vs. Poet Flag of the United States.svg North America March 25 – May 1, 2010
Cute Is What We Aim For Spring Tour 2010 Cute Is What We Aim For, The Friday Night Boys, The Bigger Lights, Down With Webster Flag of the United States.svg North America May 11 – June 19, 2010
Warped Tour 2010 Kevin Says Stage Flag of the United States.svg North America July 15–17, 2010
Reach For The Sun Tour 2010 The Dangerous Summer, The Morning Of, C!ty L!ghts, The Bigger Lights Flag of the United States.svg North America August 10–15, 2010
The Caffeine And Skinny Jeans Tour (First Headlining Tour)The Bigger Lights, The Graduate, You, Me, And Everyone We Know, Weatherstar Flag of the United States.svg North America August 18–29, 2010
The Bigger Lights Winter TourThe Bigger Lights, The Scenic, For The Foxes Flag of the United States.svg North America December 11–19, 2010

References