Lights Over Bridgeport
Good Grief
(Self-Release)
Chicago is full of punk bands following in the footsteps of The Lawrence Arms, Naked Raygun, Wilco, Rise Against and Alkaline Trio. Most of the time, the shtick gets old and tired, but every once in awhile a band hits that sweet spot between hometown inspiration and fresh material. Which is exactly what Lights Over Bridgeport’s new EP Good Grief did and it is good. If Alkaline Trio’s From Here To Infirmary and Yellowcard’s Lights and Sounds had a baby (and that baby worshiped Face To Face), it would be Lights Over Bridgeport’s Good Grief. Produced by ex-The Swellers Nick Diener and friends, the EP is full of power chords, light distortion and silvery harmony so sweet lead singer John Hamlin could double as a pop vocalist.
The opening track, “Heartbreakers” is cut-and-dry pop punk in it’s finest form, fast guitar breaks coupled with shouting yet smooth vocals. “Saving April” shines from the EP as the quintessential ode to the great 2000’s pop punk love songs with cutesy lyrics like, “I’d walk all the way to Cleveland for you/Jeopardy reruns with your favorite dog/could live on Haribo forever with you.” The song with the most character has to be “Curses” as the chugging down-tempo intro leads up and pours into the chorus with backing vocals by Diener. A song about what seems like heartbreak and having to walk away from someone, the building guitar into the bridge ends the song on a high note. A punchy track with fast breaks, “Inscription” is the inspirational outro to the EP holding gang vocals through most of the song.
Purchase the album here: Bandcamp | Physical
