Nightbox

Pounding rhythms, soaring melodies, and a manic energy that sweeps up all in its path: Nightbox are not in the habit of taking prisoners. Canadian audiences be warned, you'll wear out your dancing shoes in a hurry now that the group Heineken Music dubbed "the next big Irish band" has brought its sonic assault to the land of the Maple Leaf. This fresh-faced five piece met in the halls of secondary school in Dublin, Ireland, and were inspired to form a band by the "art-rock" movement that took the UK by storm early last decade. Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, the Killers- all these bands were seminal for the young musicians, but as Nightbox matured, the scope of their influences grew ever wider. Now settled in Toronto, the band's sound has crystallized into a foot-stomping amalgam of punchy bass, chiming guitar, and dynamic synth, often girded with a four-to-the-floor kick drum. Lead singer Jake Bitove's melodies soar above the mix with an aplomb that belies his youth, and the band's live performances contain an energy and insistence that win over even the most casual listener. The music world has certainly taken note of the Irish upstarts. Before they were shaving, Nightbox had secured a record deal through victory in an international "Battle of the Bands" contest. This yielded a performance at the prestigious South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin Texas, and the chance to record an EP in Ireland's famous Grouse Lodge studio. In the past 6 months alone, the band has played numerous high profile gigs, including but not limited to: Oxegen Festival, the Vancouver Winter Olympics, Canadian Music Week, and a UK Underground Showcase at Toronto's Mod Club.