from the CD Bright Channel, Flight Approved Records, 2004At my age, when I go to a show I typically expect that most opening acts (particularly of the local variety) will mostly suck, and I’ll be damned if that hasn’t often held true at concerts across this glorious nation, for decades; that’s why my pal & I were taken by complete surprise upon witnessing Bright Channel’s opening set for Dinosaur Jr. in Boulder a few years back. There we were, readying ourselves for bottom of the barrel suckage, nursing a pint of Guiness and wondering what non sequitur paths of shouted conversation would ensue during the opening set, when suddenly---WHAM, the thundering steely rhythm section of Shannon Stein on bass & Brain Banks on drums literally almost made me spit out my sip of stout. Indeed, these individuals were not fucking around, and both my friend and I exchanged bewildered glances followed by a heartfelt “fuck yea!” in unison, leaving us freed from our pessimistic expectations and liberated to cut loose (see: chugging said beer and rocking out). Bright Channel preceded the shoegazer revival by a few years, so it wasn’t surprising when I learned that none other than Steve Albini himself helmed the boards for this album. The lyrics are cryptic as fuck, matching well with the edging-towards sinister vibe their sound espouses, “…empty structures touch the sky, shiny new castles made of mirrors; it's more than just a fantasy, this is the end staring patiently…”
