WikiMini

Night Beats

Night Beats
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, United States
GenresGarage rock, psychedelic rock, soul, surf rock
Years active2009 — present
LabelsFuzz Club, Cooking Vinyl, Heavenly Recordings
Trouble In Mind
The Reverberation Appreciation Society
MembersDanny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley
Kyrone Oak
Past membersTarek Wegner
James Traeger
Jakob Bowden
Evan Snyder
Sam Thorne
Websitethenightbeats.us

Night Beats are an American psychedelic/garage rock band, formed in 2009 in Seattle, Washington. Named after the Sam Cooke album 'Night Beat',[1] the band consists of lead singer and guitarist Danny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley[2] as the only permanent member. Blackwell self-released the Street (Atomic) EP in 2009.

History

[edit]

Danny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley had previously fronted various bands in his hometown of Dallas, Texas including The Old Explosives, White Light Fever and Medicine God Box.[3] With White Light Fever, who were initially called Japanese Auto Clinic,[4] he released debut album Heavy Knife Blues in 2007 and the band were reportedly courted by Columbia Records. A second album Count All Your Father's Wealth was seemingly abandoned.[5][6] He also worked with The Tempers, playing live with the band and contributing a guitar solo to one track on their debut album Vol. 1.

Night Beats toured extensively early on, completing multiple North American tours during 2010 and were signed within weeks of self-releasing the H-Bomb EP. Picked up by Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records (Ty Segall, Fresh and Only's, Hex Dispensers, etc.).[7] The re-release of the EP topped several college radio charts competing with other Artists' full-length efforts. (September 6, 2010)[8]

Original band lineup

On June 28, 2011 the band released their self-titled debut album via Trouble In Mind.[9] They also released a split EP with The UFO Club on the Austin label The Reverberation Appreciation Society. A split single with TRMRS was released in June 2012 via Volcom Vinyl Club.[10]

On September 24, 2013, the band released their second album "Sonic Bloom" via The Reverberation Appreciation Society.[11] They toured North America, Europe, Israel, South Africa and Australia in support of the album.

In 2015, the band signed to London-based label Heavenly Recordings and released their third album "Who Sold My Generation" in January 2016. The album featured Black Rebel Motorcycle Club member Robert Levon Been on bass, who also co-produced the album.[12]

On January 28, 2019, the band released their fourth album Myth Of A Man. The album was recorded by Billingsley with producer and Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach. For the sessions, Billingsley was backed by a cast of old time session musicians who had worked with the likes of Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.

Later that year, on June 21, 2019, studio album: Night Beats Perform The Sonics 'Boom' was released.

Then in late 2020, Blackwell signed Night Beats to Fuzz Club Records. Outlaw R&B, the next Night Beats studio album was released on June 4, 2021.[13] A live album, Levitation Sessions, was released via The Reverberation Appreciation Society in August 2021.[14]

In 2022, Danny teamed up with Carolina Faruolo (ex-Los Bitchos) to release the Tropicalia influenced album Monte Carlo on the Seattle based Suicide Squeeze Records.[15] He also has a collaborative project called UFO Club, with Christian Bland from the band the Black Angels. [3] Notably, the song "Right/Wrong," was the official song of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival in 2022.

On July 14, 2023, Night Beats released the studio album: Rajan on Suicide Squeeze Records. [4]

In March of 2025, Danny Lee Blackwell made his music video directorial debut, for the new Night Beats single, Behind the Green Door.

Band members

[edit]

Current

[edit]
  • Danny "Lee Blackwell" Rajan Billingsley - Vocals, lead guitar
  • Kyrone Oak - Bass

Former

[edit]
  • Tarek Wegner - Bass
  • James Traeger - Drums
  • Jakob Bowden - Bass
  • Evan Snyder - Drums
  • Sam Thorne - Bass

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]

Singles/Splits/EPs

[edit]
  • H-Bomb 7" - 2010 (Self-Released)
  • H-Bomb 7" - 2010 (Trouble In Mind Records)[16]
  • H-Bomb EP (iTunes) - 2010 (Holy Twist)[17]
  • Night Beats/UFO Club Split 10" - 2011 (The Reverberation Appreciation Society)
  • Night Beats/TRMRS Split 7" - 2012 (Volcom Entertainment/Resurrection Records)[18]
  • Night Beats/ Her Cold Cold Heart - 2018 (Heavenly Recordings / [PIAS])
  • Night Beats/ Behind the Green Door - 2025 (Suicide Squeeze Records)

Compilations

[edit]
  • Get Wyld! Vol. 1 - 2010 (Holy Twist)[19]
  • Portable Shrines Magic Sound Theatre Vol. 1 - 2011 (Translinguistic Other/Light In The Attic)[20]
  • Sailor Jerry Vol. 4 - 2011 (Sailor Jerry Rum)
  • Temptation Eyes (Grass Roots) - 2022
  • I Was A Teenage Werewolf (Tribute to the Cramps) - 2023

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Maguire, Paige (April 9, 2010). "Austin Psych Fest Preview: For the Benefit of Mr. Night (Beats)". Austinist.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ^ "ACE Title Search". Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  3. ^ "Danny Rajan | OKC Thunder Music - Feel the Thunder!". Mail.okcthunder.info. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "The Sub-Rosa: Heavy: The Passionate Blues of White Light Fever". Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  5. ^ Freedman, Pete. "White Light Fever Readies New CD While Battling Those Underage Blues". Dallas Observer. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  6. ^ Segal, Dave. "Gimme That Old-Time Innovation". Thestranger.com. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  7. ^ Troublemakers (March 15, 2012). "Trouble In Mind". Troubleinmindrecs.blogspot.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  8. ^ "Top 30 Albums |". Kdvs.org. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Night Beats | Trouble In Mind Records". Troubleinmindrecs.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "Night Beats/TRMRS Volcom Split, by Night Beats". Nightbeats.bandcamp.com. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  11. ^ [1] [dead link]
  12. ^ "Night Beats - Who Sold My Generation". Clashmusic.com. February 8, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "Night Beats announce new album 'Outlaw R&B'". Fuzzclub.com. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  14. ^ "Levitation Sessions : NIGHT BEATS". Shop.levitation-austin.com. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  15. ^ "Monte Carlo". Suicide Squeeze. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  16. ^ [2] Archived August 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "iTunes Store". iTunes. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  18. ^ "Volcom Entertainment - Vevc". Store.volcoment.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  19. ^ "iTunes - Music - Get Wyld! Volume 1 by Various Artists". iTunes. April 5, 2010. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  20. ^ "Portable Shrines Magic Sound Theatre Vol. I | Light In The Attic Records". Lightintheattic.net. April 16, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
[edit]