Night Riots

Night Riots, the California group recognized for their emotional and atmospheric tone, craft uplifting synth-driven dance-rock built around the magnetic frontman Travis Hawley.

The band formed in Templeton, a small community near San Luis Obispo, while its members were still in high school, with Hawley on drums alongside guitarist Matt DePauw and bassist Mikel Van Kranenburg. By 2010 Hawley had switched to lead vocals and Rico Rodriguez had taken over on drums. Also that year, recording as PK, the group issued the self-produced album Into the Roaring. Two years later they issued the Lost Boys Sessions EP. It was during this period that they officially changed their name to Night Riots and released the follow-up EP Young Lore.

Instead of pursuing a label contract, Night Riots grew their audience through steady touring that stressed multiple dates in each market, including performances at local high schools. The strategy succeeded, yielding a devoted fan base even with relatively modest public visibility. In 2015 the band put out their third studio EP, Howl, which featured the single "Contagious." Their debut album, Love Gloom, arrived in late 2016 and included the singles "Nothing Personal" and "Fangs." Issued on Sumerian, the record registered strongly on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. The group moved toward a brighter palette on 2019's nostalgic and highly danceable New State of Mind.