The Flashing Lights

Initially formed as a cover act specializing in 1960s material, the Flashing Lights performed in the Halifax area during periods when Matt Murphy, serving as guitarist and vocalist, could step away from his main outfit, the Super Friendz. Following the Super Friendz' breakup in 1997, Murphy relocated to Toronto alongside his longtime associate and bassist Henri Sangalang; before long, keyboardist Gaven Dianda and drummer Steve Pitkin joined the ensemble. The Lights drew from 1960s sonic palettes, citing the Kinks, Game Theory, and the Who among their key inspirations. While laying down tracks for their debut album, the group maintained a local performance schedule that helped cultivate a loyal following. Opting to bypass label negotiations altogether, they put out their inaugural full-length, Where the Change Is, on their own imprint. Joining forces with the Local Rabbits and Thrush Hermit, the Lights embarked on a tour in the autumn of 1999, with the album reaching American audiences the following spring.