Night Beats
Encyclopedia
The Night Beats are an American Psychedelic, Garage and Soul group based out of Seattle, Washington. The group consists of Lee Blackwell (Lead Guitar, Vocals), James Traeger (Drums) and Tarek Wegner (Bass). Night Beats incorporate sounds of early R&B, Texas Psychedelic
Rock, UK Blues
, Folk and Soul
.
Named as an homage to Sam Cooke
's Magnum Opus the then 2-piece picked up Tarek Wegner who was living in Seattle.
The Night Beats toured extensively early on completing multiple North American tours during 2010 and were signed within weeks of self releasing their debut EP, the H-Bomb EP. Picked up by Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records (Ty Segall
, Fresh and Only's, Hex Dispensers, etc.).
They have toured with groups such as The Black Angels (band)
(in the UK and Europe), The Strange Boys, Black Lips
and The Growlers.
Their H-Bomb 7" has topped several college radio charts competing with other Artists' full-length efforts. (September 6, 2010)
In 2011, they released a split between The UFO Club and Night Beats on Austin's Reverberation Appreciation Society label. In April 2011, the Seattle-based art collective Portable Shrines along with Translinguistic Other released Portable Shrines Magic Sound Theater Vol. 1 on the Light In The Attic Records
label, a deluxe double LP featuring rare and exclusive tracks from Night Beats, Eternal Tapestry, Prince Rama, AFCGT, and other established and up and coming psychedelic acts curated by Seattle's Portable Shrines Collective.
On June 28, 2011 Trouble In Mind released the Night Beats Self Titled Debut LP.
The UFO Club (Lee Blackwell with Christian Bland of The Black Angels (band)
)
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
Rock, UK Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, Folk and Soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
.
History
Lee Blackwell originally from Dallas, Texas founded Night Beats in 2009 when James Traeger moved from Austin, Texas to Seattle, Washington.Named as an homage to Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke
Samuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
's Magnum Opus the then 2-piece picked up Tarek Wegner who was living in Seattle.
The Night Beats toured extensively early on completing multiple North American tours during 2010 and were signed within weeks of self releasing their debut EP, the H-Bomb EP. Picked up by Chicago's Trouble in Mind Records (Ty Segall
Ty Segall
Ty Segall is an American musician and songwriter. He sings, plays guitar and drums. He has released four solo albums and is a member of the bands The Traditional Fools, Epsilons, Party Fowl, Sic Alps, and The Perverts.-Recording career:...
, Fresh and Only's, Hex Dispensers, etc.).
They have toured with groups such as The Black Angels (band)
The Black Angels (band)
- History :Formed in May 2004, the band's name derives from the Velvet Underground song "The Black Angel's Death Song".In 2005, the Black Angels were featured on a dual-disc compilation album of psychedelic music called Psychedelica Vol.1 from Northern Star Records...
(in the UK and Europe), The Strange Boys, Black Lips
Black Lips
Black Lips are a "Flower Punk" band from Atlanta, Georgia.-History:The band formed in 1999 in Dunwoody, Georgia after guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left the Renegades, and guitarist Ben Eberbaugh left the Reruns. Alexander and Swilley were known for their crude antics both...
and The Growlers.
Their H-Bomb 7" has topped several college radio charts competing with other Artists' full-length efforts. (September 6, 2010)
In 2011, they released a split between The UFO Club and Night Beats on Austin's Reverberation Appreciation Society label. In April 2011, the Seattle-based art collective Portable Shrines along with Translinguistic Other released Portable Shrines Magic Sound Theater Vol. 1 on the Light In The Attic Records
Light In The Attic Records
Light In The Attic Records is an independent record label established in 2002 in Seattle, Washington by Matt Sullivan, known for its roster of reissue projects, and for its distribution catalog. . As reissue label, Light In The Attic has re-released works by artists such as Betty Davis, Serge...
label, a deluxe double LP featuring rare and exclusive tracks from Night Beats, Eternal Tapestry, Prince Rama, AFCGT, and other established and up and coming psychedelic acts curated by Seattle's Portable Shrines Collective.
On June 28, 2011 Trouble In Mind released the Night Beats Self Titled Debut LP.
Side projects
The Drug PurseThe UFO Club (Lee Blackwell with Christian Bland of The Black Angels (band)
The Black Angels (band)
- History :Formed in May 2004, the band's name derives from the Velvet Underground song "The Black Angel's Death Song".In 2005, the Black Angels were featured on a dual-disc compilation album of psychedelic music called Psychedelica Vol.1 from Northern Star Records...
)
Current
- Lee Blackwell (aka Danny Rajan, D. Lee Blackwell) - Lead vocals, lead guitar
- Tarek Wegner - Vocals, bass guitar, rhythm guitar
- James Traeger - Drums
Compilations
- Get Wyld! Vol. 1 - 2010 (Holy Twist)
- Portable Shrines Magic Sound Theatre Vol. 1 - 2011 (Translinguistic Other/Light In The Attic)
- Sailor Jerry Vol. 4 - 2011 (Sailor Jerry Rum)
Live Albums/Bootlegs
- Live @ KEXP - 2010
- Live @ KDVS - 2010
- Live @ Radio Valencia (San Francisco, CA) - 2010
- Live @ The Soda Bar (San Diego, CA) - 2011
- Live @ The Casbah (San Diego, CA) - 2011
Singles/Splits/EPs
- H-Bomb 7" - 2010 (Self-Released)
- H-Bomb 7" - 2010 (Trouble In Mind Records)
- H-Bomb EP (ItunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
) - 2010 (Holy Twist) - Night Beats/UFO Club Split 10" - 2011 (Reverberation Appreciation Society)