The Light Show – Fran (2025)
The best punk bands, or bands that walk through various genres of punk, are those that bowl you over with one fell swoop, and you absolutely love it. Sex Pistols had it. The Offspring had it. Bad Religion had it. Today, I found that The Light Show has it as well. Hailing from just outside Halifax, the UK-based foursome blends raw, sweaty mosh-pit energy with rambunctious yet melodic punk-rock songs. Sharing music with the masses since their 2017 debut EP, Brodrick Barricade, The Light Show has kept the punk flag flying, turning heads beyond their UK borders. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Fran’.
Recorded and produced by Kurt Wood, the song opens with a simple indie-rock-tinged lilt, a soft enticement by Jake Womack’s rich vocals; then everything hits the fan. Charlie Eccleston’s crashing drums hit you from one side with pulsating force, while Lewis Haughey’s bass kicks from the bottom. Jack Roundhill’s guitar swerves in the air with its scorching vibrance, while Womack smacks you between the eyes with his forceful belt.
The first release since 2021’s ‘Round and Round’, ‘Fran’ is an angry thrust into a dimly lit underground venue, with punters ordering vodka, the random lad with a sly look in his eye, and the pounding crush of a sweaty mosh pit, while the band oozes high-voltage, infectious music. It’s the quick step into the melee, before you find yourself spiralling into a mire of destruction – but a destruction you’re willing to endure with its soul-stirring euphoria.
A song about a woman named Fran who tosses your night into urgent, jagged frenzy, this track is the story you tell of a dodgy night where things became a little crazy. You know you’ll have a hangover in the morning, and probably won’t remember much, but that pounding hangover will be worth the experience. This is my introduction to The Light Show, and I highly recommend them to anyone! Not for the faint-hearted, though.
In addition to the single, The Light Show released an official music video for ‘Fran’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel.
Find out more about The Light Show on their official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, YouTube and Spotify.
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