Show More▼Show Less▲
Photo of Bern & the Brights

Bern & the Brights

Bern & the Brights Radio

Music

FEATURED SONG
Sleepless Aristotle
  1. Play
  2. Play Next
  3. Add to queue
Sleepless Aristotle
Album:
Released: Jan 1, 2010
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Alternative / Folk Rock / Indie

    Location Montclair, New Jersey, Un

    Profile Views: 110525

    Last Login: 7/15/2012

    Member Since 12/11/2004

    Website bernandthebrights.com

    Type of Label Unsigned

  • Bio

    “Bern & the Brights” began as just a phrase, a gnawing hunch that woke singer Bernadette Malavarca in the middle of some night way ahead of the band’s formation. She jotted it in a notebook with the rest of the thought: “Gonna start a band. It’ll be Bern & the Brights . . . should be sleeping.” In 2008, by happenstance, the members came together to play one show at a local bookstore-closing. Within two rehearsals, a five-way chemistry became glaringly evident. Originally listed on the bill as “Bern,” at the mic, Malavarca introduced the band as “Bern & the Brights.” With amps cranked and drums pounding in a room completely inappropriate for a concert, plaster falling from the walls onto tipped over bookcases, an audience with eyes affixed on the band, rows of Converse tapping throughout each song, it was clear B&TB were onto something special. Two years later Bern & the Brights are rapidly growing to be one of North Jersey’s most promising bands. In this short time, the band has performed nearly 200 shows, has been selected as The Aquarian Weekly’s 2010 “On the Verge Band,” has been featured on 101.9RXP during the Local Licks segment on The Rock Show with Matt Pinfield and Leslie Framm, and has been highlighted as one of the top 300 NYC-area bands by The Deli Magazine, among such artists as Titus Andronicus, Ra Ra Riot, The National, and Vampire Weekend. And in their first year alone they earned the NYC Emerging Artist of December 2008 and were highlighted among the top 50 NYC Emerging Artists of 2008 at The Deli Magazine, sharing that category with other indie artists including: Chairlift, The Vivian Girls, and April Smith and the Great Picture Show. In their short time, the band has opened for such notable artists as Butch Walker, Rhett Miller [of the Old 97s,] Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea, Living Colour, and Mike Doughty [of Soul Coughing]. They’ve toured the northeast coast and have graced the stages of some major venues including Webster Hall, Maxwell’s, The Stone Pony, The Bitter End, Spike Hill, and Southpaw. The band is known for their evocative and energetic live show. With radiant chemistry and strong musicianship, they create an infectious, positive emotionality that takes over and transforms any room. Their fan base, playfully referred to as The Light Brigade, is ever-growing, and spans a broad range of people who connect with the band’s organic and romantic sound. Their sound has been described as “effortless genre-bending,” and they have been compared to stalwart artists such as R.E.M., Dave Matthews Band, Jeff Buckley, and Coldplay. Bern & the Brights are currently finishing up an EP due out this July and have a heavy tour scheduled in support. This band is DIY through and through, from booking to recording. You’ll catch them hand-packaging their CDs before shows and cutting up fliers listing their tour dates (and probably hand-delivering both to you with a friendly smile and a hug). The band is fronted by songwriters Malavarca and McGowan. For more on Bern & the Brights, check out their blog at: www.bernandthebrightsblog.com

  • Members

    Bernadette Malavarca, Catherine McGowan, Shawn Fafara, Jose Ulloa BOOKINGS: bern_music@yahoo.com

  • Influences

    Jeff Buckley, P.J. Harvey, Broken Social Scene, The National, The Veils, R.E.M, U2, Coldplay, Travis, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The White Stripes, The Strokes, New Order, Squeeze, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Radiohead, Tears For Fears, The The, The Smiths, James, The Verve, Bjork, Tori Amos, Rufus Wainright, The Stills, Tegan and Sara, Communique, Keane, Postal Service, Doves, Eurythmics, Sinead O'Connor, Talk Talk, Louscious Jackson, Moby, Lamb, Hooverphonic, Chemical Brothers,The Police, Everything But the Girl, Depeche Mode, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Rockabilly, Old jazz, Soul, Blues, Late 70s -80s Punk/New Wave, Literature, Films, Life in general, blue eyes

  • Sounds Like

    danceable romantic nerd rock

PRESS

“Bern & The Brights display the promising future of DIY music on Swing Shift Maisies.”

— The Aquarian



“I listen to a lot of albums, and there are good full length albums that don't get me as excited as the songs on "swing shift maisies" get me. Do yourself a favor and get this EP.”

— Lazlo, Blow Up Radio



“…a sound that is very refreshing, fun and infectious, and their live show is a genuinely moving experience!”

— Gary Susalis Senior Programming Director, Music Choice



“…a breath of fresh air. Their sound is absolutely original: they’re impossible to pigeonhole, creating a violin-and-guitar-driven swirl of artsy new wave, chamber pop, art-rock and indie rock, with a raw, plaintive, emotionally resonant edge.”

— Lucid Culture


Download our one sheet here.


View our EPK here.

Stream

  1. Bern & the Brights

    Much love to everyone who love us. We're number 9 on the ReverbNation Indie charts for Montclair, NJ. http://lnk.ms/dF5RN

  2. Bern & the Brights

    New Gig announced in Montclair, NJ at Tierney's Tavern on 10/13/2012 http://lnk.ms/d9ymt

  3. Bern & the Brights

    New Gig announced in Brooklyn, NY at SoFar Sounds // Park Slope [Private Address] on 10/18/2012 http://lnk.ms/d1x11

  4. Bern & the Brights

    New Gig announced in Montclair, NJ at Art Studiokids on 10/20/2012 http://lnk.ms/cp9Cw

  5. Bern & the Brights

    New Gig announced in Hoboken, NJ at Maxwell's on 8/25/2012 http://lnk.ms/cf3xs

Comments

Post a comment...

Login

Forgot password?

Need an account? Sign up