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John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
Indie

		BEAUTIFUL EMPTY: Available now on iTunes Denver, Colorado United States Minor Outlying Islands Profile Views: 104419 Last Login: 2/8/2010
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Contacting John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light

MySpace URL:

www.myspace.com/johncommon

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light: General Info

Member Since	2/10/2005
Band Website	http://www.johncommon.com
Band Members	JOHN COMMON & BLINDING FLASHES OF LIGHT is... John Common -- songs, guitars, piano, organ, samples, vocals Jess De Nicola Mefford -- vocals, keys Kevin Meyer -- bass, vocals Wes Michaels -- cello Adam Revell -- piano, organ, melodica, glockenspiel Carl Sorensen -- drums Various friends -- various things Visit www.johncommon.com for tour info, pics, videos and lyrics
Influences	bob ross tom waits john lennon jesus jeff buckley sparklehorse miles davis david bowie rufus wainwright neil young david lowery big star beck jeff tweedy robert zimmerman my brothers daniel lanois robert pollard mark kozelek elliot smith emma
Sounds Like	John Common sounds like this going into this.
Record Label	Free School Records
Type of Label	Indie

Upcoming Shows

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Feb 19 2010

8:30P

Meadowlark / Supporting Mike Marchant CD Release

Denver, Colorado

Mar 12 2010

8:00P

Colorado Springs TBA

Denver, Colorado

Mar 13 2010

8:00P

Walnut Room

Denver, Colorado

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light's Latest Blog Entry [Subscribe to this Blog]

This Saturday! You coming? (view more)

Our new website! (view more)

Monday night (yes, Monday): JC&BFoL, Nathan Moore, Tyler Despres @ Walnut Room (view more)

So many cool things to tell you... Grab a cup of coffe. (view more)

This Sat - 2 shows (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

About John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light

THE INEVITABLE BIOGRAPHY

JOHN COMMON & BLINDING FLASHES OF LIGHT
John Common sometimes wishes he were a filmmaker or a painter, but due to a run-in with his older brother's record collection at an impressionable age, he ended up with a bad case of the rock and an obsession for making music instead. He's constantly writing songs -- they range from raucous and snarly, to beautiful and introspective.

John plays with an incredibly talented group of musicians, artists and friends, drawn from Colorado’s indie music scene: Jess De Nicola (voice), Keven Meyer (bass, vocals), Wes Michaels (cello, saxophone), Adam Revell (keys) and Carl Sorensen (drums). They are that unique kind of band where each player is an artistic force in their own right, but when they all play together something extra happens. Something larger.

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light are currently in the studio finishing a new record slated for release later this year. It’s named Beautiful Empty. Beware: this music will cause short films to spontaneously appear in your head with its lush arrangements, gorgeous harmonies and cinematic lyrics. It’s music that can pin you to the wall, break your heart, or just send you off thinking for a while.

Visit JohnCommon.com for updated show dates, photos, movies, press resources and stories.

Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear Beautiful Empty

PRESS QUOTES

2009 Lyons Folks Festival Finalist
2009 Westword Nominate Best Pop Artist
2009 Denver Music Scene Top 10 Songwriters
2008 Telluride Troubadour Finalist
2008 Westword Nominated Best Singer/Songwriter
2007 Lyons Folks Festival Finalist
2007 Mover and Shaker / Best Local Release -- Westword
2007 Best Local Release -- The Denver Post
2006 Most Intriguing Discs - The Onion
2006 Westword Nominated Best Singer/Songwriter

"Hard to classify, John Common plays a brand of upbeat indie rock that makes use of a wide array of instruments from trumpets to xylophones. His band Blinding Flashes of Light is comprised of several talented musicians culled from the vibrant Colorado indie scene who provide the backdrop to his insightful and powerful lyrics." -- DENVER METROMIX

"John's clever lyrics and perfectly crafted songs are outdone only by his huge and prolific body of work. This guy puts out a solid album twice a year. No wonder his songs are good. He also has a killer band." -- Denver Music Scene, Top Ten Singer-Songwriters

"A brilliant, extremely ambitious disc... Denver's finest rock recording of the past decade." -- WESTWORD MAGAZINE  (Good To Be Born)

"Why Birds Fly is even more uncommon than its acclaimed 2006 predecessor...the aural environment Common creates is so sumptuous that it rewards repeated listens even as it confounds expectations." -- WESTWORD MAGAZINE (Why Birds Fly)

"It may seem difficult to imagine a guy named John Common living a highly individual life, but believe it... his creative curiosity and detail-oriented aesthetic distinguish him from the drooling pack of earnest singer-songwriters." -- DENVER POST

"Raw, yet sophisticated pop." -- THE ONION

"Is something really going on in Denver’s music scene? If we need any more evidence that speaks to the vitality of our expanding catalog of acts, John Common’s new album, “Good to be Born” is that kind of prescription...It’s out. And not to be forgotten. " --  SYNTAX

MOST INTRIGUING DISCS OF 2006 - THE ONION
"With all the craft of a consummate songwriter, John Common builds songs that dig beneath thick skins and lazy thinking. He deconstructs them with the abandon of a mad scientist, resulting in a disc that's as rich in texture as it is drenched in tenderness." -- THE ONION

"Every aspect of Common's squirrely melodic sensibilities and unerringly tight playing and production are featured here." -- THE DENVER POST

"A rich mix of samples, guitars, and lyrical intensity in a quieter version of 'Bends'-era Radiohead or the missing step in Wilco's leap from 'Being There' to 'Summerteeth'.  The music is complex and innovative without sacrificing catchy hooks or raw energy in a wide range of styles and tempos. " --  COLORADO MUSIC BUZZ

"John Common has plenty of natural talent. But a more literal interpretation also applies to his latest recording, Why Birds Fly. Throughout tunes such as "Moonlight" and "Unseen Things," Common weaves traditional instrumentation with the sort of found sounds heard in forests at night: the ambient noises of creatures that creep, crawl or take wing. These subtle touches make his work seem natural in every sense of the word." -- BEST OF WESTWORD 2008

"He always seems to have the right words... with a repertoire that ranges from haunting to hopeful, pensive to provocative." -- COLORADO LOCAL LEGENDS

"Far too many performers settle for predictability — but Common constantly pushes himself, his songs and his arrangements onto paths that few travelers have trod. While his work can seem inconsistent at times, even the misses are intriguing — and the high points (like "Moonlight" and the preternatural "Not So Bad") truly take wing. — WESTWORD

"Denver's John Common has cracked the code of modern-day songwriting and delivered us something surprisingly refreshing... "Good To Be Born," is full of energy, passion, creativity, variety, personality and most importantly, sounds you've never heard before.  He is a damn good songwriter. " -- KCSU MUSIC DIRECTOR / ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGIAN

MOVERS AND SHAKER 2006 - WESTWORD
"The auspicious debut of former Rainville frontman John Common shares intellectual shelf space with mid-period Remy Zero and Radiohead. With supple vocals that glide from intoxicating purrs to forceful croons, Common weaves his way through intelligent, cinematic material that's thoughtfully augmented by well-placed samples, subtle brass accompaniment and murmuring keys." -- WESTWORD MAGAZINE

"This album portrays a band with the skills to embellish a writer who has a foot in the motherlode of great songs." -- AMERICANA UK

"Common has achieved the musical equivalent of picking up seven tiles in a game of Scrabble and being able to lay down “bezique” on the first turn. " -- FIVE MAGAZINE, TAOS, NEW MEXICO

"It would be much too easy to use John Common's last name as a pun to describe his 'uncommon' skills as a singer-songwriter, but what the hell." -- SANTE FE REPORTER

"John approaches songwriting as though each song is a scene from a movie. The music and lyrics traverse in opposite directions. Music that grinds and roars, exhales and charges again in a fashion reminiscent of early Rolling Stones or Neil Young Two contrasting streams of expression meet to create an energetic dissonance that is pleasant to the troubled ear, in a word rock." --  BOULDER WEEKLY

"John Common has a keen melodic sense and the requisite ability to take the basic pop formula and turn it on its head.  The mix of goodies on his new release, Good To Be Born, bring together a host of elements and styles that, although diverse, avoid the abrasion that many artists suffer when trying to blend too much The blossoming Denver scene should be plenty proud to have Common in its quiver of emerging artists." --  KAFFEINE BUZZ

"His face is a familiar one around town - although it's not as recognizable as his voice." -- DENVER POST

"Drawing as much from Radiohead and Yo La Tengo as it does from Wilco and the Jayhawks, the group folds elegant melody into brooding experimentalism -- an epic, adventurous sound that will be showcased on an upcoming full-length debut."  -- WESTWORD MAGAZINE

"Common writes a great song just about every day... 'Good To Be Born' is a Matthew Sweet-meets-Queen rock opus filled with catchy songs and layers of clever vocals... Damn him."  --  5280 MAGAZINE

"Common is a gifted songwriter with a playfully weird sensibility." --  DENVER POST

"Singer-songwriter John Common first won over Colorado audiences with the appealing Americana of his band Rainville, releasing two albums before the project came to an end in 2004. Since then, Common has changed directions with his music, and his new album, Good To Be Born, leaves his earlier alt-country sound behind to focus on innovative pop-rock, enhanced with computerized sounds, Spanish phrases, and other sonic surprises. No two songs sound exactly alike." -- NEW WEST, BOULDER

"Good To Be Born is a compilation of 11 powerful songs with multiple layers and complexities..."  --  NORTH DENVER NEWS

"John Common refuses to cave to category."  --  DENVER DAILY NEWS

"There are songs that make me want to drink till morning you see... Songs that make me wish I'd somehow gone home with that handsome stranger who smiled when I looked up from my book... Songs that make me want to be loud and messy and get into lots of trouble, when normally I am quiet and neat and only get into medium amounts of trouble... Songs I've caught myself putting on repeat when it's 2 am and I have to wake up at 6..."
-- A GIRL

Best guitar tone (2000) -- This one makes me laugh!
John Common
Rainville frontman John Common sports a six-stringed timbre that's anything but common. With a Fender Twin, a semi-hollow-bodied DeArmond "Starfire" and a pair of Boss pedals, Common creates a dinosaur tone that groans and growls, squawls and squeals. Pair it with his deft rhythm-to-lead workmanship (and his picking smarts) and you've got fully realized guitar glory. Let it reign. -- BEST OF WESTWORD

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light's Friend Space (Top 1)

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light has 4391 friends.

Emma

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John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light's Friends Comments

Displaying 25 of 1285 comments ( View All | Add Comment )

Naeem Oba	Jan 23 2010 2:23 PM SALUTE!
Mechanical Dan	Jan 18 2010 1:35 AM A great party & a great performance @ Casselman's. Nice work. Ryan & Dan http://www.mechanicaldan.com
@};- Layne	Jan 18 2010 1:35 AM Had a great f***in time! Great to see you again and I hope to see you live again soon. The new band is fantastic! Just don't go the way of Starfuzz anytime soon ;-)
Genuine / Jason Hlatky	Dec 18 2009 6:06 AM Good luck. Cant wait to hear it
Station 17	Oct 15 2009 5:09 AM STATION 17 – Online Exclusive Die Antwort Auf Das Licht (Frittenbude Remix) FREE DOWNLOAD!!! http://rapidshare.com/files/281259302/Station_17_-_Die_Antwort_Auf_Das_Licht__Frittenbude_Rmx_.mp3
Mandy Cane	Oct 10 2009 3:00 PM Check out my page http://www.doulike.us/photos/7577263.html?b=4&w=46 Let me know if you like me YES or NO http://www.doulike.us/photos/7577263.html?b=4&w=46
St. Elias	Sep 27 2009 7:09 PM The day of judgment has arrived. Don't be late. Also, we love you.
Maia Papaya	Sep 27 2009 7:09 PM hi!
k-mule	Aug 30 2009 4:03 PM I miss the music!
Crystina Maez	Aug 24 2009 3:20 PM Thanks! :)
Bolivian Neutron Bomb	Aug 6 2009 11:27 PM See you at Folks Fest! Best Wishes (crosses fingers and shakes them, Hayley Mills-style)
Cowboy Crush	Jul 20 2009 2:59 AM
DJ’s EnDaHau2	Jul 6 2009 8:56 AM Yo Check our page for the latest in Crunk!, Dub & Electro Remixes & MASH UPS ! and be shure to check all the mix CD's we have tons of mixes ready for you to download hope you enjoy. DJ's ENDAHAUS Are currently accepting Bookings for next year get us on your party before we are all booked up Contact us @ endahaus@yahoo.com or call 720-496-7605 , 720-242-9239, and of course you can always find us on Twitter or facebook as well. We hope to be rockin your next show soon! Much love to all who support us.
Colin Thompson	Jul 5 2009 10:44 PM
JOHN MC CRAY	Jun 19 2009 10:57 AM Best Wishes From Germany & Have A Great Weekend! johnmccray.npage.de
Mike Leonard	May 21 2009 4:37 PM Thanks for adding me. mike
Megan Burtt	May 12 2009 11:38 PM thanks for the hang.
Victoria Woodworth	Apr 28 2009 9:01 PM Eric Shiveley, if you don't mind driving to Alamosa and you like chihuahuas.
conscious elliot	Apr 19 2009 3:39 PM great set at the Walnut Room. dig the new songs. AA
Jen Korte & the Loss	Mar 18 2009 2:47 AM I'm gonna git you sucka
DUALISTICS	Mar 18 2009 3:12 PM can't wait!
Liz	Mar 8 2009 6:34 PM Touch My Body Fail by Mariah Curry
Liz	Mar 8 2009 6:36 PM
Webster	Mar 7 2009 11:24 AM Hey man! I dig your music. A buddy of mine got me turned on to you. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the new music posted on my page!
photogbrian Online Now!	Feb 24 2009 3:31 AM Hey the Oriental Show: Lance was there with his cool gear recording all the performers. They are all on the web for your listening pleasure. People's Kazoo Orchestra, Achille Lauro, & Ellison Park http://www. theflatresponse. com/

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