Music Preview: Straylight Run At The Parish Room

Formed from the ashes of Taking Back Sunday, the Long Island group Straylight Run plays a blend of indie rock and chamber pop. Formed in 2003 by ex-TBS members Shaun Cooper and John Nolan, the duo left behind most of their emo influences when switching groups and recruited both Will Noon on drums and Nolan's sister Michelle to contribute vocals and keyboards when forming Straylight Run. The band isn't afraid to be expressive, and have addressed the Iraq war, mortality, and the infighting in their former band in their lyrics.

Straylight Run are now touring behind major-label debut The Needles The Space (Universal), which adds some chamber strings and accordion to their initial sound along with larger-scale production. This follows the 200,000 selling EP Prepare To Be Wrong, which featured the radio hit “Existentialism on Prom Night.” Straylight Run have spent much of their touring history in support slots for bands like Say Anything, The New Amsterdams, and Rooney, but have now graduated to headliner status.

You can catch Straylight Run tonight at the Parish Room tonight with support from The Color Fred, which features another former Taking Back Sunday member in Fred Mascherino. Also on the bill: Alabama's Cassino, who play some Americana-styled folk rock.

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