We all know that trying to make it in the music world
isn’t always glamorous. But it’s not every day that you
hear a band member compare life in a band to married life. Though
with the amount of commitment and sacrifices involved in becoming a
success, the band Brightlife may have a valid argument.
“I think we’re four very different people with one
united goal. Imagine yourself being married to three different
people and having that commitment. We have days when we wake up
next to each other on tour, and that’s the last person that
you want to see,” vocalist Reed Calhoun said. “But you
have to realize that the goal is waiting for you at the end of the
road and you have to self-sacrifice to get that goal.”
Brightlife, who will play Friday night at the Cooperage,
certainly has set some admirable goals for its music, too. The band
choose to stay away from elaborate sets and special effects ““
Brightlife is a no-nonsense band which dedicates its music to
honesty and integrity and dislikes the idea of gaudy sets.
“Our biggest thing is just having integrity and being who
you are on stage. A lot of bands seem contrived and that’s
the last thing we want to be,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun formed Brightlife in 2001 when he returned to his
hometown of Santa Barbara after an attempt to study English in
Canada and having just ended a long-term relationship. He met up
with drummer Nick Rucker, a former high school band mate, and
together the two endeavored to make Brightlife a reality. Soon
bassist Shawn Dailey and guitarist Tim Lopez joined on.
“I went off to college in Canada, and after a year of
college I realized that music is my real passion and came back to
Santa Barbara,” Calhoun said. “I was definitely getting
out of a dark place in life and (wanted) to focus on the brighter
side of life. I wanted the band to be something
positive.”
And with a name like Brightlife, band members remind themselves
not to get caught up with their problems but to keep an optimistic
attitude toward life.
“I think I approach life very seriously,” Calhoun
said. “Only recently I’ve been learning to laugh at
life.”
And while in the process of recording a new EP and signing a
deal with major record label Capitol Records, band members have
things going well for them. Having just returned from a tour with
Elliot, the band recognizes the huge benefits of touring the
country. These benefits range from seeing new places to meeting new
people and building up a bigger fan base.
But Brightlife makes it clear that the days spent on the road
touring aren’t always easy. With all the time they have to
spend on the road, both their personal lives and their personal
hygiene take a beating while they’re on the tour bus.
“All of us at this point have girlfriends, and
that’s definitely a difficult part (of being in a band).
Touring takes its toll on our relationships,” Calhoun said,
“Plus, it’s also hard being dirty on the road and not
being able to shower every day.”
But don’t expect them to be doing much outside of playing
music and working on the band.
“The band is our life,” Calhoun said, “and
that’s all we want for the rest of our lives.”
The four members of Brightlife are completely different people,
from their personalities to how they spend time and to their
religious beliefs.
“Our strengths are definitely due to the fact that all of
us are so different. So, collectively there is range of influences
that affect the music. But that’s also our biggest weakness.
It’s hard to find each other in that musical universe. Trying
to get the band members to be on the same page is difficult,”
Calhoun said.
And when they spend this much time together, it’s no
wonder they are so close to one another. But their friendships
don’t come without substantial effort on the part of the band
members.
“They’re my best friends,” Calhoun said.
“But when you’re as close as we are, it’s
definitely about sacrifice.”