Straylight fun

After going from an indie label to a major label and then to no label, Straylight Run is touring in support of their sixth recording with no label backing, though they have some amazing sponsors and an EP that is well-recorded and thought out. After leaving Universal/Republic, Straylight Run was faced with a conundrum: They had a great album, barely promoted and slightly toured, but they weren’t ready to just move on and record a new full-length for another label.

“Label relationships are the same as any other [relationship],” said drummer Will Noon. “Once you’re hurt, you’re hesitant to get back into it.”

The group decided to put out an EP themselves and get back on the road, while being able to promote their prior full-length album, The Needles the Space (which was out only six months before the band was dropped from their label).

“By putting out multiple EPs you can tour, go home for one to two months, put out the EP and tour,” Noon said. “So we’re on the same page as our fans, rather than being away for months on end and neglecting to tour.

The group never really missed a beat. They were undeterred by the label situation and back on the road before anyone missed them.

This time around, the group is bringing a horde of great bands such as Lydia, Anarbor, Camera Can’t Lie and The Dangerous Summer, to name a few—all of whom are eager to be a part of a great tour and a great cause. Some main sponsors for gear on their tour include Fender and Audix, but the real sponsors of note are Faceless International and The Love Alliance.

Straylight Run is using their status to help promote social consciousness to the world around them. Faceless International is a humanitarian organization currently working with bands Anberlin, White Collar Side Show and Straylight Run to collect goods for aiding the millions in India recently hit by monsoons. The organization’s main directive is to defend the plight of exploited people worldwide, and raise awareness about social issues across the globe.

Similarly, The Love Alliance travels around the country trying to raise awareness about issues within our own country, such as the human trafficking problem we are currently amidst. Currently, there are over fifty Love Alliance groups in four different countries. Straylight Run fully supports the efforts of these organizations and will have literature and information at all of their shows,
“We’ll be collecting jackets, winter coats, anything that can be spared to support these worthwhile causes,” Noon said.

Straylight Run’s spirit, social consciousness and stick-to-itiveness are reason enough to get off your duff and see them this weekend. But if you need more, check out their newest EP, About Time. Rife with well-played, dynamic music and piano-driven melodies, it should get you in there.