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Photo credit: Travis Trautt

Photo credit: Travis Trautt

Smokey Brights is a story of love and pizza. Husband and wife duo Ryan Devlin and Kim West first met while slinging pies at a south Seattle restaurant in their early 20s. Devlin, a fixture in the Northwest’s thriving DIY rock scene, and West, an aspiring law student, started writing and recording songs in Devlin’s bedroom during a cash-strapped Christmas as their friendship blossomed into romance. Pulling from their mutual love of 70s rock, vintage synthesizers, thrift shop treasures, and early MTV, the pair’s bond permeated their pop songcraft. The duo, joined by drummer Nick Krivchenia and bassist Luke Logan, create a stoney blend of Northwest rock & roll and razor-sharp disco grooves that Impose Magazine has called “a modern bit of AM radio gold.”

The group released their first LP, Taste For Blood, in 2014 to regional acclaim and heavy airplay and support from iconic radio station KEXP. Catching the attention of upstart label Freakout Records, the band released their sophomore LP, Hot Candy, in 2016. 2018 saw the band releasing two EP's, "Come to Terms" and "Different Windows," with supporting appearances at clubs and festivals across the United States as well as the group's first headlining UK tour. 2019 brought extensive touring in support of these EPs, with the band's first headlining European tour, official plays at SXSW, Treefort Music Festival, and additional tours and festivals across the US. Smokey Brights will release a new LP in 2020.

"HOT CANDY" by Smokey Brights Release Date October 21, 2016 Smokey Brights are: Ryan Devlin – vocals and guitar Kim West – vocals, synth, organ, and piano Mike Kalnoky – guitar and vocals Nick Krivchenia – drums and percussion Jim Vermillion – bass and vocals Hot Candy was primarily recorded at Sean Flora’s Rock n Roll BNB on Sauvie Island in Portland, Oregon. Tracks six and eleven were recorded at Avast! Recording Co. in Seattle, Washington. Overdubs and additional engineering were done at Wizard House in Seattle, WA. Produced by: Smokey Brights and Cameron Spies Recording Engineer: Sean Flora Recording Engineer on tracks 6 and 11: Brian Pugh Vocal Production: Lizzy Ellison Mixed by: John Askew Mastered by: Roger Seibel at SAE Assistant Engineering: Kyle Cregan and Adam Burd Art Direction and Design: Shaun Swick Cover Photography: Dylan Priest Cover Model: Cam Shaw Band Photography: Andrew JS

'Come to Terms' ep
on LIMITED ed. Red vinyl

Order "Come to Terms" on red vinyl from Freakout Records!

Order "Come to Terms" on red vinyl from Freakout Records!

SMOKEY BRIGHTS
'LIPSTICK TEE'

Order the Smokey Brights 'Lipstick Tee' from Bandcamp!

Order the Smokey Brights 'Lipstick Tee' from Bandcamp!

'HOT CANDY' lp
ON limited ed. PINK VINYL

Order "Hot Candy" on pinky vinyl from Freakout Records.

Order "Hot Candy" on pinky vinyl from Freakout Records.

upcoming dates

Photo by Jake Hanson

Photo by Jake Hanson

Photo by Travis Trautt

NICE THINGS PEOPLE HAVE SAID

"SMOKEY BRIGHTS ARE THE BEST BAND IN SEATTLE RIGHT NOW."
Steven Graham, 107.7 The End

"A modern bit of AM radio gold." 
Impose Magazine

"There has never been a shortage of rock and roll bands, but it's safe to say there is a shortage of bands taking a fresh approach to the genre at this point in time. Seattle’s Smokey Brights, on the other hand, are doing exactly that." 
Glide Magazine

"Smokey Brights is a sumptuous four-piece plays rock in its truest, most classic form. Don’t mistake that as synonymous with middle-of-the-road rock, however, because Smokey Brights is anything but. Equal parts crunchy and polished, classic and psychedelic, Smokey Brights’ brand of rock is one that many likely thought was extinct, especially in Seattle."
Culture Magazine

"In the current rock world only a few number of bands have the unconventional art of doing something different and fresh, that pushes the listener to the limit and create that strange and rare feeling of having something really genuine and raw. Seattle’s Smokey Brights, on the other hand, are one of ."
Music & Riots Magazine

"Smokey Brights music is off the charts something else. It’s jagged, upbeat rock and sexy, sad seventies that will turn, without warning, into a skittering, psychedelic, crushing crescendo climax. And that’s just scraping the surface. There are so many disparate levels of awesome happening within this band that if you listen, and then listen again, you just might begin to understand exactly what Smokey Brights are telling you."
Sean De ToreMy Northwest

"Smokey Brights isn't interested in sounding slick or pretending to be perfect. Their sound is a warm combination of charmingly lo-fi and charmingly retro; they're willing to go simple and DIY, crank up the psychedelics or maybe play with '60s spy-movie tones just for the fun of it. They're about finding ways to enjoy the ride and remembering we're all in it together." 
That Music Magazine

"Hailing from Seattle, Smokey Brights exist at the angle where pealing bells meet rock drawl. It's neither sentimental nor intellectual. It is, in short, sublime. More than once the voices of four out of the five members could be heard in harmony, eyes dreamy and chins tilted towards the heavens. Apart from the drummer, they were as like a choir or band comprising three frontmen, all exuding the same hue of spiritual rigor, at times willing out in body convulsions when tensions in the song were at a mount. This band, at least for the night, was convinced that rock n' roll might very well be that that saves us from the dark mouth of time."
Jordan Deveraux, SLUG Magazine

COOL STUFF WE’VE GOTTEN TO DO

First Headlining European Tour, October-November, 2019

SXSW Official Showcasing Artist, 2019

Treefort Music Fest Official Showcasing Artist, 2019

First Headlining UK Tour, October 2018

SXSW Official Showcasing Artist, 2018

Treefort Music Fest Official Showcasing Artist, 2018

"Come to Terms," Song of the Day Podcast, December 1, 2017

"Come to Terms," Music That Matters Podcast, Vol. 595

"Come to Terms," Best of 2017: Marco Collins' Favorite Northwest Tracks, Nada Mucho

Local Band of the Month, November 2017, 107.7 The End

"In Demand," Music That Matters Podcast, Vol. 529, KEXP


KEXP In-Studio Performance, October 18, 2016

Best of 2014: Marco Collins' Top 35 Albums, Number 4, Nada Mucho


"If I Can't Change Your Mind," Music That Matters Podcast, Vol. 435, KEXP

"If I Can't Change Your Mind," Song of The Day Podcast, Dec. 17, 2014, KEXP

"Catacomb," Music That Matters Podcast, Vol. 441, KEXP

"Catacomb," Top 10 Tracks 2014, Milo Miles, (NPR)

Taste For Blood, Top 15 Local Albums, Kevin Cole, KEXP


Local Band of the Month, April 2015, 107.7 The End

2015 Best New Music, City Arts Magazine, April 2015 Issue

Photo by Travis Trautt

Photo by Travis Trautt

SAY HI!

BAND
smokeybrights@gmail.com

BOOKING
Rick Pierik
rick@ninemilerecords.com

LABEL
Freakout Records
info@freakoutrec.com

LICENSING
smokeybrights@gmail.com

FOR A KIM AND RYAN DJ SET, OR A PERFORMANCE AT YOUR PRIVATE EVENT
smokeybrights@gmail.com

keep in touch!