Posted on: June 19, 2012 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0

L.A. rockers Beware of Darkness are on the verge of breaking out following a surge of buzz around their highly-acclaimed Howl EP (Bright Antenna/ILG). The 4-song EP features the infectious single “Howl,” which has been featured on KROQ shows including “Jonesy’s Jukebox,” “Locals Only” and “Out of Order.” Likewise, SPIN declares it “a Zeppelin-riffing, bluesy face-stomper…think a more suped-up Black Keys.” The trio is coming to The Viper Room tomorrow night (June 19) for a special secret showcase. They will go on stage at 8pm, tickets are available here. The show comes in advance of a performance at the Sunset Sessions radio convention this weekend in Palm Springs.

Helmed by 21-year old guitar wunderkind Kyle Nicolaides, Beware of Darkness’s mind-bending live show was captured on film at a performance at the Troubadour on May 6. Watch the video here: http://youtu.be/zAI-gwTfpfY. Embed code is below.

“Howl” is currently streaming at SPIN.com, but you can check out the rest of the EP at Baeble Music, who asserts, “In a world where so many of the garage rock bands are beginning to blur and melt in our minds, Beware of Darkness manages to chart their own path….” Listen here: http://www.baeblemusic.com/artist/Beware-of-Darkness

Nicolaides got his start performing solo shows around Los Angeles at The Viper Room, El Rey Theatre, and The Roxy where he quickly garnered industry buzz. His sound is heavily influenced by his relatively sheltered Santa Barbara upbringing, where as a child the only music he was allowed to listen to was Led Zeppelin and The Beatles.

Nicolaides’ Beware of Darkness bandmates consist of Tony Cupito (drums) and Daniel Curcio (bass). They connected over a mutual respect and admiration for Blues, Gospel, and Motown. Imagine Bowie’s “Hunky Dory” with low detuned, primal Zeppelin-esque guitar riffs. They all met in L.A, where Curcio (a New Jersey native) was visiting after discovering he had a long lost brother. The three came together to form Beware of Darkness, taking the name from a George Harrison song, and signed to Bright Antenna in late 2011 joining label mates OMD, The Wombats, and Middle Class Rut.

Lyrically, Nicolaides cites literary influences, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, and David Foster Wallace. He delivers scathing lyrical content in a snarling howl tackling subject matters of depression, chaste women, pedophile priests, and post-modern paranoia. Incredibly potent and precise, these are lyrics meant to evoke reactions. “I want to make music for people who want something deeper, something human, and flawed,” explains Nicolaides. “I don’t believe in escapism. The music is meant to be dark, but in a more reflective way.”

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HOWL EP Track Listing:

“Howl”
“Ghost Town”
“Culture Bomb”
“Holy Men”

“Howl” Live at Troubadour Video Embed Code

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