Let's be honest: Bucket lists are meant to be created, but never fulfilled. Seriously, only Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson went to the pyramids and went skydiving after doodling their plans on a piece of paper. But, in the case of Morning Parade, it's pretty safe to say many items on their proverbial bucket list have already been crossed off this year alone. Since the Harlow, Essex five-piece alt-rock band (say that five times fast) released their debut earlier this year, they've scored a hit single in "Headlights," opened for Smashing Pumpkins and Anberlin, and played London's Hyde Park. As Larry David might say, that's "prettay prettay good." Yep, the band (Steve Sparrow, Chad Thomas, Phil Titus, Ben Giddings and Andy Hayes) are just the latest English band to take the states by storm (perhaps with Sandy still in our rear view that cliched sentence could've been omitted but I digress). Late last month, 3/5 of the band took part in an A-Sides session, performing a pair of tunes, and talking about it inside a classroom located within the Music Conservatory of Westchester. Watch them perform "Headlights" below, and discuss it below. Oh, and catch an exclusive performance of "Us and Ourselves" here. Before we begin here's some lyrics from Neil Diamonds' "Heartlight" for no reason:
Turn on your heartlight
Let it shine wherever you go
Let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see
Ok now... Watch. Listen. Love.
"Headlights"
"Us and Ourselves"
Interview
About A-Sides with Jon Chattman:
Jon Chattman's music series features artists (established or not) from all genres performing a track, and discussing what it means to them. This informal series focuses on the artist making art in a low-threatening, extremely informal (sometimes humorous) way. No bells, no whistles -- just the music performed in a random, low-key setting followed by an unrehearsed chat. In an industry where everything often gets overblown and over manufactured, I'm hoping this is refreshing.