Sometimes something as simple as a name change can be just the thing that's needed to generate attention. Everyone remembers the Puff Daddy to P-diddy metamorphosis.
Lightyear, a Tempe band formerly known as Six Point Restraint, is hoping that, along with a little management revamping, their new name will allow them to get more recognition and, unlike P-diddy, earn a little bit of respect at the same time.
They haven't quite reached the status of other name changers like the Artist Formerly Known as Prince or NKOTB (The New Kids on The Block's last attempt at hanging onto their glory days), but they played for a packed house at their CD release party Friday night at Nita's Hideaway.
The release party was a celebration for the band's debut CD that they produced under their own independent label, OMR records. Local artists East of the Sun, 15 Minutes Fast, Truckers on Speed and Tolerance also played for the 200-plus crowd. Ian Gillies, Lightyear's lead guitarist, was enthusiastic about the night's turnout.
"I was ecstatic," he said. "The turn out was good, the other bands we played with were great, it was cool to see so many people there."
It was a coming out party for the band, which has been undergoing changes since splitting with a Lou Pearlman-esque manager two years ago. Since the split, the band has been entirely independent.
Lead singer Ryan Borze and drummer Aaron Bland, who were with the original Six Point Restraint, recruited bass player Zacc Cooley and lead guitarists Ian Gillies and Matt Vorkapich shortly after the split. All of their promotion, as well as the production of their album, with the help of Larry Elyea and Minds Eye studios, was done under self-management. This independence has been beneficial for the band.
"Good songs come from conflict, but a lot of good bands break up from conflict," he says. "Luckily we have had a lot less conflict since there are not so many external forces creating havoc."
Although the new independence has had its advantages, it has also provided obstacles for the band.
"It's been kind of challenging doing things on our own," Gillies said. "We all have day jobs and school and we have to keep everyone's best interest in mind when we make a decision. Everything we do is up to us. Luckily we all have similar goals for the band."
The band members list their musical influences as everything from Incubus to Neil Young, which comes across in their album, Void, featuring a range of heavy guitars and strong to melodic vocals.
Although the sound of the band remains relatively the same as it was with Six Point, there has been some change. Lead singer Ryan Borz, a communication junior at ASU, explains the evolution of the band's sound since the name transformation.
"We've grown musically since we've made the changes, and we're trying to get the new name out there," he said. "Our new sound is a little bit more rock pop than the harder rock sound we had before."
Recently, many local bands such as Jimmy Eat World, Authority Zero and Bionic Jive have been signed to major record labels, and many of the musicians from Tempe's heyday in the early 90s have been back on the local scene. This resurgence of local talent and success has brought optimism to the band.
"It's exciting to see bands like the Gin Blossoms getting back together," Borz explains. "Being a musician from Tempe, they're someone a lot of us look up to, and it's encouraging to see them perform again."
Lightyear's band members have been around the Tempe scene for approximately six years and already have a lot of strong media credits behind them.
They have toured with Stroke 9, played at the Tempe Block Party and their songs have been featured on three episodes of MTV's Making the Video. Right now they are interested in working hard and getting their music heard.
"We just want to get our name out," says Borz. "We're willing to travel around in a van and eat Ramen noodles."
Gillies agrees that they've got a tough, yet well traversed road ahead of them, which they are going to travel without forgetting about the music.
"It's hard to get recognition in this business," Gillies said. "We're trying to do it with hard work and good music and without having to resort to wearing clown masks or screaming obscenities."
Reach Joy Hepp at joy.hepp@asu.edu.
