Remember the other day when Chico homie Justin Richards from Brighten was on TRL accompanying one-man electro-pop outfit A Rocket To the Moon? Well if you don’t check out the video above (BAHLETED by stupid YouTube). You’ll see why, at last night’s CD release show for fellow emos (and J-Rich jockers) The Maine, Fall Out Boy frontman and founder of Decaydance records announced that he was signing ARTM to his label. Add that to the fact that The Maine’s debut CD cracked the Top 40 on this week’s Billboard charts, scanning over 12,000 copies, and it becomes apparent that bands who jock Brighten’s sound are coming up big. It makes one wonder, when is Brighten gonna get laced up with a new deal of their own??? Guess we’ll see…

While his brother Jimmy is busy quitting their band and enjoying the smoke-filled bullshit air of Chico, Brighten frontman and sex god Justin Richards is in NYC rocking MTV’s TRL with his homie A Rocket to the Moon. ULTIMATE FAME! That shit airs tomorrow at 3 PM so don’t blow it.

Our homie and drummer for local awesome radical band Brighten Jimmy Richards announced via Myspace blog today that he is leaving Brighten to go to Africa and then to school right here in good ol’ Chico, as well as to focus on his badass design business, Junior Kickstart:

Hey everyone,

This is a rather depressing blog for me. Something that is not easy to write or deal with right now, but it is something I feel I have to do. I have decided to leave Brighten. Over the last year or so I felt God pulling at me about this. Leading me in another direction. I’m not leaving on any bad terms whatsoever. Alex and Justin have been great about this and weren’t taken by surprise. I’d been talking with them for months and months about this and finally decided.
It’s very hard. Being in a band is awesome. I love being able to meet and share with cool people like all of you all over the world. But it is mostly hard because Justin and Alex are my brothers. I’m going to miss hating ridiculous amounts of time in the van with them and dumb arguments, spitting on alex while playing, making funny videos, talking about life and things going on at home, and so many other things that go on when you spend 24 hours a day 7 days a week 9 months out of a year with people.
This isn’t a pity party. I am just sharing what’s happening in full rather than just peacing out on all of you. You guys (fans and friends) are a huge part of Brighten. I absolutely LOVE that part of it all. Getting to meet all of you is such an amazing thing for all of us in bands. I love talking to each of you.

So what am I doing now?

I am leaving for africa on July 21st. Two weeks. I’m very excited! After that, I will be going to school here in chico. I work full time designing merch for bands (www.juniorkickstart.net). I’m not exactly sure of what I want to do with my life yet, but I’ll figure it out soon enough.

Brighten’s new EP, Early Love, will be available really soon. I’m so proud of Justin and Alex and love what they are doing and everything they are about to do. I know you guys will be too.

If any of you would ever like to talk to me, please keep in touch!
My screen name is : eagersails

It’s been an amazing time,
Jimmy

I’ve heard some fun rumors as to who Jimmy’s replacement might be, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how shit pans out. In the mean time, if you’re a label and you haven’t signed Brighten yet, what the fuck are you waiting for? Teen girls everywhere will thank you with money. Promise.

 Our good friends and perennial winners of Best Unsigned Band Competitions,  Brighten just announced that they are hitting the road with another band we are quite fond of, Envy on the Coast for a couple weeks next month before they head to Irvine for Bamboozle Left. If you’re lucky enough to live in any of these cities, attendance is mandatory!

Mar 16 2008
Cambridge Room @ HOB w/ The Maine and more! Dallas, Texas
Mar 18 2008
The Social Orlando, Florida
Mar 19 2008
Studio A Miami, Florida
Mar 20 2008
The Orpheum Tampa, Florida
Mar 21 2008
Landshark Cafe Atlantic Beach, Florida
Mar 22 2008
Rocketown Nashville, Tennessee
Mar 24 2008
Bulldog Cafe Louisville, Kentucky
Mar 26 2008
Mac’s Bar Lansing, Michigan
Mar 27 2008
Mojoes Rock House Tinley Park, Illinois
Mar 28 2008
The Basement Columbus, Ohio
Mar 29 2008
Xtreme Wheelz Buffalo, New York
Mar 30 2008
Siren Records Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Apr 5 2008
Bamboozle Left Irvine, California

So our friends (or I guess I should say friend) Number One Gun are set to release their third studio joint, The North Pole Project on January 15th. This record was written, performed and produced single-handedly by frontman Jeff Schneeweis, as you can see in the video for the album’s first single “Wake Me Up” posted above (and filmed, BTW in beautiful Chico, CA!). Check the video, then check the e-card for the new record THEN catch the band on their west coast tour with fellow Chico fame stackers Brighten. Dates are below: 

1/15/08-Seattle, WA- El Corazon
1/16/08-Portland, OR-TBA
1/17/08-Bend, OR-The Domino Room
1/18/08-Nampa, ID-Northwest Nazarene University
1/19/08-Salt Lake City, UT- Solid Ground
1/20/08-Las Vegas, NV-TBA
1/21/08-Phoenix, AZ- TBA
1/22/08-Victorville, CA- Club Karma
1/23/08-San Diego, CA- TBA
1/24/08-Anaheim, CA- Chain Reaction
1/25/08-Modesto, CA-The Modesto Underground
1/26/08-Sacramento, CA- Club Retro
1/27/08-Carson City, NV- The Warehouse
1/29/08-Fresno, CA- The Starline
1/30/08-Chico, CA- TBA

DO IT

So its pretty much become standard from every emo pop band worth its salt to do a Christmas song, and this year is definitely no different. But while most suck major balls, one of the best original numbers in this year’s Christmas song pool comes from our friends and fellow townsfolk Brighten. Check out the video for “Merry Christmas Baby” which also features John from The Maine, and come to terms with the fact that, try as hard as you might, but you will never match the ultimate cuteness effortlessly exhibited by Brighten at all times. EVER. Oh yeah and if you’re an one of the few A&R guys who didn’t get fired this month, get off your ass and sign these dudes NOW. THNX