The Rising Lights celebrate their debut with Fever Dreams

Even though it probably partly feels like it, The Rising Lights are definitely not dreaming tonight. The trio is celebrating the record release of their debut “Fever Dreams” and I was spontaneously invited to join them. Admittedly, I had little idea who they are. But I left the concert venue enthusiastically.

The Rising Lights on 18.03.2023 at Eisenwerk Frauenfeld


A bit of Sushi-Crazyness to warm up

Driving all the way to Frauenfeld for a band I don’t know? Admittedly, their support helped out a bit: Hot Like Sushi kicked off the evening for The Rising Lights. So there is already a band on site for which it is definitely worthwhile.

Hot Like Sushi on 18.03.2013 at Eisewerk Frauefeld

Hot Like Sushi are still ambitious to become famous and rich, Elias grins. They were only slowed down somewhat by the pandemic. So tonight we’re having a proper sushi party. When the three gifted musicians Elias (guitar), Luka (keys) and Sam (drums) are at the start, it is guaranteed to be colourful and groovy. With rousing original songs like “Purpose” or “Go Anywhere” they get the audience dancing, even during muted music. But their set also includes cover medleys, on the one hand consisting of hip hop songs (The Prince Of Bel Air Theme, Eminem etc), on the other hand of songs originating from women (Destiny’s Child, Spice Girls, Beyonce etc). The whole thing, of course, in their own funky R’n’B/hip hop style with the necessary portion of self-irony. Describing the Sushi Boys is not easy, even after several shows. You simply have to hear them and, best of all, see them right away. A bit of sushi-crazyness is also included.


Full photo gallery: Hot Like Sushi at Eisenwerk Frauenfeld

At the moment Hot Like Sushi are working on new music and are on the road with their second project Freaky Audio Machine (FAM). With FAM they play exclusively covers – and don’t even stop at the Backstreet Boys.

The first impression

After the changeover, The Rising Lights are announced with a slide show. The Gampel Openair pictures shown here look very familiar to me. I have probably heard of them in connection with the Openair…

With the groovy beats to “Everybody Get Up”, the trio directly proves that they definitely know how to leave a first lasting impression. Frontman Denny enters the stage with his red electric guitar, wearing a leopard coat and sunglasses in true rock star fashion. Whereas, there’s also their brightly lit The Rising Lights logo emblazoned on the foyer ceiling, as if it were Batman’s over Gotham City.

The Rising Lights on 18.03.2023 at Eisenwerk Frauenfeld

With the first songs, The Rising Lights get the audience moving right away. Because “2am” and “One Feet Out” follow just as rousing and energetic, partly with an 80’s touch. The light dances along just as wildly in all colours.

Accidental band formation

The Rising Lights are Dennis Koch (vocals, guitar), Jovin Langenegger (bass) and Simeon Wälti (drums). They founded the band 10 years ago at the age of 16/17 more or less by chance here in Frauenfeld.

The Rising Lights on 18.03.2023 at Eisenwerk Frauenfeld
The Rising Lights on 18.03.2023 at Eisenwerk Frauenfeld

Originally today’s event should have taken place in 2020. For pandemic reasons, however, the concert had to be postponed several times. Instead they can celebrate the record release of their debut album “Fever Dreams” tonight, which was released on 10.03.2023. The Rising Lights have been working on this debut album for over three years. They recorded it at Powerplay Studios. But despite great support, among others from Massimo Buonanno (Seven, Sing meinen Song) and the management around Patric Scott, the album production proved to be difficult at times. Frontman Denny had to undergo a tonsil operation during this time. The uncertainty about the outcome of the operation and some voice problems afterwards caused the singer great trouble for a longer time. Fortunately, everything went well. His voice sounds great and it’s a pleasure to listen to the band.


Full photo gallery: The Rising Lights im Eisenwerk Frauenfeld

In the first 10 years of their band career, the trio has already experienced a lot, as you can also see in a second slide show. Thanks to winning band contests, The Rising Lights had the opportunity to work with professionals like producer Thomas Fessler and the Valais singer Sina early on.

The Rising Lights have played over 150 shows in the meantime, including shows at “Stars in Town” and the Gampel Openair. In 2017, The Rising Lights released their first self-titled EP, followed in 2019 by their second called “Quarter Life Crisis”.

A rock-pop album to my liking

Even if streaming is perhaps not quite so common nowadays, The Rising Lights still release their album properly. Simeon takes out his list of thanks, which is several metres long, but reassures that the acknowledgemets will be shorter than it looks like. On it, the CD is doused over one of his old toms with the support of a LaOla wave.

“Fever Dreams” is a great rock-pop album exactly to my taste. In addition to the titles already played, more uptempo songs like “Lover”, “Always Meet Twice” or “Marlene” follow in the 2nd part of the show. With ballads like “I don’t wanna let you go”, however, they certainly melt hearts. The starry sky glittering mint-coloured through the disco ball on a pink background supports it perfectly. So while The Rising Lights rock the Eisenwerk stage with extensive guitar and drum solos and Denny even brings out the harmonica, the audience can’t keep their spots any longer. A part of the audience suddenly rocks along with the band directly on stage.

The Rising Lights on 18.03.2023 at Eisenwerk Frauenfeld
The Rising Lights on 18.03.2023 at Eisenwerk Frauenfeld

The Rising Lights round off the evening in the middle of the audience, surrounded by the sea of lights, with an unplugged version of “I don’t need a radio”. It was my first visit to The Rising Lights concert, but definitely not my last.

More info & the next concert dates can be found at
www.therisinglights.com
www.hotlikesushimusic.com / freakyaudiomachine.com
www.eisenwerk.ch