Lightning Bolt is a popular American duo composed of drummer & vocalist Brian Chippendale and bass guitarist Brian Gibson that was established in Providence, Rhode Island. The pair first met while in college at the Rhode Island School of Design. The two soon formed a musical partnership as first an improvisational band touring the US. However, the pair eventually released a debut full-length album called Lightning Bolt in 1999. This was subsequently followed by Ride the Skies in 2001 and Wonderful Rainbow in 2003. Their most critically acclaimed album since their formation, however, was their 2005 release of Hypermagic Mountain. Most recently, the duo released their seventh album in 2019, titled Sonic Citadel. 

The pair’s musical style has largely been described as “noise rock”, taking inspiration from Japanese noise rock bands specifically. Their songs are largely composed of energetic drumming, incoherent vocals, and bass guitar recorded in unconventional studio setups, choosing instead to record in house and infrequently recording in actual studios. Their live performances have also been called unconventional, with the band choosing to often perform on the floor instead of the stage and doing so in a way that surprises guests. All of this will be viewable on September 29th in the year 2021 when Lightning Bolt performs at SF’s The Chapel though. Be sure to catch them there and continue to follow MXDWN for all your music updates.

Location: The Chapel

Address: 777 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Tickets available from $20+

Photo credit to Raymond Flotat