Hit the Lights

Hit the Lights is a pop punk band from Lima, Ohio, signed to Universal Republic Records.

Hit the Lights formed in 2003, taking their name from an 80's skate flick called Gleaming the Cube according to their Warped Tour interview, not the previously believed Metallica song on the album Kill 'Em All.^[1] Band members Colin Ross and Omar Zehery performed first as Headliner, then The Goodbye Session with then-drummer Reymundo Ortiz Jr. Nick Thompson was in a group called The Summer Departure.^[1] Nate Van Dame had worked for Hawthorne Heights as a drum tech.^[1] They quickly found a devoted following with their energetic live performances.^[1]

They have taken part in numerous national tours, including the spring 2006 Sub City Take Action tour with Matchbook Romance and the 2005 and 2006 Vans Warped Tours.^[2] They were named SPIN Band of the Day on April 11, 2006.^[3] They also toured with Paramore, Cute Is What We Aim For, and This Providence in the summer of 2006. After the Paramore tour, they started on tour with New Found Glory, Cartel, and The Early November. They toured in the UK during December 2006. The band ventured on its first headlining tour in March and April 2007, with supporting acts Valencia, All Time Low, Just Surrender, Forgive Durden, and Love Arcade. In late 2008, they supported major acts Motion City Soundtrack and Chiodos, then went to the UK, co-headlining with Bayside. After the headlining tour, the band took the summer off to write and record for their second album (Skip School, Start Fights), which was recorded with Rob Freeman at the Pilot Studios in Boonton, New Jersey. Hit the Lights was one of five featured bands in the 2009 Alternative Press Tour.

They were slated to embark on a headlining tour in the United Kingdom in October 2007, but had to cancel due to not being able to find a permanent lead vocalist after Colin Ross left in June 2007. Ross stated that he could no longer be a part of the band because his heart just was not in it. The other members said they noticed that Ross did not seem to be as into performing and being part of the band the better part of the last year.

They played their last show with Colin on September 15, 2007, at The Axis in Lima, Ohio. After that show, the remaining four members went into recording and recorded a cover, "The Warrior", with Nick Thompson on lead vocals. They posted a new demo entitled "Stay Out", on January 31, 2008. Notably, their first single without former lead vocalist Colin Ross. On February 19, 2008, they announced that guitarist/backing vocalist Nick Thompson was taking over the lead vocalist role for the band.

Hit The Lights latest record was released on July 8, 2008, titled Skip School, Start Fights. The band shot a music video for the song "Stay Out" in the San Francisco Bay Area on May 27, 2008.

The same day, they added the new song, "Drop The Girl", to their MySpace profile. The band shot a new music video for single "Drop The Girl" on October 6, 2008 in Van Nuys, California. The video includes Glee star Heather Morris in a small role. By coincidence, "Glee" is set in Lima, Ohio.

They supported Cobra Starship on the SassyBack Tour in 2008, along with Forever the Sickest Kids and Sing It Loud.

The band recently^[when?] completed a tour of the United Kingdom with Oh No Not Stereo, supporting Bayside.

On Friday December 5, 2008 after a week of clues, Hit the Lights was the second confirmed band on the 2009 AP Tour.

Hit the Lights played on the entire Warped Tour 2009. At Cincinnati's Warped Tour, former vocalist Colin Ross joined Hit the Lights on stage for one of their older songs "Bodybag".

Hit The Lights embarked on the "Manatour" in late 2009 along with There For Tomorrow, Fireworks, Sparks The Rescue, This Time Next Year, Vinnie Caruana, and Oh No Not Stereo.

Hit The Lights will tour Australia nationally during April 2010 in support of New Found Glory. Joining New Found Glory and Hit The Lights were pop-punk band Fireworks.

Hit The Lights toured with HelloGoodBye. Their last show was performed at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. The event was held on May 7, 2010.

In late 2009 Hit The Lights released an EP titled "Coast to Coast". Nick said "We just wanted to keep the fans happy for now, we are working on a new album and will be released in 2010". The Album "Coast to Coast" had hit songs such as "Pulse", "Coast to Coast", and a remix on old classics such as "Tell Me Where You Are".

The band's new record is slated for late 2010 or early 2011.^{[needs update]} Updates show they have been writing and demoing with Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line, Justin Richards of Brighten; A Rocket to the Moon, Ryan Key of Yellowcard, Jeff Schneeweis of Number One Gun, and Steve Klein and Cyrus Bolooki of New Found Glory. They plan to enter the studio in July 2010 with Mike Green (Set Your Goals, The Matches, Over It).^{[needs update]}

• Nick Thompson – lead vocals (2008–present) guitars, backing vocals (2003–2007)
• Omar Zehery – guitars (2003–present)
• Kevin Mahoney – guitars, backing vocals (2008–present)
• David Bermosk – bass, backing vocals (2003–present)
• Nate Van Damme – drums, percussion (2005–present)

• Colin Ross – lead vocals (2003–2007)
• Ryan Radebaugh – drums, percussion (2003–2005)

• This Is a Stick Up... Don't Make It a Murder (2006)
• Skip School, Start Fights (2008) U.S. #97^[4]

• Leaving Town Tonight (2004)
• Until We Get Caught (2005)
• Coast to Coast - EP (2009)

• From Ohio with Love (2004)

• Hit the Lights' profile at MySpace
• Hit the Lights' profile at PureVolume
• Hit the Lights' profile at YouTube
• Complete Hit the Lights Discography