_{By Madeline Harris}

Alt-rock is a broad genre that is often hard to define. It’s the kind of music that comes to mind when one thinks of house shows, mosh-pitting, and the eagerness of the early 2000s. Lighten Up, Francis is here to provide Utah Valley, and the world, with a vibrant sound that aims to induce the kind of good time only brought on by authentic alternative rock. Their primary goal is to have fun, create art, and encourage others to do the same. Their live shows provide the perfect outlet to do just that: let loose, “Lighten Up,” and have a good time.

I had the pleasure of briefly attending one of the group’s practice sessions, and upon my arrival, all senses were piqued. A colorful grid of influential 00s indie-pop and alt albums made its home on the walls. The band greeted me, handed me noise-cancelling headphones, and dove into the music. I was met with the raw vitality of Matt’s vocals, Brad’s amped percussion, Whit’s house-rumbling baseline, and Tom’s smooth and ambient riffs. The energy they generate is remarkably exuberant and transports the listener to a cinematic 2000s frenzied state of mind. Simply put, the band’s charisma and charm can best be described as contagious. Their sound is infectious, and especially potent live.

With roots running deep in the original alt and indie-pop scene, the group’s sound reflects the genres they grew up knowing and loving. Shared influences like Weezer, Modest Mouse, and Nate Ruess (frontman of the bands fun. and The Format) were instrumental in curating the band’s vibe. Brad and Whit, now married with four children, actually met because of their shared music taste.

“I was wearing The Format merch and Brad came up to talk to me about it,” Whit recalls. The relic T-shirt now hangs on their practice room’s wall alongside other memorabilia.

Lighten Up, Francis’ formation can be traced back to BYU’s MBA program, where Whit met Matt, and ideas for an upcoming talent show began flowing. Whit introduced Matt to the best drummer she knew, her husband Brad, and the collaborative seed was planted. Their performance was, reportedly, the highlight of the show.

“After the show, we wanted to keep making music. But Brad and I could not find a bassist.”

That’s where Whit stepped in.

“At first, I was just there to fill space. To help them practice. At some point, we all kind of realized that ‘hey, that wasn’t that bad.’” The instrument grew on her, and she established a permanent presence in the band.

But there was still a missing piece to the Lighten up, Francis puzzle. Through trial and error, the three members cycled through guitarists, but nothing felt quite right. One fateful day, however, the long-lost puzzle piece saw a post on a Saratoga Springs Facebook page seeking a guitarist. Thomas met the band, withstood Matt’s interview, and things just clicked. The search was over; they had found “the glue that is Thomas.”

“He balanced out my guitar well,” Matt says. “We both have our own styles and different elements to offer. Thomas brought this shoegazey, pedal-heavy vibe and it gave our sound a whole new dimension.” I witnessed this yin-yang balance of tones and styles upon being treated to a run-through of “Jamboree,” the first song on their 2023 EP, Just Play Along. The two guitars dueled in a delicate but driven harmony that complimented each other perfectly. Thomas’ tasteful addition to the band’s atmosphere is undeniable.

This variety of styles and artistic tastes constitutes much of their recent debut album (Store Brand Talent)’s diverse range of sound. The band’s broad scope of tastes and stylistic pursuits weave together to produce a project that is both multi-dimensional and coherent.

“We’re all excited about it. Everyone contributed to it, so it has more variety and is more thought out than our first EP.” Whit’s most excited about the rerelease of “Whatever,” a tongue-twister earworm anthem and my favorite song of the band’s repertoire. The sass with which she sings it live (ring pop, platformed combat boots, and all) is unmatched. Sitting on a bass amp, hair backlit by a magenta aura, Whit is the quintessential alt-rock queen and absolutely in her element.

 Their songwriting process doesn’t follow a strict outline but looks a little like everyone passing around and contributing ideas. These voice memos, demos, and samples ignite sparks as creativity builds, and eventually, they stumble upon something that seems to flow. Their new song, “Starting to Fade,” was generated in precisely this manner.

“It started more or less as a joke with lyrics we would never really use.” Upon some minor adjustments, however, the song was rearranged into what would become the first song on the album and one the band highly anticipated releasing.

The band plays roughly a show a month and will continue to do so following the drop of Store Brand Talent in November. What’s especially admirable is their ability to maintain this momentum whilst balancing parental life.

The four members are parents to a total of 11 children who enthusiastically support the band, offer critiques, attend their shows regularly, and raise questions that keep their parents on their toes. (“Who’s more famous – Lighten Up, Francis or Coldplay?”) All four members feel “there’s no reason your life has to end when you have kids,” and they are doing more than a great job of proving it.

I am eager to pep up this winter by indulging in the modern alt-rock anthems provided by Store Brand Talent. After attending the album’s release concert, I can confirm with utmost certainty that what this band does best is light up the room. Their energy spreads like wildfire among the crowd. They possess the kind of animation and passion that live music lovers crave and offer a remarkably engaging all-ages show. (Ever played tag at a concert?) The band brings a spark of jubilation to the local scene that I can’t imagine will go out of style anytime soon.

Keep an eye out for Lighten Up, Francis’ concert schedule, and go nuts at one of their magnetic and engrossing performances. Make sure to follow the band on Instagram to stay up to date and check out “Whatever” below!