I’ve got a fever and the prescription is Hit The Lights

I’m an adult but I still love pop-punk/powerpop/whatever the kids are calling it these days. I should probably grow out of this phase, but I haven’t and don’t picture myself doing it any time soon.

Lately, the band that has been satisfying my pop sweet tooth with sugary punk-infused melodies is Lima, Ohio quintet Hit The Lights. I usually like a band for what they say (lyrics) or how they say it (melody, instrumentation) but I love HTL for both reasons.

For example, I got HTL’s second full-length Skip School, Start Fights, and after one spin “Drop the Girl” was permanently stuck in my head and I couldn’t help dancing to the sick breakdown. On top of that, I felt empowered to tell all the girls that had ever done me wrong that they’re “not worth the time.” That song is kind of like “Single Ladies” for dudes.

The rest of the songs on Skip School are the same way: catchy and smart, just the way I like ‘em. They sound a little like Chroma era Cartel, before they started recording albums in Dr. Pepper sponsored bubbles.

HTL are a “phoenix” band, too. Right as they were about to start a headlining tour of the UK in 2007 their lead vocalist Colin Ross backed out. Where some bands might have imploded, HTL didn’t miss a step. They regrouped and emerged with former guitarist Nick Thompson on lead vocals, who is way better than Ross ever was. The video for the first single from Skip School opens with a shot of a graveyard and zooms in on a tombstone that says “Here lies C. Ross.” Right on. That’s some sass and attitude, and I can’t help but love them for that.

Now they’re playing the AP Tour and Warped this summer. Good work.

In short: pop-punk is awesome and Hit The Lights are proudly flying the flag. Bless you, my sons.

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