Our Local Spotlight Live Series returns to Olivers Nightclub for another great night of local music on Friday, September 25. Each day this week, we let one of the participating bands tell us about themselves. Today, we get to know Highfire Skyline.

Band Name: Highfire Skyline

Members:
Jonny O'Brien: Vocals (Derry, NH)
Nick Twohig: Guitar, Vocals (Wakefield, MA)
Jason Rifkin: Guitar (Litchfield, NH)
Brad Couture: Keys (Litchfield, NH)
Matt Garrett: Bass (El Paso, TX)
Kevin Hiort: Drums (Merrimack Valley, MA)

Releases:
The Town and the City EP (2009)
Highfire Skyline EP (2008)

Website:
www.highfireskyline.com

How did you form?

The band was formed after the break up of The Nicaea Room, a well established New Hampshire hardcore group. The founding members (guitarist Jay Rifkin, bassist Matt Garrett, and drummer Kevin Hiort) decided to take a step in a different direction and established the more pop oriented Highfire Skyline in 2007. The first line up put out one EP, and several members came and went, until late 2008 when they secured both guitarist Nick Twohig (formerly guitarist for Boston based My Little Radio) and vocalist Jonny O'Brien. Shortly thereafter they were joined by keyboardist Brad Couture.
 
Who are some of your influences?

With members coming from vastly different musical backgrounds (hardcore, pop, indie, etc...) our personal influences are all over the map. When it comes to the music that inspires us to write for Highfire Skyline, we generally agree on groups like Jimmy Eat World, Something Corporate, Saves The Day, The Get Up Kids, American Football, etc. etc.

Finish the sentence, someone would like your band if they like...

...pop music that actually means something. 

What has your most memorable moment as a band been?

We've had a lot of great moments as a band, whether it be on the road, in the studio, or just writing in our practice space. One of the moments that sticks out the most for us though, is from our last tour. We had just finished playing a show in Staten Island and this guy who let us sleep on his floor (thanks Mike!) brought us out to this crazy karaoke bar that went well into the 4am hour. We got up and did "Tempted" by Squeeze as a full band. Classic!
 
Walk us through your songwriting process.

We're lucky in the sense that we are a band full of songwriters. There's never a lack of new ideas going around. Usually someone will bring in a verse or a chorus or just a riff, and then the whole band will work at it until it feels like an HFS song.

Who is the best musician in your band?

Christopher Walken.

What is your favorite local venue?

Hard to choose. The Boston/Cambridge area is full of amazing venues, all with their own unique feel. We've had a blast playing the Middle East. That's were we had our CD release back in June. That was a pretty epic night. 

What separates you from other local bands?

Christopher Walken.

What do you have coming up that people should know about?

We released the Town and the City EP back in June, and we've had a blast playing those songs over the past couple months. We've been testing out a ton of new material lately, though. We're gonna try to get back into the studio as soon as possible, so we really hope people will come out and let us know how they like the new stuff. We'll be all over New England this fall, so come hang out!

Convince our readers to see your next show.

Well.... here it is. Highfire Skyline wants you. And we're going to have you. You can play hard to get, but we're gonna keep showing up like John Cusack standing in the rain. It's just gonna happen. It might take an hour into the movie, but we'll be there...  Only instead of sad-sack mannerisms and melancholy witticisms we write catchy pop songs. Check it out.


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