Hit The Lights

Hit the Lights is a pop punk band from Lima, Ohio that tied skate culture energy to catchy songwriting and constant touring. Their name comes from the 1980s skateboarding film Gleaming the Cube, a choice that fits a band built on motion, momentum, and a willingness to jump into heavy schedules. Over time they sold more than 120,000 albums across North America, a solid achievement for a group that began with musicians coming together from different local projects.

The Group’s Early Steps

Hit the Lights officially formed in 2003. In their documentary Vultures Don’t Eat Vans they cleared up a common rumor by stating that their name was not taken from a Metallica track. Before joining forces in this band, Colin Ross and Omar Zehery played in The Goodbye Session. Nick Thompson came from The Summer Departure, and Nate Van Damme had been working as a drum tech for Hawthorne Heights which gave him useful road experience before stepping behind the kit.

The band released its first EP, Leaving Town Tonight, in 2004. In March 2005 they recorded the EP Until We Get Caught for Silent Movie Records. Triple Crown Records later signed the group and reissued the EP in November 2005 which helped widen its reach.

Shifts, Tours, and a New Frontman

As the band entered the period around their album This Is a Stick Up… Don’t Make It a Murder, they hit the road for the Let It Ride Tour in 2007. The lineup included Just Surrender, All Time Low, Valencia, Forgive Durden, The Secret Handshake, and Love Arcade. These shows helped the band tighten their sound and present their material to larger crowds.

Behind the scenes, lead vocalist Colin Ross decided he no longer wanted to continue with the group. Other members had noticed his enthusiasm dropping, and by June 2007 he stepped away. Without a permanent replacement available, the group canceled a planned UK headlining tour. Ross performed his final show on September 15, 2007 in Lima, Ohio. Afterward the remaining members recorded a cover of The Warrior with guitarist Nick Thompson on lead vocals.

New Music, New Momentum

The next chapter began with the release of the demo Stay Out on January 31, 2008. The song marked a turning point since it was their first without Ross. On February 19, 2008 the band announced that Nick Thompson would officially take over as lead vocalist.

Their second full length record, Skip School, Start Fights, arrived on July 8, 2008. A music video for Stay Out was filmed in the San Francisco Bay Area that May. They followed it with a video for Drop The Girl in October 2008 which included a small appearance from Heather Morris who later became known for her role on Glee.

On June 23, 2009 the band released the EP Coast to Coast which included new songs, covers, and acoustic material. They joined the Warped Tour that year, and at the Cincinnati stop former vocalist Colin Ross returned briefly to perform Bodybag with them. Later in 2009 Hit the Lights headlined the Manotour with support from There For Tomorrow, Fireworks, Sparks The Rescue, This Time Next Year, Vinnie Caruana, and Oh No Not Stereo.

Label Changes and the Invicta Era

In April 2010 the band toured Australia with New Found Glory and Fireworks. After fulfilling their contract with Triple Crown Records they explored new label options. A bidding war ended with the band signing to Universal Republic Records in partnership with Vagrant Records. Writing their major label debut proved challenging due to limited feedback and pressure to craft radio oriented material. Universal Republic also underwent restructuring which complicated communication.

By May 2011 the band asked to be released from their contract and the label agreed. On June 1, 2011 they entered the studio to begin recording new material. Guitarist Omar Zehery noted that they collaborated with Ryan Key of Yellowcard, Tim Pagnotta of Sugarcult, and Kenny Vasoli of The Starting Line during this period. In September 2011 they signed with Razor & Tie Records.

On November 1, 2011 Hit the Lights released the three track Invicta EP which previewed material from their next full length. Their third studio album, Invicta, followed on January 31, 2012. Former vocalist Colin Ross later joined them for an east coast tour and the Glamour Kills Holiday Festival in December 2012.

Touring, Lineup Activity, and Summer Bones

On January 11, 2014 Hit the Lights headlined the Glamour Kills holiday show in New York City and performed Skip School, Start Fights in full. They signed with Pure Noise Records on April 14, 2014. After finishing recording with producer Kyle Black they announced their fourth studio album, Summer Bones, on January 12, 2015. The record was released on March 24, 2015.

The group stayed active on the road. They played select dates of Motion City Soundtrack’s Commit This to Memory anniversary tour in January 2015, then supported Cartel on the Chroma anniversary tour in April. After that they joined Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! on the Get Lost, Find Yourself tour in May.

Later Work and the Loss of Kyle Maite

In 2016 Hit the Lights co headlined the Pure Noise Records Tour with Seaway. Support came from Can’t Swim and Casey Bolles while Boston Manor had to cancel due to visa issues. On May 6, 2016 the band released the acoustic EP Just to Get Through to You.

On September 23, 2022 the band announced that guitarist Kyle Maite had died in a truck accident on September 20. His passing marked a significant moment in the band’s history and affected both the group and their fans.

Musical Approach

AllMusic described Hit the Lights as emo tinged punk pop and emocore. Reviewer Chris Fallon once joked that their music worked well for listeners impatient enough to risk a brain freeze just to get to the best part of an ice cream treat. The comparison fits their fast pacing and bright melodic choices.

Side Projects and Individual Work

Several members stayed active outside the main band. Vocalist Nick Thompson writes and records under the name Thief Club where he explores more personal themes and reworks unused Hit the Lights material. Thief Club released My Heavy on December 25, 2013 in Japan and on February 4, 2014 in the United States.

Drummer Nate Van Damme and guitarist and vocalist Kevin Mahoney created a hardcore project named Holy War. Guitarist Omar Zehery runs Legacy Sounds Studio and Rustgaze Records in Lima, Ohio where he works on recording and production.

Members

Current members:

• Nick Thompson – lead vocals (2007 to present); guitar and backing vocals (2003 to 2007)
• Kevin Mahoney – guitar and backing vocals (2008 to present)
• Dave Bermosk – bass and backing vocals (2003 to present)
• Nate Van Damme – drums (2005 to present)
• Omar Zehery – guitar and backing vocals (2003 to 2016, 2023 to present); lead guitar (2007)

Former members:

• Ryan Radebaugh – drums and percussion (2003 to 2005)
• Colin Ross – lead vocals (2003 to 2007, guest appearance on the last track of Summer Bones)
• Kyle Maite – guitar (2016 to 2022)

Discography

• This Is a Stick Up… Don’t Make It a Murder (2006, Triple Crown Records). Reached number 41 on the US Heatseekers chart.
• Skip School, Start Fights (2008, Triple Crown). Reached number 97 on the Billboard 200 and number 11 on the US Indie chart.
• Invicta (2012, Razor & Tie / Sony). Reached number 129 on the Billboard 200.
• Summer Bones (2015, Pure Noise Records). Reached number 23 on the US Indie chart.