Boston, MA

Boston space-pop improv combo Bright was formed in 1994 by the duo of guitarist/vocalist Mark Dwinell and drummer Joe LaBrecque. A cassette culled from rehearsal jams so impressed Ba-Da-Bing label owner Ben Goldberg that he quickly offered the group a contract, with Bright's self-titled debut appearing in 1996; the same four-track rehearsal tapes also served as fodder for the follow-up, 1997's The Albatross Guest House. For 1998's Blue Christian -- a contribution to Darla Records' ongoing "Bliss Out" series -- Bright expanded to a four-piece with LaBrecque's guitarist brother Paul and bassist Jay Dubois. Fall 2000 saw the release of Full Negative or Breaks. ~ Jason Ankeny