Ashburn's Lightspeed Rescue Releases EP on iTunes

After winning Loudoun Youth’s Battle of the Band competition in April, Lightspeed Rescue is preparing to open for headliners The Maine – currently on the Warner Bros. Records label – at this year’s .

The name Lightspeed Rescue came from the cartoon Power Rangers. The band’s versatile sound draws influences from rap, rock and jazz. All the band members were classically trained but it is their mutual reverence for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Outkast that really drives their sound.

Lightspeed Rescue, or LSR, formed their freshman year at Briar Woods High School in 2007. While competing in a band competition, the guys started writing and playing songs for friends. The response was positive, so they officially began practicing and playing gigs.

The band originated with Zach Boucher (guitar), Brandon Bester (lead vocals) and Brian Jones (vocals and percussion). Eventually, Ivan Barry (guitar), Tyler Fraga, (keys) and Casey Hart (drums and vocals), joined the lineup. Last summer, LSR invited Joe Sabatino, who attends Heritage High School, to play bass. The band quickly established a strong local following through Hot Summer Nights, large 150-person parties held on a 13-acre parcel in Brambleton near Ryan and Belmont Ridge roads. Ivan Barry’s family owned the land and let the boys host concerts on a handmade stage.

“There was no drinking and no drugs; it was very controlled and there were always adults there,” Barry explained.

While those Hot Summer Nights weren’t the band’s first concerts, the parties helped them build their fan base. Only about 40 people came out to the first HSN but quickly those numbers grew to more than 200 people.

“I wanted it to get to the point where people I didn’t even know would come out and listen,” Barry said.

In addition to these parties and local gigs, LSR competed at multiple battle-of-the-bands competitions. Through such competitions, they won 11 hours worth of recording time at different local studios. Combined with an ad hoc studio in Boucher’s parents’ basement, the band was able to record their first EP, Celebration, which is slated for release today, May 21, on iTunes.

The EP includes six songs: "Celebration," "Keep Your Body Moving." "FLY," "Big Lips," "It's Yo Birthday" and "Baby Girl."

When it comes to the songwriting, Lightspeed follows a very organic approach. There is no primary songwriter; the band simply begins jamming and follows where it leads. This produces an eclectic sound that draws from every style of music, from reggae and rap to Latino and rock. While songs vary in sound, one thing they all have in common is that they are based on the concept of having fun.

“In high school, there are a lot of cliques and I hate that,” lamented Boucher. “This band eliminates cliques. You can be yourself and have fun.”

The band members believe that positive energy helped them win the Loudoun Youth battle.

“We won because of our energy,” Barry said. “No local band has the same energy on stage. I think this comes from being best friends long before we were a band.”

LSR members look forward to opening for The Maine, which is selling out shows in New York and Canada.

“The stage is huge, there is a professional sound [system] and there is an enormous crowd,” Boucher said. “We look forward to mixing our fans with people who have never heard us before. We are excited to show our music.”

Catch Lightspeed Rescue live at YouthFest 2011 Saturday, June 25, at the Brambleton Town Center. This year will feature finalists from the Battle of the Bands. There will be some awesome new attractions, interactive exhibits, great food and more. Admission is $5 and tickets are available at the gate.