Lite Brite is a Sacramento rock trio fronted by brothers Eddie and Matt Underwood, known for a high-energy, distortion-heavy live show that was a recurring fixture of the late-2000s/early-2010s Sacramento scene.[1][2] Submerge repeatedly identifies them as a local Sacramento band.[1][3][4] The band later continued under the name American Killers, debuting that identity in 2016.[5][6]
At a glance
- Three-piece rock band based in Sacramento.[1]
- Members: Eddie Underwood (vocals/guitar), Matt Underwood (drums), Robert "Bob" Lander (bass).[1]
- Eddie and Matt are brothers; the band's roots trace to Eddie, Matt, and Bob jamming covers in their parents' garage during high school.[1]
- Released a self-titled album in 2012, recorded and mixed entirely themselves; CD release party July 6, 2012 at Ace of Spades.[1]
- Completed two West Coast tours, one of them with Middle Class Rut.[1]
- Signature songs include "Space Shuttle" and "Big City."[2][7]
- Continued as American Killers from March 2016; released debut EP Young Blood that same month.[5][6]
Origin and members
Lite Brite is a Sacramento-based rock trio.[1] Its core is the Underwood brothers — Eddie Underwood on vocals and guitar, and Matt Underwood on drums — alongside bassist Robert "Bob" Lander.[1] The band's beginnings trace back to high school, when Eddie and Matt jammed cover songs in their parents' garage with their friend Bob, who, per Matt, "came over every day."[1] As of the band's 2012 interview, the members said they had only played music professionally for the past few years.[1]
Local status
Lite Brite is local to Sacramento. Submerge describes them as "Sacramento rock-trio Lite Brite" and a "local band," and the 2012 Middle Class Rut preview names "Eddie Underwood and Bob Lander of Sacramento band Lite Brite."[1][4] Earlier coverage repeatedly groups them with Sacramento acts: a 2011 review calls the Luigi's Fungarden bill (with Mondo Deco and The Babs Johnson Gang) "a local lineup,"[7] and a 2010 feature lists Lite Brite among "local favorites."[3] Confidence: high.
Sound and live show
Submerge characterizes Lite Brite by its forceful, distortion-driven rock and a frenetic stage presence.[2][7] Reviewers cite a Led Zeppelin influence and describe frontman Eddie Underwood leaping, thrashing his curls, generating amp feedback, and ending sets face-down at the drum mic.[7] An earlier review compared their sound to "Buzz Osborne with a voice like Howlin' Pelle Almqvist," and noted a moment "ghostly reminiscent of Far" — a connection underlined by Far bassist Johnny Guttenberg watching from the side of the stage.[2] The band's stated goal for its album was to capture that live energy on record.[1] The Sacramento News & Review, writing about the band's continuation as American Killers, described the trio as delivering "hair flying, bodies thrashing, vocal chords straining, fuzz exploding" during their shows.[5]
Releases
- Lite Brite (self-titled, 2012): A 12-track album that the band recorded, mixed, and produced themselves, with only one track ("Heaven") involving an outside musical engineer.[1] The opening track features recorded sounds made with an analog phaser, intended as a thematic, "noisy" tone for the record.[1] The CD release party was July 6, 2012 at Ace of Spades in Sacramento, with a lineup of Stuck, Musical Charis, Simpl3jack, The Hungry, and The Trees.[1] Tickets were $10 advance / $12 door.[1] Matt described an ambition to release singles rapidly, citing a 1960s model used by bands like The Rolling Stones.[1]
- Sac Go Home Fest live compilation (2015): Lite Brite appears as one of roughly 20 locally tied bands on sound engineer Drew Walker's free live compilation recorded at the Midtown venue Witch Room (ex-Bows and Arrows) before it closed in late 2014.[8]
- Young Blood EP (2016, as American Killers): Released March 7, 2016 under the American Killers name.[6] The five-track EP — "There Will Be Blood," "Starlight Nation," "Big City," "Napalm," and "Maximum Overdrive" — was produced and engineered by Joe Finocchio, mixed by Beau Burchell, and mastered by Brian Lucey.[6]
Touring
The band completed two West Coast / U.S. tours, which Matt called "awesome" and well-attended.[1] One tour was with fellow Sacramento act Middle Class Rut.[1] On the road they sold out of CDs early and had to burn thousands more.[1] Tour anecdotes include a Minneapolis van break-in (the thieves took lunch meat and Red Bulls but left the equipment) and a near bar fight in Wyoming over Nickelback.[1]
Scene relationships and notable shows
- Harlow's (Aug. 23, 2009): Lite Brite performed at Harlow's in Sacramento opening for Kai Kln; the set was recorded by Jim McLain and is preserved by the Sacramento Music Archive, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.[9]
- Old Ironsides (Nov. 25, 2009): Lite Brite opened an "all-star" bill in a series booked by longtime local promoter Jerry Perry at Old Ironsides, then in its 75th year; the same night included Jackpot and Mike Farrell's band.[2]
- Blue Lamp (April 3, 2010): Performed at Goodness Gracious Me's CD release show alongside Musical Charis.[3] Submerge lists Lite Brite among Goodness Gracious Me's "local favorites."[3]
- Luigi's Fungarden (Feb. 11, 2011): Headlined an all-ages "local lineup" with Mondo Deco and The Babs Johnson Gang; the set opened with "Big City" and closed with "Space Shuttle."[7]
- Friday Night Concerts in the Park (May 11, 2012): Played Cesar Chavez Park on a bill with Middle Class Rut, Horseneck, and DJ Whores.[10][4] The band cited a Concerts in the Park performance before a crowd of over 7,000 as one of its most memorable shows.[1] The 2012 series was booked not by Jerry Perry but by the committee Play Big Sacramento.[10]
- Middle Class Rut connection: Lite Brite's Eddie Underwood and Bob Lander were brought into Middle Class Rut's live setup as additional members; MC Rut's Zack Lopez noted the two bands had toured together a few times before.[4]
- Starlite Lounge (March 4, 2016, as American Killers): According to the Sacramento News & Review, this show marked the debut of the band's new name; the paper noted it would be "American Killers' first hometown show with its new identity."[5]
Recurring scene collaborators across the coverage include Musical Charis, Goodness Gracious Me, and Middle Class Rut.[3][1][4]
Name change: American Killers (2016)
In early 2016, Lite Brite rebranded as American Killers. The Sacramento News & Review announced the change with the framing "Lite Brite fans, say hello to the same band under a new name: American Killers," and the band debuted the new identity at Starlite Lounge in Sacramento on March 4, 2016.[5] Three days later, on March 7, 2016, the band released the Young Blood EP on Bandcamp.[6]