City Riots have been around for a few years now, and after 2 EPs and some singles, the band released their awaited debut album "Sea of Bright Lights" last year (the album was featured as Album of the Week here on KRR in November 2012).
Comprised by Ricky, Matthew "Edgy", Matt and Dan, the Adelaide four-piece, gained the attention of Australian stations with the released of their debut EP Socialize back in 2008. Later in 2010, the band released their EP Matchsticks, which was recorded by producer Bjorn Thorsrud (Smashing Pumkins, Dandy Warholes) putting their catchy tunes on the airwaves once again.
The band spent the majority of 2011 on the road supporting some of Australia's best acts including British India, Ball Park Music, Papa vs. Pretty and Alpine. After that, the band took a lengthy summer escape to the family shack along the banks of the River Murray in South Australia, free from distractions and full of inspiration, evolved into the ideal setting for City Riots to write almost forty new tracks.
City Riots made their way to the more civilised surroundings of Melbourne, where they spent all of April 2012 recording at Red Door Sounds under the ears of Paul 'Woody' Annison (Children Collide, Hunting Grounds). After being engrossed in writing for months, the four-piece knew they wanted to create an album in it's truest form – a cohesive collection of songs with a sense of depth and space without being overdone, overplayed, overthought or overproduced. As a result the band completed their debut album 'Sea of Bright Lights'.
**City Riots single "Wait For You" peaked at #1 in our Best Tracks of 2012 chart and with 'Sea of Bright Lights', they made our 'Album of the Year 2012'.