Neon Trees

History

Early years (2005–2010)

Formed initially by childhood friends Tyler Glenn (vocals, keyboards) and Chris Allen (guitar, vocals) who both grew up in Murrieta, California, the band made its first home in Provo after Glenn and Allen moved there from Southern California, eventually adding Branden Campbell (bass guitar, vocals) and Elaine Bradley (drums, percussion, vocals) to the lineup. David Charles plays with the band as touring guitarist.

They first started playing under the name Neon Trees in late 2005 with five original members, Tyler Glenn and Chris Allen from California, and three veterans of the Utah music scene, bass player Mike Liechty, drummer Jason Gibbons and keyboardist Nathan Evans. The band's name originates from the lighted trees on the In-N-Out Burger signs, which inspired Tyler Glenn. In a strange coincidence, it was later learned that Branden Campbell's father, Steve Campbell, installed the exact Neon Trees in the In-N-Out that inspired Glenn while working for a sign company out of Las Vegas.

They released an EP, Becoming Different People, in 2006 during the time of their first tour through California. The EP featured promising songs like "Phones", "Sister Stereo", "Up Against the Glass". They also recorded other unreleased tracks during the "Treehouse Sessions" in 2006.

The band's lineup soon narrowed down to four members with Branden Campbell and Elaine Bradley joining the group on bass and drums, respectively. Touring musician Bruce Rubenson on keyboards and drums joined in. Shortly thereafter, The Killers' drummer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., went to watch the band play at a small club in Las Vegas as he had been in a Ska band called "Attaboy Skip" with Neon Trees bassist Branden Campbell prior to joining The Killers. Ronnie was impressed, and as a result they were chosen to open for The Killers for a string of dates on their 2008 North American tour. Vannucci later helped the band sign to major label Mercury Records, which was announced in late 2008. Additionally, the group was voted Band of the Year in 2009 by City Weekly, a popular Salt Lake City publication.

2010–11: ''Habits'' and commercial breakthrough

Main article: Habits (album)

In 2010, the band covered Justin Bieber's song "Baby" as well as Ben E. King's "Stand By Me". Throughout early 2010 the band, along with Mutemath and Street Drum Corps, opened for the Thirty Seconds to Mars tour Into the Wild. Subsequently, they headlined the Bang the Gong Tour with Paper Tongues, MeTalkPretty, and Civil Twilight in mid-2010, performed a set to 7,000 at Lollapalooza, and went on tour with Thirty Seconds to Mars in the last half of the year.

2011–13: ''Picture Show''

Main article: Picture Show (album)

On December 7, 2011, an article published by Rolling Stones website streamed the band's new song "Everybody Talks". On February 10, 2012, a video was posted on their official YouTube page, titled Neon Trees – Picture Show Teaser One / The New Album April 17, advertising their new album is to be released on April 17, 2012. In March 2012, Neon Trees and their single "Everybody Talks" were featured in a commercial for the 2012 Buick Verano. The single was covered in episode five of season four of Glee.

Neon Trees' second studio album Picture Show was released on April 17, 2012. On August 29, 2012, Neon Trees performed "Everybody Talks" on the America's Got Talent live results show. In early fall 2012, the band toured with The Offspring and Dead Sara. In 2013 they joined Maroon 5 in their world tour alongside Owl City. In November/December 2013 they were a support act for Taylor Swift's three concerts in New Zealand and four concerts in Australia. The band was featured on NBC's coverage of the 2012 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They performed an abbreviated version of their single "Everybody Talks". The second single from the album is the track "Lessons in Love (All Day, All Night)" with the collaboration of American record producer and D.J. Kaskade.

2014–2017: ''Pop Psychology''

Main article: Pop Psychology (album)

Neon Trees' third studio album, Pop Psychology, was released on April 22, 2014. The first single from Pop Psychology, titled "Sleeping with a Friend", was released for digital download. The band performed the single on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 22, 2014.

"Sleeping with a Friend" was solicited to U.S. Contemporary hit radio by both Mercury and Island Records on February 25, 2014. Neon Trees later released four more singles following "Sleeping with a Friend". The singles are titled "I Love You (But I Hate Your Friends)", "Voices In the Halls", and "First Things First". "First Things First" is the end credit song for the 2016 Netflix Original series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.

In 2015, the group announced the "An Intimate Night With Neon Trees" Tour. The tour ran from June 6, 2015, to July 26, 2015, finishing in Boston, Massachusetts, at the House Of Blues Boston. Opening acts included Alex Winston, Yes You Are, Coin, and Fictionist.

On May 5, 2015, the band released a non-album single entitled "Songs I Can't Listen To" and an accompanying music video on June 3, 2015, featuring Dustin Lance Black.

On August 4, 2017, the band premiered a new single "Feel Good".

2019–2023: ''I Can Feel You Forgetting Me''

Main article: I Can Feel You Forgetting Me

Neon Trees released "Used to Like", the lead single from their fourth album, on November 13, 2019. The second single, "New Best Friend" was released on May 20, 2020. On July 10, 2020, the band released the third single called "Mess Me Up". The fourth and final single, "Nights", was released on July 22, 2020. The album, I Can Feel You Forgetting Me, was released on July 24, 2020. In December 2021, they released a new single and video, "Holiday Rock".

2023–present: ''Sink Your Teeth''

Main article: Sink Your Teeth

Sink Your Teeth, the fifth studio album by Neon Trees, was released on September 20, 2024. There are 12 songs on the album. On June 30, 2023, the first and lead single of the album "Favorite Daze" was released. The second single, "Losing My Head", was released on September 15, 2023. Three more singles were released in early 2024 before the album; "Bad Dreams" (May 31), "El Diablo" (July 19), and "Cruel Intentions" (August 28)

Musical style

Neon Trees' musical style has been described as pop rock, new wave, synth-pop, indie rock, alternative rock, pop, and electropop. When describing the band's sound, Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote "Neon Trees blend new wave, dance, and indie into smart, catchy pop." Sputnikmusic described the band's debut studio album Habits as a "refreshing blast of timeless rock energy and spirit that wouldn’t sound out of place at any point from ‘60s garage-rock to 2010 dance rock."

Band members

Current members

• Chris Allen – lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Tyler Glenn – lead vocals (2005–present); keyboards, piano, synthesizer, occasional rhythm guitar (2006–present)
• Elaine Bradley – drums, percussion, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals and rhythm guitar (2007–present)
• Branden Campbell – bass guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)

Former members

• Mike Liechty – bass guitar (2005–2006)
• Jason Gibbons – drums, percussion (2005–2006)
• Nathan Evans – keyboards, piano, synthesizer (2005–2006)
• Bruce Rubenson – drums, percussion, keyboards, piano, synthesizer (2006–present)

Touring musicians

• David Charles – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2005–present)
• Denney Fuller – bass guitar, backing vocals (2025–present)

Timeline

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Colors = id:V value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:BV value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:Guitars value:green legend:Guitars id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass_guitar id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards,_piano,_synthesizers id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion id:Studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:bars value:gray(0.95)

Legend = orientation:vertical columns:1 position:bottom BackgroundColors = bars:bars ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2005 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:2005

LineData = layer:back color:Studio at:03/16/2010 at:04/17/2012 at:04/22/2014 at:07/24/2020 at:09/25/2024

BarData = bar:Glenn text:"Tyler Glenn" bar:Allen text:"Chris Allen" bar:Liechty text:"Mike Liechty" bar:Campbell text:"Branden Campbell" bar:Gibbons text:"Jason Gibbons" bar:Bradley text:"Elaine Bradley" bar:Evans text:"Nathan Evans"

PlotData= width:13 bar:Glenn from:01/01/2005 till:end color:V bar:Glenn from:06/01/2006 till:end color:Keys width:3 bar:Allen from:01/01/2005 till:end color:Guitars bar:Allen from:01/01/2005 till:end color:BV width:3 bar:Liechty from:01/01/2005 till:06/01/2006 color:Bass bar:Campbell from:06/01/2006 till:end color:Bass bar:Campbell from:06/01/2006 till:end color:BV width:3 bar:Gibbons from:01/01/2005 till:06/01/2006 color:Drums bar:Bradley from:06/01/2006 till:end color:Drums bar:Bradley from:06/01/2006 till:end color:BV width:3 bar:Evans from:01/01/2005 till:06/01/2006 color:Keys

Discography

Main article: Neon Trees discography

• Habits (2010)
• Picture Show (2012)
• Pop Psychology (2014)
• I Can Feel You Forgetting Me (2020)
• Sink Your Teeth (2024)

Awards and nominations

APRA Music Awards |- | 2012 | "Animal" | International Work of the Year |

BMI Pop Awards

|- | 2012 | "Animal" | |- | 2015 | "Sleeping with a Friend" |

Billboard Music Awards

|- | Top Alternative Song | |- | Top Rock Song | |- | Neon Trees | Top Adult Pop Songs Artist | |- | "Everybody Talks" | Top Adult Pop Song |

International Dance Music Awards

|- | 2011

MTV Europe Music Awards

|- | 2011 | Neon Trees | Best Push Act |

World Music Awards

|- | 2012 | Themselves | World's Best Group |

References

References

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