Ghost Light (band)

Ghost Light was formed at the end of 2017 with two established mainstays in the jam band music scene, Tom Hamilton & Holly Bowling.{{cite news |last1=Loria |first1=Keith |title=Alt rockers Ghost Light ready to jam at FTC |url=https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/arts-leisure/article/Alt-rockers-Ghost-Light-ready-to-jam-at-FTC-14974395.php |accessdate=23 January 2020 |publisher=The Ridgefield Press |date=17 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://jambands.com/news/2018/01/11/holly-bowling-and-tom-hamilton-form-new-band-ghost-light/|title=Holly Bowling and Tom Hamilton Form New Band, Ghost Light|date=January 11, 2018|website=Jambands}}{{cite news |last1=Bise |first1=Alex |title=Tom Hamilton on Ghost Light, learning from the Dead |publisher=Asbury Park Press |date=17 May 2019}} The original assembly of the band occurred in a studio in Philadelphia, PA. This allowed the band to bond and grow through the music writing process.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-tom-hamilton-holly-bowling-2018-tour|title=Ghost Light Announces 1st Half Of Inaugural Tour|website=JamBase}} Unlike most Jam Bands, Ghost Light decided to start by recording an album before ever playing a live show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.osirispod.com/podcasts/inside-the-musicians-brain/inside-the-musicians-brain-episode-6-holly-bowling/|title=Episode 6: Holly Bowling}} The band launched their first tour with a sold-out show in San Diego, CA[https://web.archive.org/web/20180906233757/https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/ghost-light-debut/ "Ghost Light Makes Their Triumphant Debut In San Diego"], Live for Live Music, March 21, 2018 and performed in over 25 venues across the United States throughout 2018.

In March 2019, original bassist Steve Lyons was replaced by Dan Africano from the band John Brown's Body.{{Cite web |title=Ghost Light Jams New Album 'Best Kept Secrets' In St. Paul: Full Show Audio |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-new-album-best-kept-secrets-st-paul |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=JamBase |language=en-US}}

On March 22, 2019, Ghost Light released their debut album 'Best Kept Secrets'. At their show that night in Minneapolis, MN they performed the album in its entirety.{{Cite web|url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/ghost-light-stpaul-3-22-19/|title=Ghost Light Plays New Album, 'Best Kept Secrets', In Its Entirety In St. Paul [Photos/Audio]|date=March 25, 2019|website=L4LM}} Ghost Light played 59 shows in 2019 and had 20 scheduled performances for 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.phantasytour.com/bands/ghost-light/tours.|title=Phantasy Tour|website=www.phantasytour.com}}

In March 2022, the band announced that bassist Dan Africano departed the group and was replaced by Turkuaz founding member Taylor Shell.{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Andrew |date=2022-03-09 |title=Ghost Light Adds Former Turkuaz Bassist Taylor Shell To Band Lineup |url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/ghost-light-adds-former-turkuaz-bassist-taylor-shell/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=L4LM |language=en-US}}

In August 2022, the band announced their sophomore album 'The Healing' which was released in October.{{Cite web |title=Ghost Light Announces New Album 'The Healing' & Shares Single |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-new-album-the-healing-single-tour-dates }}

Holly Bowling announced in December 2022 that she would be leaving the band at the end of the year, performing her final show on December 29 in Denver.{{Cite web|last=Bernstein|first=Scott|date=2022-12-09|title=Holly Bowling To Depart Ghost Light After 2022|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/holly-bowling-departs-ghost-light|website=JamBase|access-date=2022-01-19}}

The band performed their last show at the Peach Music Festival on July 7, 2023 with Tom McKee (American Babies) on keyboards.{{Citation |last=Ghost Light |title=Ghost Light Live at The Peach Music Festival - Montage Mountain, Scranton PA on 2023-07-02 |date=2023-07-02 |url=http://archive.org/details/ghostlight2023-07-02 |access-date=2023-12-09}}

Andy J. Gordon described Ghost Light's improvisational live show at the Teragram Ballroom as having "reached glorious synchronicity that has made their recent live shows a revelation."{{cite news |last1=Gordon |first1=Andy J. |title=Ghost Light Shower Teragram Ballroom With Experimental Rock & Tight Improv (SHOW REVIEW/PHOTOS) |url=https://glidemagazine.com/237157/ghost-light-shower-teragram-ballroom-with-experimental-rock-tight-improv-show-review-photos/ |accessdate=23 January 2020 |publisher=Glide Magazine |date=27 November 2019}}

Doug Collette described Best Kept Secrets as "a purposeful, cogent statement on the part of these seasoned musicians."{{cite web | url=https://glidemagazine.com/222145/ghost-light-mixes-accessible-with-ethereal-on-debut-lp-best-kept-secrets-album-review/ | title=Ghost Light Mix Accessible with Ethereal on Debut LP 'Best Kept Secrets' (ALBUM REVIEW) | work=Glide Magazine | date=21 March 2019 | last1=Collette | first1=Doug }}

Mint described the album as "a trippy set of songs that are light and delicate but also intricate and engrossing," recommending especially the "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" track.{{cite news |date=21 April 2019 |title=Six new(ish) bands to check out this summer |publisher=Mint}}

Ben Beamish wrote, "While some music conveys an artist's message, this one seems to want to incite a response from its audience" in his review of Best Kept Secrets.{{Cite web|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/glbks-ghost-light-best-kept-secrets/|title=Album Premiere: Ghost Light Debut in a Sonic Frenzy on 'Best Kept Secrets'|date=March 21, 2019}}

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Current members

• Tom Hamilton – guitar, vocals (2017–present)
• Raina Mullen – guitar, vocals (2017–present)
• Scotty Zwang – drums, backing vocals (2017–present)
• Taylor Shell – bass (2022{{Cite web |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-bassist-taylor-shell |title=Ghost Light Taps Taylor Shell As New Bassist}}–present)

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Former members

• Holly Bowling – keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2022)
• Steve Lyons – bass, backing vocals (2017–2019{{Cite web |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-new-album-best-kept-secrets-st-paul |title=Ghost Light Jams New Album 'Best Kept Secrets' In St. Paul: Full Show Audio}})
• Is the bassist on the debut album 'Best Kept Secrets' though the album was released after he left the band.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-debut-album-best-kept-secrets |title=Ghost Light Announces Debut Album 'Best Kept Secrets' & Shares Single}}
• Dan Africano – bass (2019{{Cite web |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-new-album-best-kept-secrets-st-paul |title=Ghost Light Jams New Album 'Best Kept Secrets' In St. Paul: Full Show Audio }}-2022)
• Is the bassist on the sophomore album 'The Healing' though the album was released after he left the band.{{Cite web |url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-tom-hamilton-raina-mullen-jambase-podcast |title=The JamBase Podcast: Ghost Light's Tom Hamilton & Raina Mullen}}

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• Best Kept Secrets {{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/review-ghost-light-at-deep-ellum-art-co-11636098|title=Ghost Light Lives Up to Its Hype With Wide Range of Styles and Sounds|last=Kuykendall|first=Kristal|date=2019-04-08|website=Dallas Observer|access-date=2020-01-20}}
• The Healing (2022-10-07) {{Cite web|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/ghost-light-new-album-the-healing-single-tour-dates|title=Ghost Light Announces New Album 'The Healing' & Shares Single|website=jambase}}

• live concert recordings available on [https://archive.org/details/GhostLightBand the Internet Archives' Live Music Archive] (free)
• concert recordings available on [https://www.nugs.net/ghost-light-concerts-live-downloads-in-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming/ nugs.net]

• Ghost Light at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, CA 3/24/18{{Cite news|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ghost-light-ignites-for-liftoff--2556064157.html|title=Ghost Light Ignites for Liftoff at Terrapin Crossroads|date=2018-04-04|work=PopMatters|access-date=2018-04-22|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://jam.buzz/pro-footage-watch-ghost-lights-acoustic-set-at-terrapin-crossroads/|title=Pro-footage: Watch Ghost Light's Acoustic Set at Terrapin Crossroads - Jam Buzz|date=2018-04-10|work=Jam Buzz|access-date=2018-04-22|language=en-US}}
• [https://www.facebook.com/theacousticbpt/videos/2174400219244432 Ghost Light at The Acoustic in Bridgeport, CT 4/13/18]{{Cite news|url=https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/tom-hamilton-ghost-light-heckler/|title=Watch Tom Hamilton Shut Down A Heckler During Ghost Light's Gorgeous "Mississippi Half-Step"|date=2018-04-14|work=L4LM|access-date=2018-04-22|language=en-US}}
• [https://archive.org/details/ghostlight2020-01-10.matrix.flac16 Ghost Light at Jamcruise 18 01/10/2020]

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.ghostlightband.com/ official website of Ghost Light]
• [https://www.tomhamiltonjr.com official website of Tom Hamilton]
• [http://www.hollybowling.com/ official website of Holly Bowling]

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Category:Rock music groups from Pennsylvania

Category:Jam bands

Category:Musical groups from Philadelphia

Category:Musical groups established in 2017

Category:2017 establishments in Pennsylvania