With little more than a beat up car and a suitcase of unfinished songs, singer-
songwriter Keith Longo packed up his life in Boston and headed to Los Angeles in
search of change and inspiration. With art and creativity around every corner, the leap of faith proved to be just the inspiration he needed.
He found a like-minded guitarist in So-Cal native Chris Santillo, and subsequently in Mark McKee, a keyboardist and fellow newcomer to LA by way of Raleigh, NC. Through this collaboration, what began as seeds of ideas, grew into a collection of finished work. The result is the infectious sound of Flights Over Phoenix.
Rich in melody, layered in rhythm, and deep in emotion, Flights Over Phoenix’s
debut EP, Runaway California consists of four songs that will take you on a full
tour of your musical senses.
As an east coast girl who has always wanted to live in Southern California and spend her afternoons rollerskating along Venice Beach, I especially appreciate the unreleased video for their debut single “Runaway California.” The band takes in the beautiful beaches and cruises around in a convertible and it’s filmed casually as if it were using a lo-fi filter. I love the video and wish I could share it with you but it’s currently private.
I can share with you the official video of “Runaway California.” Flights of Phoenix are unique in that they shape their sound in the studio where they mostly self-produced their EP. The video also highlights Longo’s sensitive singer-songwriter lyrics and a voice rich with anthemic sound.
Flights Over Phoenix were originally named Lights Over Phoenix as a reference to UFOs, but they made the change to be unique. And maybe get played in airports. When I first tried to analyze the band’s name I imagined Phoenix as the rising figure who soars from ashes and the band rising higher. Since this is such a great band with a unique sound that you’re not hearing in most pop music, perhaps my analysis rings true for the fast rise of the band’s popularity.
One of the places I have always dreamed of going to is LA’s Hotel Cafe. It’s a fantastic venue and Flights Over Phoenix will play at show at the Hotel Cafe on December 8th at 8 pm. In my opinion, that’s a sign of a band on the rise in the LA music scene. Hopefully they will pop over east for a tour because I think they’d be amazing to see play live.
Check out their official website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
SoundCloud
Buy the EP on iTunes
Mash-ups/acoustic videos on YouTube
Lyrics: Runaway California
Baby I don’t know if I’m in love with you
Or if it’s the thought of you that’s got be falling like a fool
but the weather’s getting grey
we swear that wed be better if we runaway
if we just runaway
We can’t afford a ticket so we gassing up my chevy
pack a bag good and heavy
baby just get ready for a better change
yea i hope this california sun is gonna bring a change
gonna bring a change
We been going out our mind
driving all around the world
down all these empty streets
trying to find a place that we know
a place that we know
we been going out our mind
running from the world
up every empty street
trying to find a place to call home
a place to call home
cause we don’t wanna
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
and yea it’s kinda hard when you gotta leave behind
that bed you rest your head
keep the pictures in your mind
time it doesn’t wait, and we swear that we could change
if we runaway, if we just runaway
and someday we’ll know if it’s love, if it’s love
or something else entirely, maybe friendship, maybe lust
right now its what we need
maybe this west coast scene can be a california dream
we been going out our mind
running from the world
up every empty street
trying to find a place to call home
a place to call home
cause we don’t wanna
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
and when you sleep are you lonely?
and when you speak are you lonely?
When you’re with me are you lonely?
are you lonely?
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
Don’t wanna run away no more
dont wanna run away no more, no no
jillypopmusic 