Exploding from a basement in Lima, Ohio, Hit The Lights has been an electrifying spark in pop-punk since 2003. Known for delivering a kinetic blend of high-energy punk rock with emo-tinged arrangements and hardcore-inspired breakdowns, the band gained traction with their 2004 debut EP, Until We Get Caught, followed by their first full length LP, This Is A Stickup...Don't Make It A Murder, released on Triple Crown Records in 2006. Through their infectious sound and relentless touring with influential acts like New Found Glory, Paramore, Hot Rod Circuit and Bayside, they have earned themselves a loyal fan base which remain devoted to this day.
With the departure of original vocalist Colin Ross in 2007, the band's evolution took a pivotal turn when guitarist Nick Thompson seamlessly stepped in as lead singer, reinvigorating their tonality with albums like Skip School, Start Fights and Invicta. In 2015, they landed at Pure Noise Records and released Summer Bones, a record that fused their nostalgic roots with a grittier feeling edge and an unyielding drive for reinvention, solidifying them as a vital force in the genre.
Having faced tragedy in 2022, the band was rocked by the untimely loss of guitarist Kyle Maite—a shock that left scars but also brought their shared history into sharp, unrelenting focus. Through grief and gratitude, they’ve emerged stronger, channeling life’s chaos into new music that pulses with urgency and purpose. To guitarists Omar Zehery and Kevin Mahoney, bassist Dave Bermosk, drummer Nate Van Dame and singer Nick Thompson, Hit The Lights is more than a band; it is a testament to the unbreakable bond that only the love of shared melody and spirit can provide. Their story isn’t just about survival—it's about thriving in the face of every hit life throws.