The Mystery Lights (+ Tuff Guac)

Psychedelic garage rock with 60s flair, energetic and direct, driven by raw intensity

“As good as it gets, one of New York’s finest garage rock bands.” – NME

The Mystery Lights began in Salinas, California, when friends Mike Brandon and Luis Alfonso Solano (LA), united by their love for psych garage rock, punk, and skateboarding, set out to craft their own unhinged brand of rock ’n’ roll. In 2012, they moved to New York, where they went on to fully realize their lineup with the addition of three like-minded individuals: Alex Amini on bass, Zachary Butler on drums, and Lily Rogers on keys.

With a live show known for its visceral energy and relentless assault — leaving little to no stoppage between songs — they barreled through countless NYC haunts and DIY venues, quickly amassing a fervent local following. Their buzz caught the attention of Daptone Records, who signed them to their rock imprint Wick Records in 2015. Since then, The Mystery Lights have released a string of albums — The Mystery Lights (2016), Too Much Tension! (2019), and Purgatory (2024) — each expanding their sound while staying true to their raw, unpolished edge.

The Mystery Lights recently released a new 45 on King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s label, PDOOM: “Kids of Today” b/w “Wish You Unwell.” The A-side kicks in with a fierce proto-metal attack dosed in heavy psychedelia, while the B-side delivers a more shadowy, soulful ballad of heartbreak and black magic.