Just this past April, I had the overwhelming pleasure of experiencing folk band Cereus Bright bring down the house as they played their fantastic cover of the Bee Gees disco classic when they opened up a CAS secret show for The Lone Bellow at the Marathon Village complex in Nashville. Cereus Bright has now upped the ante as their official video for “Stayin’ Alive” released last week. The band’s rendition expertly retains the soulful heart of the song while simultaneously maintaining their own folk identity. The video is masterfully directed, produced and edited by the band’s own Evan Ford (lead guitar, mandolin, backup vocals) and is backed by a killer string ensemble, giving the song powerhouse depth that rivals that of a live performance.
Cereus Bright was formed less than three years ago by Ford and lead vocalist and guitarist Tyler Anthony in Knoxville, TN. In that short amount of time, the duo has harnessed a complex and mature sound that feels closer to that of a band that has been playing together for decades. With two EP’s under their belt and the additions of bassist Matt Nelson and drummer Luke Bowers, Cereus Bright looks to kick off a 20-stop U.S. tour in St. Louis, MO on the 14th of this month. Download their debut EP, Goldmine, for free on their website and get their latest EP, Happier Than Me, on iTunes.
– Christian Lerchenfeld
