Plaid friends. There is a new mystery that I need your help in solving.
The story:
I got a random friend invite on the 30LBS Skunk YouTube channel the other day from a user I’ve never viewed, called Lights Over Paris.
At first glance it just looked like some bullshit spam from some ridiculously rich OC band that hasn’t released anything. The Lights Over Paris band website is just a temporary one linking to their various social media accounts. I dismissed it immediately as spam.
But something about it struck me as being slightly off.
Upon second glance it looked like a band that could be serious contender for the biggest bunch of douchebags in the history of the music industry. I didn’t understand why these idiots wanted to be my friend. How did they even find me?
The next day I still had a remaining friend invite. Oh yeah, those bozos again.
At third glace it looked like a devilishly brilliant and unprecedentedly smooth execution of a biting satire on the creative process (rather, the lack thereof) behind manufactured pop music. I looked at all the comments on their channel and noticed a lot of people didn’t get it. Their satire is very subtle, but if you watch more than 2-3 of the videos it will start to come through. Even the Lights Over Paris Twitter feed reeks of sarcasm.
Is it really satire? Are they really this clever?
The riddle:
I want to believe. Have a look at the videos after the jump, and tell me if I’m crazy to think that a parody exists in this stuff. Or, is this some kind of viral marketing? If so, what are they pushing? Is it the studio? Are these guys actors trying to gain exposure? What’s your theory?
The first video I saw was the bio on the band’s “DJ”. Douchebag material for sure.
There was one brief moment in the clip that made me raise an eyebrow. Tell me if you recognize it.
The following video is much less subtle, and is the one that made me start to think that this is actually a satire:
Then, these next three videos will make you question how so much production value could be injected into something so asinine.
The mic stand:
The custom tour bus:
The studio tour:
I’ll leave you with that. I’ve you’ve made it this far, let’s crack the code. Leave your thoughts in the comments. Is this the evolution of viral marketing? Some actors with a knack for satire? Or is this a real band in the OC wonderland of riches?
I want to believe as well – for their sake, I want to believe.
Although, I have lived in L.A. – it could be real.
Okay, did you see the cougar convention video? There is no way this is real.
this seems like pretty blatant plagiarism of spinal tap…
In the words of Drinking out of cups, “No way, that ain’t real…no way.” At least, I hope it’s not.
As hard as it is to believe, these guys are real. 100% OC douche. I don’t get it either, these guys promote like crazy but there is no evidence of music.
http://www.sidewalksuperheroes.com/blog/tag/lights-over-paris/ << This is a link to some woman’s blog, it explains how she got ripped off by lights over paris. So this makes it all sorta tough to call this whole act a satire and not really just douches being douchey.
No, they’re serious! I know this dumb ass girl who thinks they have a big record label. They go around saying they’re putting out an album. What a joke! Probably the biggest bunch of posers i’ve ever seen.
AND they pay for chicks to pretend to be GROUPIES!!! How GAY!
This has to be something seriously illegal, but they throw one hell of a party. They have nothing to show how they earned this wealthy rock n roll life style. Is it you or your parents in this income tax bracket? Two of these guys come from humble working class families. Something very very suspicious. If one of them is not a trust fund baby, then these guys have some very clever and profitable scam raking in serious rock star cash.
Look these douchey douchbags made a video of their Halloween Party.
There are demo’s on their myspace that actually sound quite good. But if they have an upcoming album… when will it be released??
http://myspace.com/lightsoverparis
they have a tour bus like that and they cant pay a web designer? no way
interesting… could be anything really. especially nowadays with this whole metro emo punk movement. its hard to judge anyone by their cover but yah, they do look like their a lil douchey..
Real. Just remembered why I moved north.
WOW really cool guys doing really cool rockstar things, THEYRE SO COOL!!!!These dipshits just got evicted for not paying their rent in over three months and having a huge halloween party in which they posted on craigslist. They have ran out of money numerous times and are the biggest joke in hollywood, A friend of mine and I saw them at Bank of America trying to get money out of the ATM and the little vampire looking one said “How could I be overdrawn 1500 bucks?” So don’t worry these poser OC trash will soon run out of their money for good and be gone.
HAHA! Snidley if what you’re saying is true then that shit is hilarious! Craigslist Party. Super lame.
Kinda bummed my band is named lightsoverla after seeing this ridiculous shit.
I saw them earlier this year. They kept spamming Craigslist to find musicians to tour with them. I couldn’t figure out if they were jokes or what…
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=544550
im actually good friends with Will, im going to his house tonight for NYE and was there for the holloween party.
I can honestly say that they are really trying to make music. On what level though……not so clear. I think that they trying to produce their own band and several other musicians as well. Will wont tell me most of anything so its always a little foggy, and where the funding comes from is mostly Rob.
Its always been a mystery to me , but LOP is more of a production promotion small business right now.
But there is ALOT of money in LOP and i think its crazy, where its going to actually go…..who knows. my bet is that they will try and produce other bands….. who knows really,
This is all very entertaining. Has anyone kept to the thread of “crack the code” i’m really curious as to how this is all working out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Beavan
This guys has some good credits… which at the end of his bio it says “currently working with Lights Over Paris.”
Sounds legit to me!
You can throw away some of those conspiracy theories that they are smart enough to execute such quality viral marketing.
These guys are the sad proof that if you have enough money, you can be anything you want in America. Somehow Rob aquired a large sum of cash and the rest of his followers are just along for the ride. They bought their way into hollywood with their producer to get them all the contacts they need, as well as hire everyone else to put together their mediocre tracks. They aren’t signed by any major label and they expect to go on tour following the completion of their record. These guys are forcing themselves onto the general public by attempting to look as legit as possible, but i dont think their album sales will be any more than a small indie band playing at a coffee shop selling copies to their buddies.
In terms of talent, i dont think they have it to launch a full blown tour by themselves. Which is why they are hiring real musicians to play for them while they whore themselves on stage.
So to “crack your code” all you need to know is how Rob got all this money to drop. They aren’t money makers, they are spenders. If they do make money, its got to be shady or just a huge trust fund they are blowing through. These guys are not actors, they aren’t college educated, and they aren’t viral marketers. They are simply a group of friends who leeched onto their rich friend, in hopes to be famous. They are definitely trying to be a legit band, but value the fame too much. These guys are buying their way into their 15 minutes and they’ll be back to living at home with their parents with fucked up credit.
It actually makes me sick to see how people work their entire lives in hopes of being wealthy and secure, yet these guys get a free ride and shove it in your face. These guys are attempting to follow in the footsteps of the pseudo celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag, etc. They were born into wealth, they whore themselves into the public eye. Hopefully, they will just get weeded out when their income dries up.
Thanks for all of your comments everybody.
It is really amazing to see so many opinions and lots of really interesting facts surface about these guys. You’ve convinced me that these guys are real.
Deep down inside I knew it. I was really hoping to be wrong. I really wanted to believe that this was some kind of advanced satire. I’m kind of bummed, but still amused all the same.
Funny how you all talk about “facts.” Where do you people come up with this stuff? I know these guys. They work very hard. Do they also have fun and party? Sure. They’re twenty-somethings. What’s wrong with having a good time. Robb was not “born into wealth” and has no trust fund. Have any of you listened to their music? It’s actually good. And what is wrong with them putting out an album and hoping it will be successful? Isn’t that the American dream? They aren’t faking anything. Robb writes the songs and sings. You all make a lot of assumptions about who these guys are but what are they doing wrong? Why is it bad that they aren’t signed by any major label? Are people who ARE signed by a major label the only ones who deserve success? And how are they forcing themselves on anyone? How can one be forced to listen to their music (once it is released)? Maybe their album sales will be good, maybe it won’t. That’s to be determined. But what is really wrong with a bunch of guys working very hard to produce music using their own money? Would it be better to use someone else’s? Why? And how exactly are they getting a free ride? I hear a lot crap being spewed about these guys but not a lot of facts. Sounds like jealousy to me. How about everyone just wait and see and judge for yourselves once the music is released?
Jealousy does play as a big factor in all of this because that self promoted themselves to be bigger than what they really are. They are self proclaimed musicians and they have yet to release a song, or even play a local show. They ride on the reputations of big time producers, grammy award winning mixers, and feel they are worthy enough to be on the same resume as well established bands.
It is understandable that provided with the large income they obtained, they can go about entering the business. Some people buy fancy cars, some people get hookers, some people get drugs, and some people want to be rock stars. The problem is that when they self promote themselves by spam inviting people to their youtube channel, they are bound to get some negative feedback. This is fueled by the fact that they videotape themselves acting like public nuisances and sitting around in a studio when the real technicians are doing most of the work.
If their instrumental they released on the net is any indication of the music they hope to release, I am not impressed. Taking into consideration the counter-argument, I should save the criticisms until after I hear a finished product, therefore, my impression of these guys is based on what they have self promoted. If they do manage to become as successful with their investment, all the more power to them. But defending them because you know them doesn’t mean they still aren’t douchebags.
If they want to be in the public eye, they better learn how to develop a good reputation with what they put out on the internet. People wont just accept a bunch of rich OC kids buying their way into hollywood.
Hey A.S. when is the music going to be released??? According to your guys website it should be done.
I saw these guys play the other day, it was a pretty awesome show. their album comes out in a couple months i think.
Let’s assume for argument sake they really are a legitimate band trying to produce and promote their own music with their own money. No problem there. NOW, has anybody listened to their demo tracks (the ones with several MILLION hits) ?
THEY SUCK! and that’s the name of that song!