Neon Trees

Neon Trees was formed in late 2005 by childhood friends Tyler Glenn (vocals, keyboards) and Chris Allen (guitar, vocals) in Provo, Utah. They soon added Branden Campbell (bass guitar) and Elaine Bradley (drums, percussion, vocals) to complete the lineup. The band’s name was inspired by the lighted trees at In-N-Out Burger, a coincidence later amplified when it was discovered Campbell’s father had installed those very lights. In their early years, they released the EP “Becoming Different People” in 2006. Their music, a blend of pop rock, new wave, synth-pop, and indie rock, quickly garnered attention within the Utah music scene.

The band’s career gained significant momentum when The Killers’ drummer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr., saw them perform in Las Vegas. Impressed, Vannucci facilitated an opportunity for Neon Trees to open several North American tour dates for The Killers in 2008. This exposure led to their signing with Mercury Records in late 2008. Their debut album, “Habits,” released in March 2010, featured the lead single “Animal,” which climbed to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Alternative Songs chart. “Animal” eventually achieved double platinum status and won the 2011 Billboard Music Award for Top Alternative Song. They further solidified their commercial success with singles like “Everybody Talks” from their 2012 album “Picture Show,” which reached number six on the Hot 100, and “Sleeping with a Friend” from their 2014 album “Pop Psychology.”

In 2013, Neon Trees embarked on world tours with artists like Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift, expanding their audience. The band continued to release music, including “I Can Feel You Forgetting Me” in 2020 which reflected on the transient nature of relationships. Their fifth studio album, “Sink Your Teeth,” released in September 2024, showcases a balance of raw rock and polished pop, continuing their evolution within the pop-rock genre.