Venice Sunlight

The playful sounds of Venice Sunlight fit right in with bands like Weezer, Blink 182, and The All American Rejects. From Pennsylvania, this quartet doesn't give itself enough credit. They may not be musical virtuosos, but they understand the illusive art of good song-writing.

This first single, “Annabel,” off their self-released 2010 EP Venice Sunlight Vs. the Rabid Rabbits starts with a poppy guitar riff reminiscent of The B-52's. Then, Jayson Verdibello’s inviting vocals tells the all-too-familiar tale of dealing with an unbalanced relationship. The chorus is contagious, and the song stands as the perfect example of using humor as a defense mechanism.

“The Green Room” brings a story of attraction by wooing the neural connections with a familiar opening riff, but before it can be placed, the next riff bypasses the frontal lobe with lines not easily forgotten.

“Bridges” brings the band Alien Ant Farm to mind. This is one of the many examples of Venice Sunlight's use of negative space, which, when done live, adds a dynamic listeners can't get from any I-pod or mp3 player. - Target Audience Magazine

Venice Sunlight “Vs. the Rabid Rabbits” [EP] – Here is a great new 4 song effort from Philly band Venice Sunlight. Their sound blends a bit of the post-grunge pop that emerged during the late 90s with more contemporary indie rock songwriting. What results is something along the lines of Foo Fighters mashed with Fountains of Wayne. “Annabel” and “Arms” are excellent pop rockers that offer instant gratification, while “The Green Room” takes a little longer to grow on you – but the stomping chorus is worth waiting for. The only track that sounded a bit too nondescript was “Bridges”, but it isn’t bad by any means and does have a wicked solo. These guys hold a lot of promise and if they stay focused on keeping the melodies strong and hooks sharp, they could be the next big thing. More about Venice Sunlight can be found here. - Bill's Music Forum

From the City of Brotherly Love (and also Frank Rizzo, but that's another story) please enjoy Philadelphia combo Venice Sunlight and "Annabel," the utterly charming lead single off their just released EP Vs. the Rabid Rabbits

Hey -- terrific pop/punk guitars, winsome vocals and the song's put together like a charm; what more could anybody want?

Seriously, for reasons I don't need to get into at the moment, it's been a very long time since I've been in the front seat of a convertible, roaring down the turnpike on a sunny day with the car stereo blasting. Let's just say, then, that if I was to be doing such a thing in the near future, this is precisely the kind of song I'd want to be hearing.

You can find out lots more about the band over at their Facebook page; if you leave a comment, tell 'em PowerPop sent you. - PowerPop

From the City of Brotherly Love (and also Frank Rizzo, but that's another story) please enjoy Philadelphia combo Venice Sunlight and "Annabel," the utterly charming lead single off their just released EP Vs. the Rabid Rabbits

Hey -- terrific pop/punk guitars, winsome vocals and the song's put together like a charm; what more could anybody want?

Seriously, for reasons I don't need to get into at the moment, it's been a very long time since I've been in the front seat of a convertible, roaring down the turnpike on a sunny day with the car stereo blasting. Let's just say, then, that if I was to be doing such a thing in the near future, this is precisely the kind of song I'd want to be hearing.

You can find out lots more about the band over at their Facebook page; if you leave a comment, tell 'em PowerPop sent you. - PowerPop

Sunshine is a rare commodity, in Venice anytime and in Philadelphia during the depths of January. That’s a good enough reason to check out this jittery, jump-up-and-down pop band, Venice Sunlight. Their short, sharp songs are shot through with sunny sweetness but also barbed with sharp, random stabs of irony. Up to now, their best-known cuts have been smirky, off-kilter pogo-pumpers like “Great Moments in Bad Timing” and “The Devil Wears Nada,” but a new EP, Venice Sunshine Vs. the Rabid Rabbits, takes things in a slightly less wise-cracking direction. The single “Annabel” is unequivocal power pop, though its sugar is cut with rackety drums, its sentiment diluted with the observation that “Love is fleeting and largely pharmaceutical.” -Jennifer Kelly - Phiadelphia Weekly