// Bios

Some melodies are just waiting to be heard. Whether it is a jazz standard, country, or blues tune, the Bright Lights Society picks those sweet songs out. Their jazz based repertoire includes influences from the Big Band era, modern combos, rag-time and rock n’ roll. The music will carry you through the night with the instrumentation of vocals, saxophone, guitar, upright bass, and drums. When you love to play music, the playing comes easy… especially when the band is full of talented musicians such as these:

Guitarist Lauren Gurgiolo has studied jazz at the University of Texas, playing in the big bands and small combos. She has played in western swing, country/folk, jazz, and blues bands in venues around Austin and on tours. Although the guitar is her instrument in this band, Lauren is a multi-instrumentalist playing the mandolin and fiddle. With a passion for digging up old songs, she has fused old and new styles of guitar playing to create her own style, and to create the Bright Lights Society.

Vocalist Elizabeth McQueen is gifted with a clear, resonant, powerful voice (think Patsy Cline meets Dinah Washington). The Chronicle did a story in 2002 naming her group, Elizabeth McQueen and the Firebrands, one of the top five new artists in Austin, and KUT’s John Aielli recently pick her new release “Fresh Up Club” as one of the top 10 Albums of the year. With a great voice and a love for Jazz and Country music, people stick around to hear her sing.

Saxophonist Ponder East is a North Texas School of Music graduate, and since has come to Austin to find many opportunities to share his talent. He is proficient in jazz, classical, rock, funk, and plays each style in a different Austin band. On top of his night gigs, he is the Jazz Band director for LBJ High School during the day, helping the younger generations follow their passion for music.