Blue Plate Special: Neon Trees
Neon Trees burst out of Provo, Utah with a neon-soaked swagger and a sound that threads together new wave nostalgia, synth-fueled hooks, and pop-rock theatrics. Fronted by the magnetic Tyler Glenn, whose expressive vocals and flamboyant stage presence are as iconic as the band’s shimmering aesthetic, Neon Trees fuse high-voltage energy with lyrical vulnerability. Drawing from influences like The Killers, Duran Duran, and Hall & Oates, their music struts between radio-ready anthems and introspective ballads, stitched together with pulsing rhythms, bright guitars, and retro keys that pulse like an ‘80s arcade come to life.
Their debut hit “Animal” set the tone: catchy, cathartic, and a little bit wild. Since then, the band has mastered the art of emotionally charged earworms. Their sonic evolution has paralleled their visual style—equal parts neon noir and glam rock runway—with each album era offering a new technicolor palette and emotional lens. Beneath the glossy surface, Neon Trees explore identity, relationships, and self-discovery with a fearless honesty that resonates across generations.
With five full-length albums and over a decade of evolution, Neon Trees have cemented their place as pop outsiders with a penchant for drama and danceability. Whether headlining festivals, supporting icons like The Killers and Duran Duran, or soundtracking late-night dance sessions, Neon Trees remain a testament to the power of pop with personality, wrapped in dayglo and driven by feeling.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
Animal – from the album Habits (2010)
Everybody Talks – from the album Picture Show (2012)
El Diablo – from the album Sink Your Teeth (2024)
Songs I Can’t Listen To – from the single Songs I Can’t Listen To (2015)
Used to Like – from the album I Can Feel You Forgetting Me (2020)
Text Me in the Morning – from the album Pop Psychology (2014)
Calling My Name – from the single Calling My Name (2010)
