recent press
about hurrah
Hurrah A Bolt of Light makes pop music for sad people. Since its debut, Hurrah has run the gamut from alt-country to indie-rock-pop, and the evolution continues with the changing moods of singer/songwriter, Wil Farr, and his collaborators.
Hurrah has released two full length albums and numerous singles which have drawn comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Modest Mouse, and Kings of Leon. Wil Farr’s grit and electricity as a frontman are the centerpiece of Hurrah’s live shows. Their sound is sweaty and anthemic, with catchy hooks that will have you singing along with songs you just heard for the first time.
As a living portfolio, Hurrah A Bolt of Light is in a constant state of evolution. Whether it’s their sound, format, or homebase, change is considered a core element of the creative process. In 2017, Wil moved from New York City to Minneapolis and brought Hurrah with him, believing the vibrant music scene in the Twin Cities would be the perfect place to start the project’s next phase.
In January 2022, Hurrah will release their long awaited visual album, AN/ANIMAL. AN/ANIMAL showcases the swampier, darker side of pop, while remaining as infectious as fans have come to expect from the band. AN/ANIMAL presents its audience with four songs strung into one narrative, made complete by the haunting visuals of its accompanying short film. Fans are invited to consume AN/ANIMAL in its entirety, in pieces, or all of the above.
Hurrah is here. We are ready to sweat and dance with you!
"A beautiful piece of art... We recently checked out the new video EP from Minneapolis indie rock project Hurrah A Bolt of Light, An/Animal. An/Animal is a visual and sonic stroke of genius." - The Whole Kamese
“Wil Farr doesn’t take long to drown himself in sweat. Spun from the same cloth as Bruce Springsteen or Ian Curtis, he routinely leads his homespun band to a blaze of glory, forcing his restless spirit and barbed hooks through anyone looking for a dose of excitement. Hurrah! builds each track of their heartland-brewed, rocking yet rootsy tunes to a frenzy, making believers of anyone looking for a rush of adrenaline chased down with a shot of big band frenzy.”
- The Deli Magazine (The Deli awarded Hurrah A Bolt of Light the title of Best Emerging Indie Rock Band in NYC)
“…I’ve found the right before my ears and eyes connective tissue to not only the blue-eyed soul of Michael McDonald but even more so to the infamous masterpiece, ‘Bat Out of Hell‘ (Meat Loaf, Todd Rundgren, Jim Steinman/ 1977).
I know that sounds like too much ground to cover in one EP. But the mind behind this project, Wil Farr, isn’t your standard basement-dwelling indie rocker. No, he seems hellbent on telling a story with all the elements, twists, and sounds that texturize his vision. Regardless of what conventional rock n roll says he’s allowed to do.” - The GTC
reviews
"How vast can one song be? How many layers, genres and vibes can one songcrafter jam into one 4 1/2 minute track? Well, it’s good that you asked. Songwriter/multi-instrumented Wil Farr’s alter-ego, Hurrah A Bolt of Light, has dropped one of the wildest and broad-ranging singles that this discombobulated year has heard. “An/ Animal 3” is the song and buckle-up buckaroos and buckarettes, this one is fierce."
"Sometimes a great band will draw the source of its inspiration from a single well. This isn’t to say that the sum of a group’s parts doesn’t make their sound possible. Rather, a leader will step to the forefront and take the helm, steering the music into uncharted territories. Wil Farr is that kind of rock and roll captain." - BreakThru Radio
"Those exclamation points in the moniker of Hurrah! A Bolt of Light! won’t seem so absurd when you hear the band’s organ-kissed soul-rock. The local sextet sows genuine uplift via thumping dance beats and passionate vocal interplay.” - Time Out New York
"Hurrah! A Bolt of Light! traffic in anthemic and melodramatic material.”
- The New Yorker
“The opening act, Hurrah! A Bolt of Light! electrified the start of the night. Their music sounded something like Joe Cocker or Bruce Springsteen & The Easy Street Band, very charged and exciting. It’d be difficult to stand motionless during one of their sets unless you are in a body cast. The singer has the wide-eyed intense glare of PIL’s John Lydon (and if you said Hurrah’s frontman was his son, I’d believe you), an intense stare and focus similar to Ian Curtis. Watching him and his female co-singer was like watching Johnny Cash and June Carter having as much fun entertaining themselves as their audience. The crowd was not shy to embrace the spirit of excitement either.” - QRO
“Farr’s new ensemble indulges Paper and Sand fans with the expert level of songwriting we’ve come to expect, but subs in some alt-country charm for the barbed hooks of his former gig. What results is that familiar raw energy that erupts in your heart and sears through your veins with a burn that’ll last for days …
Of all the shining moments that grace the 12-song album, the penultimate number flares like a flamethrower in the night. “One Drink” is a balls-out bar brawler that’ll send you straight to the moon. Be advised to listen to this song in a big open space, or you may end up tearing down walls in an adrenaline-fueled frenzy.” - Radio Free Chicago
placements
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“All Quiet Now” (Teen Mom, MTV)
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“It’s Been So Long” (The Voice, NBC)
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“Hold Me Now“ (Last Call With Carson Daly, NBC)
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“One Drink” (Xtreme Waterparks, Travel Channel)
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“Devil On My Shoulder” (Baseball Tonight, ESPN)
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“I Don’t Know Why” (Buying Alaska, Destination America)
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“If You See Me” (Counting Cars, History Channel)
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“In The Morning” (Nate Berkus Show, TLC)