Neon Trees
Neon Trees is an alternative rock group consisting of three young men and a girl from Provo, Utah, all of whom are Mormons, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The four-member band, includes lead vocalist/keyboardist Tyler Glenn, guitarist Chris Allen, bassist Branden Campbell, and drummer/vocalist Elaine Bradley.
They have released an album, "Habits," (March, 2010) on Mercury Records, and performed on many television shows. Their song, "Animal," has been heard on TV shows like "Melrose Place" and "Secrets of Aspen", and on radio stations everywhere. "Animal" reached No. 1 on the Alternative Specialty Chart and has had major radio play in Salt Lake City, San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, and more.
Tyler and Chris became friends in California, where their fathers worked together. When Chris came up to Provo to attend a massage therapy college, Tyler came too, so they could continue to play music together. They met Branden Campbell and Elaine Bradley in Provo. Branden, who is from Las Vegas, attended BYU and Utah Valley University for a spell. Elaine, originally from Chicago, was the valedictorian of her class at BYU. They each served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ.
The band played in Las Vegas and was noticed by members of The Killers, and at the same time by the record labels. Sugarcult vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim Pagnotta produced their album "Habit." They gained nationwide attention when they opened for The Killers on several of their North American tour dates. They have opened for other bands, such as Duran Duran, My Chemical Romance, The Flaming Lips, and Thirty Seconds to Mars, and toured with The Offspring, Dead Sara, and Maroon 5. In 2013 they were a support act for Taylor Swift.
They released a live album "iTunes Live From SoHo" in November 2010. Their second studio album, “Picture Show,” was released April 2012. Their third studio album, “Pop Psychology,” was released in April 2014. They have released many singles and music videos. Two of their singles are double-platinum. Neon Trees is touring Europe and North America in 2014 and will end the tour in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 16.
They have been featured performers on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and The Late Show with David Letterman.
Neon Trees was the cover story in the January 2013 issue of Utah Valley Magazine. Frontman Tyler Glenn was interviewed for the March 2014 issue of Rolling Stone. In his interview he revealed that he is gay and Mormon. To his Facebook fans he wrote: “Come out as YOU. That’s all I really can say. That’s what I’d say to me at 21, the scared return Mormon missionary who knew this part of himself but loved God too. You can do both. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t.” Glenn moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah, in 2005.
