Neon Trees debut #1 on Alternative charts

Living up to their status in Alternative Press as one of the “Bands To Watch In 2010,” the Utah-based Mercury Records group Neon Trees – who performed last night on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live – scores an impressive #1 Soundscan Alternative New Artist chart with their first album, HABITS (in stores March 23rd), featuring their debut single, “Animal”, and Top 10 Overall at iTunes, where it garnered the rare 5-star iTunes customer rating. HABITS was driven by the Single Of The Week campaign for “Animal,” which also debuted at #1 on the Alternative Specialty Chart in its first week out in January.

Neon Trees began to receive maximum exposure in the weeks leading up to the release of HABITS, when “Animal” was featured on the January 31st episode of VH1’s new series, Secrets of Aspen. On March 16th, “Animal” was heard on the CW’s Melrose Place. The night before, on March 15th, the CW’s Life Unexpected featured another album track, “1983.”

The video for “Animal” – has been added to MTV2, MTVu, VH1 and FUSE. Showing off Neon Trees’ affinity for western plains friends (and fellow Island Def Jam label mates) the Killers. It was Las Vegas band the Killers who pulled Neon Trees out of obscurity in Provo, Utah, and exposed them to tens of thousands of new fans on tour. The dry desert vista of the “Animal” video pays homage to the Killers’ debut video, “Somebody Told Me.”

Bicoastal audiences caught their first glimpse of Neon Trees In January, when they made their New York City premiere at Mercury Lounge – followed by dates with Har Mar Superstar at Spaceland (Club NME) in Los Angeles and the Rickshaw Stop (Popscene) in San Francisco. In between, Neon Trees played back home at the 4th anniversary bash of Provo’s Velour Live Music Gallery. Neon Trees also appeared at this year’s SXSW (South By Southwest) Conference last week. Neon Trees are gearing up to join 30 Seconds To Mars on the road kicking off in April.

Neon Trees – Tyler Glenn (lead vocals, keyboards), Chris Allen (guitars), Branden Campbell (bass), and Elaine Bradley (drums, vocals) – has its roots in Southern California, where Tyler and Chris were neighbors. When Chris moved to Provo to attend college, Tyler followed him, and they were soon joined by Branden and Elaine.

HABITS, produced by the band’s friend, singer/guitarist Tim Pagnotta, is a blast of timeless rock energy and spirit that wouldn’t sound out of place at any point from ’60s garage-rock to 2010 dance rock and beyond. “Music is a sacred act of communion for me, offering hope and love,” says Tyler. “That’s the heart of this band.” Adds Chris, “We just want to share that feeling we got from the bands that inspired us, and then we want to pass the torch.” For more information go to www.NeonTrees.com.