By Rob Goald
rsgoald@comcast.net
 

 Searchlight Celebrates Their Contribution to Resident Evil: Extinction at Zia Record Exchange

The rock band Searchlight played a nine song set with verve and panache at the Zia Record Exchange last Saturday, afternoon September 22nd in celebration of their contribution to the original motion picture soundtrack of Resident Evil: Extinction.

The band's free performance began at 1pm. Afterwards they autographed their purchased CDs and signed photos that were available.

So how does an unsigned rock band from Las Vegas pen the closing credits theme song to last weekend’s top grossing motion picture? Speaking with Adam Michaels of Searchlight I learned that through his association with Rancid/The Used’s drummer Branden Steineckert he was able to transmit his song “Contagious” to the film’s star Milla Jovovich who loved it, and in turn convinced her producer to add it to the soundtrack. Adam who originally hailed from Lake Havasu City, Arizona penned the lyrics while literally living his obsession with the fourth Resident Evil Video Game. “I love action, adventure, illusionist films and comic books which grab your mind”, he related in our phone interview.

Searchlight, which formed in Las Vegas two years ago, features a vocal centric aesthetic which reminded me of Rush’s Geddy Lee, hard rock instrumentation and major key tonality. They are “true to their sound” by which I mean they sound in person almost identical to their recordings. Besides Adam who sings and plays rhythm guitar, the band features Matt Hopkins on lead and electronics, Kevin Abdon on bass and Ricky Torres on drums. The band has produced their own eight song EP in a basement studio and has an avid following on My Space.

The set they played at Zia Record Exchange included: Fifth Times a Charm, Man Half Alive, Friendly Fire, Lives on Film, 3 to 1, Newest, All My Fault, For the Moment and “Contagious” from the movie Resident Evil: Extinction. Many of their songs are about relationships and their entanglements.

Their latest untitled song “Newest” was inspired by Adam’s brother who serves in the United States Air Force and is stationed here at Nellis. Adam’s brother came upon a horrific car accident in the Northwest part of our Valley in which seven people were either killed or injured and attempted to save lives including administering CPR.

Adam and the group all work “day” jobs in everything from retail to veterinary science but get together at night to put on their Searchlight. They are an up and coming act worth checking out.