Hailing from the legendary musical bedrock of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, alternative rock outfit Lightwatch has returned with their explosive new single, “Nicotine.” Following their debut LP Into the Evers (2024), the new track marks a sharper, more refined evolution for the band, trading standard rock tropes for a raw urgency that mirrors their electrifying live presence.
A Step in a New Direction
“Nicotine” isn’t just a new single; it’s a creative manifesto. The band describes the track as a departure from their previous work, leaning heavily into a grit-and-overdrive aesthetic that they plan to carry into their upcoming sophomore project.
- The Theme: The song dives into the cyclical nature of addiction and desire—the kind of “impossible pull” that sticks to the ribs.
- The Sonic Edge: Gritty guitar work meets anthemic hooks, resulting in a sound that feels both polished enough for radio and dirty enough for a basement club.
- The Muscle Shoals Legacy: While they carry the weight of their hometown’s legendary history, Lightwatch is firmly focused on the future of the Southeast alternative scene.
The Summer Tour 2026
To support the release, Lightwatch has announced an ambitious summer headline run. Known for turning every room into an unforgettable experience, the tour kicks off in Atlanta and concludes with a massive hometown celebration in Florence, AL.
| Date | City | Venue |
| July 16 | Atlanta, GA | Center Stage – Vinyl |
| July 17 | Charleston, SC | Royal American |
| July 18 | Myrtle Beach, SC | Suck Bang Blow |
| July 19 | Wilmington, NC | Reggie’s |
| July 21 | Richmond, VA | The Camel |
| July 23 | Washington, DC | The Pocket |
| July 24 | New York, NY | Mercury Lounge |
| July 25 | Philadelphia, PA | The Fire |
| July 29 | Chicago, IL | Subterranean Underground |
| July 30 – Aug 2 | Appleton, WI | Mile of Music Festival |
| August 3 | Cudahy, WI | X-Ray Arcade |
| August 7 | Nashville, TN | The End |
| August 8 | Florence, AL | Lava Room |
Do you have a favorite city or venue that feels like home on stage?
Honestly, the first show we ever played in Appleton, Wisconsin for the Mile of Music festival was incredible. The fans showed up and showed out, sang our songs back to us and rocked with us the whole night. It was really special and we’re excited to get back there this summer!
What’s the core message you hope fans take away from your music?
We just want people to make honest, real music for whoever needs it. Music is medicine for every symptom, good or bad, and we want to tap into all of the emotions that need a song.
Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with, and why?
Right now it’s Dexter and the Moonrocks. We’ve all been listening to those guys for a year or so and we’re so glad to see them putting real rock on the charts again. It shows that there’s an audience for what we’re doing and that people still crave loud guitars and cool guitar riffs. Those Texas boys are doing it right and we’d all love to run into them at some point.
In what ways has the internet changed the way you connect with your audience?
It has definitely made it easier to reach more people, but sometimes it’s hard to reel in strangers on the internet with a 10-second clip of a song they’ve never heard. We’re still growing and learning a lot about what role social media plays for our band. We try and mix it up and throw some cover songs out there and funny clips, but at the end of the day we’re a rock band with real, original material that we want to be heard and felt. –
What are your musical goals or plans for the coming year?
We’ve got a lot of shows and tours lined up this year that we’re incredibly excited about. We’re tackling a lot of the East Coast and Midwest this summer, so keep up with our tour schedule and come catch a show! In addition to touring, we’re shooting for our sophomore LP release later in 2026. We’ve got a lot of new music to share with you and can’t wait for it.
Do you have any upcoming releases, videos or shows fans should know about?
We actually just dropped a brand new single, “Nicotine”! It’s on all platforms and available on vinyl at our website, lightwatchband.com. The music video is also available on YouTube. We’ve got a lengthy tour coming up in July and August spanning from Atlanta to New York and Chicago, and a lot of places in between. Visit our website to get all the details and find a show near you!
Are you more of a cat person, dog person, or both?
This is a point of contention within the band, as Trey and Emmett are both big dog lovers. Tony can’t pick a side and has cats and dogs, and Dylan is allergic to both of them.
If you had a Time Machine, would you travel to the past or future?
I feel like most of us would choose to travel to the past. We don’t like spoilers very much.
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
I think we can all agree that our theme song would be John Cena’s entrance music.
What’s something that always makes you feel nostalgic?
Coldplay’s debut record “Parachutes” takes me back to 2005, riding in the back of my mom’s car through the countryside. “Don’t Panic” and “Shiver” in particular.
If you had to describe yourself as a flavor, what would it be?
Ranch.
https://www.instagram.com/lightwatchofficial