Jeremy Cole and Lauren Gibson of Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun play as one to
create a neo new wave sound.
The Lion's Roar / Melanie Mann

Last week, indie bands Better By Design and Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun performed their independently-produced songs at the Ghost Light venue’s first show of the semester. 

The bands performed Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Columbia Theatre. Having opened its doors for the first time last year, the theater’s Ghost Light venue has established itself as a hot spot for local music and newly established up-and-coming bands.  

The opening band, Better By Design, is based in Hammond and has a “loving” relationship with the Ghost Light venue. Band members Benjamin Thomas, Ryan Church, Logan Joiner and Wade Hymel have a special connection with the Columbia Theatre, as some of the members attended Southeastern. 

“We are based out of Ham Bone [Hammond],” said guitarist Church. “This is our stomping ground. A lot of us went to Southeastern. We like our friends to be at our shows.” 

The band prides itself on its humorously carefree performance approach. Hymel, the band’s drummer, performed in a bathrobe. After the show, he greeted concert-goers with an unlit cigarette inserted into his right nostril. Shenanigans aside, Better By Design boasts of musical quality to accompany the quirky presentation. 

“If you like rock and roll, if you like spacey jams, if you like tasty licks and you like smart lyrics, we are Better By Design,” said Church. 

The following band, Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun, finds its home in Atlanta, GA. The band, made up of artists Lauren Gibson, Micah Silverman, Jeremy Cole and Cregg Gibson, described their music as “dreamy disco punk.” They attribute the uniqueness of their style to the band’s dynamic as well as the collaborative influence of vastly different genres.  

“We’re all very close in many ways,” said Silverman. “Lauren and I are best friends; Cregg and Jeremy have been playing together for 13 years; and Lauren and Cregg are married. There’s lots of relationships within the band, so we’re all kind of on the same wavelength. When we get together to play music, I feel like we’re kind of sharing a brain.”

Despite the band’s closeness, the members’ musical influences could not be any more different. Rather than causing artistic tension, however, the band blends their backgrounds to create one-of-a-kind melodies. 

“We all grew up loving completely different music,” said Silverman and Gibson. “I think it’s because we stem from all those different places. For us, [the music] starts in different places and ends in different places. I think that makes it kind of neat. From song to song, it doesn’t feel like the same song is being played.”

For more information on Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun, fans can go to their website, todaythemoon.squarespace.com. Fans can also follow Better By Design through their Facebook page, Facebook.com/betterbydesignmusic. 

Ghost Light will open its doors again Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. Bands Startisan, Modern Language and Foxfire will be performing. Admission will be $8. For more information on the Ghost Light and other Columbia Theatre events, visit columbiatheatre.org

Benjamin Thomas (above) of Better By Design sings original music to open for
Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun. 
The Lion's Roar / Melanie Mann