Trending
How small the world can seem at times.
Who would have imagined that an Ohio Valley band, on a whim, would write and produce a song, "Light the Beam," that now is being heard throughout Sacramento, California, as that city's NBA franchise, the Kings, pushes through the playoffs?
The Kings are using the song from local band Zane Run as part of the pre-game festivities to liven up the home crowd. The Kings currently are tied with the Golden State Warriors at two games apiece in the best-of-seven opening round of the playoffs. Game 5 is tonight.
This is the first time in 17 years the Kings have made the playoffs. Zane Run drummer Dean Connors said he had been following the Kings' success this year, and thought the band could help mark the occasion.
"We were enthralled with the story that the team had not made the playoffs in 17 years, and they were the longest running North American sports franchise to not make their respective playoffs. We decided, just for fun, to write a hype song -- just a 'rah-rah' song," Connors said, noting that he got together with Zane Run singer Doug Richardson to hammer out the 1-minute, 41-second anthem before bringing the rest of the band into the mix. "We recorded it over two nights, right on Chapline Street in downtown Wheeling, and we sent it to the Kings."
The timing was perfect, as well -- the team was seeking new "hype" videos for the playoffs, and the offering from Zane Run fit the bill, particularly now that the Kings light a huge cluster of laser beams at the arena after each win.
Connors said "Light the Beam" is upbeat and all about the triumphant new attitude of the team and its loyal fans.
"It was the right time and the right place," Connors said of the band's luck with the song. "They edited it together along with video footage of highlights from their year, and they started playing it in the arena right before the National Anthem. It's their hype song. It's crazy, but that's how it happened."
What an incredible story and work by the Zane Run members. Keep Lighting the Beam!