Streetlight Moon is pretty new to Bend’s hard rock scene, emerging in early 2016 with a series of Led Zeppelin tribute shows. Its members are familiar faces, though: Vocalist Stephanie Slade is well known from her commanding pipes and stage presence with bands such as Sofa Kings and Lamp, as well as her theatrical performances; while brothers Matthew (drums) and Andrew (guitar) Cooper played together with bassist Shane Crouse in the Commercial Underground. Streetlight Moon formed when Matthew Cooper moved back to Bend after spending some time in Nashville, and has been gigging ever since.

Eventually, Zeppelin covers led to original music. The band’s debut album, “To the Moon & Back,” didn’t come easy. During its recording, various members struggled with depression and substance abuse. Most notably, Crouse had heart surgery about a month ago, Andrew Cooper said.

Andrew said creating the nine songs on “To the Moon & Back” was a healing experience for the band. It sounds it. The songs rock hard, with even the quieter moments driven by muscular playing and singing (clearly, Zep’s had a lasting influence — how could it not?). But the overall mood is upbeat and uplifting, with only the final track, “The Devil in You,” dipping into darker territory — and in that case, it’s a mysterious, rather than depressing, darkness.

Opening track “All For You” solidly sets the mood early on, introducing all the key elements: Andrew’s crunching chords, Crouse and Matthew’s airtight rhythms and especially Slade’s dramatic vocals. Her voice drives these songs, pushing the anthemic choruses of “Stay” (shades of Ann Wilson here) and bringing emotional gravitas to the high notes in “Sweet Runaway” and “Cutting Room Floor.”

There’s plenty of variety in this updated classic-rock template. The band veers into hardcore-esque speeds on the whirlwind “Can’t Let Go,” while penultimate 




track “Lost in the Strange” recalls Zep’s “Battle of Evermore.” “I Want You” is perhaps the most exciting song here, bringing a new-wave feel to the band’s meat-and-potatoes rock ’n’ roll courtesy of producer Lino Alessio’s synth programming.

“To the Moon & Back” will be officially released Sunday at Les Schwab Amphitheater, when Streetlight Moon plays the final show of this year’s Free Summer Sunday concert series. Before that, catch the debut of the band’s music video for album track “Cutting Room Floor” at its Cosmic Carnival event (featuring fire dancers, belly dancers, cabaret performances and more) at Tin Pan Theater on Friday.

Streetlight Moon’s Cosmic 
Carnival: 8:30 p.m. Friday; $5 at the door; Tin Pan Theater, 869 NW Tin Pan Alley, Bend; tinpantheater.com or 541-241-2271.

Streetlight Moon: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, doors open at noon; free; Les Schwab Amphitheater, 344 SW Shevlin Hixon Drive, Bend, bendconcerts.com or 541-312-8510.