Musical trends have changed since Lit's sugary, serrated guitar riffs and semi-gloomy Southern California melodies were late-'90s buzz fodder; so much so that it's easy to assume Lit's flame burned out years ago.
The reality is much more complicated.
"We've been through a lot," confided the rock band's bassist, Kevin Baldes. "But we're still standing, and I think that speaks volumes."
The fact that Lit, which plays the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in Portsmouth on Tuesday, has survived is something of a minor miracle. And although the band's performance is part of the "Summerland" tour of '90s acts, Lit's story is more than just nostalgic. It's one of endurance through tragedy.
Since releasing its last album eight years ago, Lit has faced a number of heartbreaking challenges. In 2005, brothers A. Jay and Jeremy Popoff - the group's lead singer and guitarist - lost their stepfather when he was killed in a motorcycle accident. Their mother survived but was seriously injured.
"They were hit head-on by a drunk driver," Baldes revealed. "It was horrific."
It would be several years before the Popoff brothers felt ready to return to making music on a full-time basis.
"Obviously, family comes first, and A. Jay and Jeremy needed to take care of their mother," Baldes said.
By 2008, things were looking up for Lit.
"We were writing new songs and had booked a tour to open up for Kiss in Europe," Baldes said.
A week before the tour was scheduled to start, tragedy struck again when Lit's drummer, Allen Shellenberger, collapsed.
"I was the first guy he called after it happened," Baldes said. "He was really upset because he didn't know what was going on."
Medical tests revealed that the 38-year-old drummer was suffering from brain cancer. He died just over a year later. After his band mates took time to grieve, they opted to carry on.
"Allen would have been really mad if we hadn't kept going," said Baldes. "Music has always been soothing for us, just as it is for a lot of people."
Fast-forward to the present, and Lit is now a five-piece group, with the addition of guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Gilmour and new drummer Nathan Walker, Shellenberger's one-time drum tech.
Even so, the loss of the long-time member is still palpable.
"As a bass player I'm part of the rhythm section, and there are many different points in a show where I would have to look at Allen to keep time," said Baldes, his voice cracking with emotion. "So I have to look back at Nate now. It's still hard sometimes."
Triumph over tribulation is a theme that colors many of the songs on Lit's new album, "The View From the Bottom," released last month.
"The Wall" and "Here's to Us" are poignant power ballads informed by loss. But that's not to say Lit has abandoned its fist-pumping rock side, as evidenced on the new single, "You Tonight."
"If you're a fan of Lit and like what we do, why would we change that and try to be something different?" Baldes said.
So far, the reception for Lit's return has been more than the bass player had expected.
"We've been away for a long time, so the support we've been getting is just awesome," he said. "People seem to be really digging the album, and that is very validating. I can't tell you how good that feels after all we've been through."
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