The Airborne Toxic Event: Biography, Albums, Essential Songs and Legacy

Few alternative songs build like “Sometime Around Midnight.” The Airborne Toxic Event’s breakout single starts with a lonely violin and ends in a full-band storm of heartbreak, and it introduced one of the most literary and emotionally direct bands in modern rock. Led by writer turned singer Mikel Jollett, the Los Angeles band has spent nearly two decades turning personal stories into anthems.

The Airborne Toxic Event at a glance

Formed	2006, Los Angeles
Founder	Mikel Jollett (vocals, guitar)
Long-time members	Mikel Jollett, Steven Chen, Anna Bulbrook, Noah Harmon, Daren Taylor
Genres	Indie rock, alternative rock, orchestral rock
Name	From Don DeLillo’s novel White Noise

Formation

Mikel Jollett was a journalist and fiction writer in Los Angeles when a difficult year, including a breakup and family illness, pushed him to write songs. He formed the band in 2006 and named it after the “airborne toxic event” in Don DeLillo’s White Noise. Anna Bulbrook’s viola and violin gave the band a distinctive orchestral edge, and constant touring built a loyal following.

The albums

The Airborne Toxic Event (2008)

The debut, featuring “Sometime Around Midnight,” “Gasoline” and “Does This Mean You’re Moving On?” “Sometime Around Midnight” became a modern rock radio hit.

All at Once (2011)

Bigger and more anthemic, with “Changing” and the title track.

Such Hot Blood (2013)

Romantic and dramatic, with “Timeless” and “Safe.”

Dope Machines and Songs of God and Whiskey (2015)

Two albums released the same year: one synth-driven and one stripped-back and acoustic.

Hollywood Park (2020)

A companion to Jollett’s bestselling 2020 memoir of the same name about growing up in and escaping a California cult. It is the band’s most personal record.

Mikel Jollett

Jollett brings a writer’s eye for detail to every song. His memoir Hollywood Park became a New York Times bestseller and deepened the band’s reputation for emotional honesty.

Legacy

The Airborne Toxic Event helped bring orchestral textures and literary songwriting into 2000s alternative rock. “Sometime Around Midnight” remains one of the most enduring modern rock songs of its era.

Songs to start with

1. Sometime Around Midnight
2. Gasoline
3. Changing
4. All at Once
5. Does This Mean You’re Moving On?
6. Timeless
7. Wishing Well
8. Hollywood Park

If you like The Airborne Toxic Event, try

Cold War Kids, The National, Arcade Fire, The Killers, Frightened Rabbit and Bastille.

Frequently asked questions

When did The Airborne Toxic Event form?

In 2006 in Los Angeles.

Who is the lead singer?

Mikel Jollett.

What is The Airborne Toxic Event’s biggest song?

“Sometime Around Midnight” (2008).

What inspired Hollywood Park?

Mikel Jollett’s childhood, told in his 2020 memoir of the same name.

About this article: Written and fact-checked by The Alternative One editorial team, the programmers and music writers behind the station’s on-air shows. Official artist website: www.theairbornetoxicevent.com. Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Read our editorial standards or tell us about a correction.