midlake's hometown cd release party - luther
I know it might seem odd that we haven't ever talked about Midlake on this site. This, the most blogged about band of 2005, is from Denton Texas and has become a buzz-name to help represent the new face of indie-rock. I almost shy away from covering them since it seems I could say no more than anyone else has many times over, despite having seen them a few times and being a huge fan of their debut album Banham & Silvercork, a magical, home recorded, romp through cheap keyboards and imaginary characters. But I must confront my fears and do what I gotts ta do, cause they're CD release show was one of the best I have ever seen, and I have to make sure that everyone who reads this site understands how important Midlake really is.
Accompanied by an ever present video backdrop, with corresponding videos for almost all of their songs, the stage presence of Midlake, and especially their lead singer lead singer Tim Smith, is undeniably magnetic. Doing nothing particularly special other than singing in his nasally croon, Smith draws you into his worlds of seemingly innocent tales of Victorian love and modern loss with a pungent and multi textural blend of lyrics and music. The band is obviously long experienced and tight, weaving their complex sound, possibly, better on stage than in any recording. Having just returned form an extensive tour of the US and Europe seemed only to warm them up for their stellar homecoming, where they were received with almost violent joy.
On hand to enjoy the show was a Party Ends favorite and Denton alumni Atsronautalis, who drove from a tour date in Colorado just to catch the show that night, and seemed to embody the crowds collective enthusiasm, heckling and screaming his love for a group that are, at once, both his friends and one of his favorite bands.
The contrast of the new record, The Trials of Vanoccupanther, with the older songs was almost transparent as the set flowed through all of my favorites and was punctuated with the new jems. Newer songs were also accompanied by new videos of almost shocking quality, most of them being period pieces, obviously shot in Europe with professional actors. I mean, I am a huge fan of their DIY, UNT video student shorts of old, shot in the Texas undergrowth, but these new videos will blow you away.
The CD release was handled by Good Records, out a Dallas, and the after show music was the indelible DeeJay CeePee (who works for Good), and created a nice outro for such a phenomenal evening.
Combining such an energized crowd, a bands outpouring joy at being home, and the beauty of classic, unmatched music is a recipe pure funk. . . or the indie-rock equivalent. So listen to these incredible tracks, one from each of the albums, and then go out and buy everything with Midlake written on it, even that inevitable street in your local housing development.
Midlake - Rosco - 
Midlake - The Jungler -
<Also> Check out our photo set from the show in our photos section.