Review: Midlake at Metro
Compared to the Schuba’s show on Valentine’s Day 2007, this one was mediocre at best. Compared to nothing at all, it was great.
Steve from May Or May Not (Schuba’s residency this month, btw) got us nice chairs in the balcony, which made all the difference in the world.
Rev was there along with his buddy Joe and my buddy Erik. And like the Valenshow, my special buddy KC was in attendance as well.
It helped that it was autumnal out, which meant jackets and hats.
It also helped that the band is really good, and also really accommodating. Four of the five members (no keyboard guy) sat through an annoying “interview” with me, most of which was spent trying to get them to remember the URL for this blog. If you guys are reading this, congratulations, and I was wrong.
All Radiohead comparisons aside, I dare say Midlake will make a serious dent in the kind of music I like to listen to as long as they stay the course. When I asked Eric (guitar, keys, singer #2) how they were going to approach the new record differently than Van Occupanther now that they’re all blown up and what not, he said something along the lines of “the new record is already written.” That’s when I realized I was in no condition to continue to pursue a serious interview, but I did manage to adjust my question.
“How did you approach the new record differently than Van Occupanther?” I asked. “I really hope it’s as good.”
“We didn’t,” said Eric. “None of this [quasi-fame and non-fortune] happened until after it [the new record] was already in the bag.”
And although he was clearly as comfortable as I was (read: Jameson), Tim Smith remained reserved with regard to the new record, and anything but when it came to keeping up with my semi ridiculous “interview style” (thanks for not kicking me out of your dressing room). If there’s one good thing that came of this experience, it’s that I need to be a bit more prepared to talk to people I intend to write about. And I should memorize their names too.
Lesson learned, and night enjoyed.
Highlight of the evening other than the aforementioned interview and winning at pool all night: they played “The Pills Won’t Help You Now” all acoustic like (the Chemical Brothers were mysteriously missing).
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I’m extra jealous.
maybe we should take our (non)jobs as bloggers more seriously now. I feel compelled to IM you Benom.
Powers, my friend. Powers.
By the way, if you’re going to abandon me at the pool table, I expect either a good interview or hotdogs upon your return.
Still, great time, thanks for keeping me out.
ha - all praise Powers.