Midlake
Wednesday, October 3
The Jackpot Music Hall
Review and Photos by Richard Gintowt
I can’t think of a recent album with a longer shelf like than Midlake’s The Trials of Van Occupanther. It’s been in my rotation for months, daring me to pull the plug. But every time I hear the opening chords to “Roscoe,” I’m hooked again, singing along with Tim Smith and his renaissance-festival fantasies about stonecutting and mountaineering.
I was lucky enough to catch Midlake in Los Angeles back in February. Before the show, a fan expressed to me that they’re “not that good live.” Well, he was wrong – they’re effing great. Van Occupanther’s pristine four-part harmonies translated seamlessly, and the five-piece band killed it without ever overplaying their instruments. Myself and fellow attendees Jason Lee (a big Midlake booster) and Giovanni Ribisi ate it up.
Last night’s show in Lawrence was a special one for Midlake because it was Smith’s 32nd birthday and it marked the end of Van Occupather’s 18-month touring cycle. Apparently they didn’t get sick of the album either, because they played the entirety of it with the vigor of a band debuting its masterpiece.
The group stayed faithful to Van Occupather’s fastidious arrangements and understated charm, mimicking the recording to a tee and even nailing the woozy keyboard flourishes that informed the band’s 2004 LP Bamnan and Silvercork (from which the band served up righteous versions of “The Jungler” and “Balloon Maker”).
Two new songs hinted that Midlake will continue its explorations of stately ‘70s-rock informed by Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young and those other three mustaches Young used to rub elbows with. And while there’s a certain nostalgia to those sepia-toned sounds, they’re hardly derivative in the hands of bands that can play their instruments like the dickens and immaculately harmonize.
Presumably, Midlake will disappear for awhile and move onto the next chapter. If last night’s sweaty, packed house was any indication, they’ll be at a much bigger venue the next time they roll through town.
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Hey pshaw, Flossie is my friend. She's not a dumb cow, but thanks for correcting her, because I do work hard on those bylines.
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