A cool retro '80s sound. Their dreamy guitars and synths, sometimes heavy on the reverb, will have you shaking your bootie to pretty much every song.
Tony DuShane - SF Gate (Chronicle)
Electronic elements (that) are subtle and not overpowering, so it's still more indie than electronica, creating a hybrid of old-school goth and a more modern sound.
Kirsty Evans - East Bay Express
Rising through the ashes of conspicuous consumption and the over plastic commercialized age; Midnight Strangers release Days of Decadence as a musical signpost to yesteryear.
Chris Swimley’s vocals sound analogous to U2’s Bono in both lyrical depth and tenor. Swimley has also brought in Anthony Petrocchi on drums and Rob Pera on guitar for the album. The layer cake of guitars and synthesizers make for ebullient mix of retro new wave. Emanating from San Francisco, Chris’s experience living for a time in LA brought to bear heavily with the album’s message and theme.
“The Future of Humanity” opens with spsychedelic vocal echoing and a looping guitar riff while “Night Drifter” has a bass line right out of Radiohead’s “The National Anthem”. The iteration doesn’t take away that it’s solid and rocking. “City of Industry” is an electronic whirlwind of a song. With its turbocharged synths and rambunctious mix of guitar and drums you feel like echoing Swimley’s sentiment, asking yourself, “where am I?”
Midnight Strangers do a great job of shifting gears throughout the album moving from slow to fast and back down like a hedonistic Ferrari on a test drive. A favorite and musical arcade of what Days of Decadence encapsulates, “Bright Lights” brings together all the ingredients for a devilish cocktail of stardom. Lyrics characterizing the self-indulgent era reflect the bright light of contemplation and wisdom in all ten tracks, but no more so than in this ditty.
Midnight Strangers rip at guitars and rally on synthesizers to end the depravity. Swimley won “Best Male Alternative Vocalist of the Year” at the 2007 LA Music Awards and could’ve easily let the success go to his head leading to the pitfalls of self entitlement. Instead, he and his mates went to work note by note, track by track, building and laboring the ole American way.
Jeff Kingsbury - SF Station
"At first listen, the Midnight Strangers’ debut offering comes off as a somewhat odd combination of the Kooks and the Doors. Frontman Chris Swimley’s vocals evoke echoes of classic Morrison, minus most of the psychedelia and plus a heaping handful of modern-day wit. Go deeper, however, and you’ll realize that the Strangers have managed to work in the best elements of both artists without ripping anyone off – and adding their own unique twists as they go. Standout tracks include the unexpectedly melancholy closer, “You’re Leaving,” and the hopeful opener “The Beginning,” which pledges “We have found what we’re looking for / it’s time to start, this is our beginning.” The Bay isn’t short on musical talent, but hopefully the all-too-refreshing “Strangers” will stick around and make all the friends they deserve."
The TV show "Mythbusters" is shooting in Fort Mason near the hostel on Thursday (May 6) and needs 200 volunteers for a myth-busting experiment from 8:30am - 5pm. Free lunch + t-shirts. Must be 18+. Email mb@beyond.com.au for more info.
Come out and show your support for the release of Dave Smallen's newest album titled 'Everything Changes and Nothing Changes' on November 27th!
Click on the flyer to learn more & buy tickets:
Hey you :) come see us tonight @ The Bottom of the Hill! We go on at 11pm! Its only 10 bucks and you will get a copy of the show recorded live if you sign up for it at the show! Not to mention free music for everyone that gives us their email address! Hope to see you :D
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the frail
hey guys, if you have any openings on a bill, let us know, cuz we dont have anyhting booked right now,we'll do the same for you,wed love to play a show with you guys. thanks -Pierce
We enjoyed playing the Retox Lounge with you guys last Sunday, it was a real pleasure meeting you. We dig your music and hope to see you again. We'll keep in touch and maybe we can play another show together?
Chris, thank you for playing drums for us at the International Pop Overthrow Festival. There aren't many musicians I know who are talented enough to jump in after one brief rehearsal and blow minds like you did. You were amazing, my friend....
