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Uplifting - that's the feeling that came to my mind as I heard the first song of the Omaha based band. On the first look you can quickly spot that they have created a own optic for themselves. The music follows this idea to stand out.
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| Photo Credit: Mistress Desire. |
Who are the guys behind the album "Something Bigger" ? I felt the need to have a talk about the band's first tour that got cancelled in the first Corona wave, online shows, the burdens of today's generation and the new album that is in the works.
Heavy Metal Underdogs: I think your sound is outworked more in detail compared to similar bands. The guitar riffs are heavier and darker toned. How did you go along to create your own style ?
Sam Spade - Thank you very much. We have tried very hard to create a sound that is unique and exciting. The Midnight Devils are a new rock n roll band that is very heavily influenced by bands like KISS, The Ramones, and Van Halen yet we aren’t setting out to recreate anything from the past. Our music is familiar yet still unpredictable and fresh. We just combined all of our influences including Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and Motley Crue. It’s ass-shaking party rock n roll that is all about having the best time possible if only for just one night.
Sam Spade - Thank you very much. We have tried very hard to create a sound that is unique and exciting. The Midnight Devils are a new rock n roll band that is very heavily influenced by bands like KISS, The Ramones, and Van Halen yet we aren’t setting out to recreate anything from the past. Our music is familiar yet still unpredictable and fresh. We just combined all of our influences including Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and Motley Crue. It’s ass-shaking party rock n roll that is all about having the best time possible if only for just one night.
You were on tour in March 2020 as the Corona-Virus started to spread and had to stop the tour. How was the situation back in those days for bands ? Did the shutdown come fast or were there still some venues who held the doors open ?
Sam Spade - It was very interesting how it all happened. We got the call to join The Quireboys on as their support band on their US tour. We were blown away and had about a week to get ready and get out to Salt Lake City to start the tour. It was an incredible feeling being able to open for some of your heroes every night across the country. As we started the tour there were slight rumblings of this virus in China that was killing people. We didn’t think anything of it and kept playing shows like normal. About a week into the tour we heard that the virus made it into the USA and some of the cities might start shutting down. We started to get a little nervous and monitor the news more closely. About two weeks into the tour states started closing and we knew we were in trouble but we were going to stick it out as long as possible. Our last show was in New Orleans on March 15th and that night the entire city shut down at midnight. We got off stage The Quireboys manager took us outside and said he loved working with us and this was the hardest thing to do but he had to cancel the rest of the shows. They were worried about making it back to England let alone to the next stop. We were defeated and that hurt badly. We turned around and drove 20 hours straight home thinking this would all be over in a week or two. Here we are one full year later.
Sam Spade - It was very interesting how it all happened. We got the call to join The Quireboys on as their support band on their US tour. We were blown away and had about a week to get ready and get out to Salt Lake City to start the tour. It was an incredible feeling being able to open for some of your heroes every night across the country. As we started the tour there were slight rumblings of this virus in China that was killing people. We didn’t think anything of it and kept playing shows like normal. About a week into the tour we heard that the virus made it into the USA and some of the cities might start shutting down. We started to get a little nervous and monitor the news more closely. About two weeks into the tour states started closing and we knew we were in trouble but we were going to stick it out as long as possible. Our last show was in New Orleans on March 15th and that night the entire city shut down at midnight. We got off stage The Quireboys manager took us outside and said he loved working with us and this was the hardest thing to do but he had to cancel the rest of the shows. They were worried about making it back to England let alone to the next stop. We were defeated and that hurt badly. We turned around and drove 20 hours straight home thinking this would all be over in a week or two. Here we are one full year later.
Do you think online or car shows are a alternative to real shows ?
Sam Spade - I personally don't think online streaming shows even come close to the real thing. The fact is that we don’t have many other options. I think some great things have been done over the last year but watching a band on your phone just doesn’t have the same sensory effect. You don’t get the lights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touch of an actually rock n roll party. That being said everyone is now exactly on the same level. We are all a captive audience sitting at home on our phones watching and listening. Streaming shows are cool but it pales in comparison to the real thing.
Sam Spade - I personally don't think online streaming shows even come close to the real thing. The fact is that we don’t have many other options. I think some great things have been done over the last year but watching a band on your phone just doesn’t have the same sensory effect. You don’t get the lights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touch of an actually rock n roll party. That being said everyone is now exactly on the same level. We are all a captive audience sitting at home on our phones watching and listening. Streaming shows are cool but it pales in comparison to the real thing.
One of the tracks on the debut CD is called "Generation Durt". Do you think this generation has to take more burden than others ?
Sam Spade - Not necessarily. I think it’s really all about your goals and what you are willing to do to get there. Sure it seems like this generation has everything easier but on the other side nothing has been handed to us. Especially in the music business there are so many bands, agents, managers, and labels looking to make an easy dollar off of any artist. There are so many bands and shows that it’s more difficult now to sell records then it was 20 years ago. How do you separate this band from the rest of the guys out there? How do the great bands rise above every other dude with a guitar. There is no easy way and the business has made it more difficult then ever for artists to grow and nurture. Think about this though, what happens when bands like Motley, Alice Cooper, KISS, Poison, Def Leppard all retire? There needs to be another generation of rock n roll stars to step up and follow the guys that laid the blue print.
Sam Spade - Not necessarily. I think it’s really all about your goals and what you are willing to do to get there. Sure it seems like this generation has everything easier but on the other side nothing has been handed to us. Especially in the music business there are so many bands, agents, managers, and labels looking to make an easy dollar off of any artist. There are so many bands and shows that it’s more difficult now to sell records then it was 20 years ago. How do you separate this band from the rest of the guys out there? How do the great bands rise above every other dude with a guitar. There is no easy way and the business has made it more difficult then ever for artists to grow and nurture. Think about this though, what happens when bands like Motley, Alice Cooper, KISS, Poison, Def Leppard all retire? There needs to be another generation of rock n roll stars to step up and follow the guys that laid the blue print.
You are going to record a new album with Chip Z'Nuff on the helm. Do you think his influence will change your sound in some ways ?
Sam Spade - I am very excited to work with Chip on this new album. I am excited to bounce ideas off of him and let him get his hands in The Midnight Devils. We have done a ton of shows with Chip and the boys and he knows exactly what we are supposed to sound like. I think he is going to help us deliver a really incredible record with mega hooks and catchy sing-a-long choruses. We will be staying there in the studio with him in Chicago so it will be four days of hard work and lots of good times. I fully trust Chip and think he is going to help us knock this sophomore release out of the park.
Finally make sure to check out the band on their cool styled homepage and follow them further on social media such as Instagram or Facebook.
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