Midnight Strangers
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Midnight Strangers

Austin, TX | Established. Jan 01, 2017

Austin, TX
Established on Jan, 2017
Band Alternative Rock

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Press


"All-too-refreshing “Strangers”"

"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."
- Lauren - The Owl Mag


"Off the Record"

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.

- San Francisco Chronicle-Tony DuShane


"Local Licks"

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. - East Bay Express-Kirsty Evans


"Midnight Strangers-Days Of Decadence"

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. - SF Station-Jeff Kingsbury


Discography

"The Beginning" (2008)

"Days Of Decadence" (2010)

Both albums available at:

www.midnightstrangers.com
www.facebook.com/midnightstrangers

Videos available at:

www.youtube.com/midnightstrangers

Photos

Bio

The Midnight Strangers are a retro rock band based out of Austin Texas. 

Band Members