Southwest By Midnight

The crowd at the Rockbar in Scottsdale Arizona was feisty and loud when I arrived. Tonight I was in attendance for the CD release for Southwest by Midnight.

Their new album, “Mix Tape,” delivers as promised: solid rock with a Southwestern flair. The stand out songs, (602) and Mirror, takes you away calgon-style on a musical journey that leaves you wanting to hear more. For a band in its infancy, the experience of its members shows though with complete sound and a good vibe. It grabs you right away and it doesn’t let go.

Inspired by their lives in the Sonoran Desert, SouthWest by Midnight (SWxM) is a self-proclaimed “Arizona-based band that delivers sun-drenched rock with a serving of blues and funk.”

The band consists of: Dierdre Evans delivering lead vocals, Jacques Billeaud and Erik Ramnath jamming guitars, Gregory White thumping on bass/vocals, and Chris Fiscus banging it out on drums.

This band has gone through the morph of creation via a few other bands and sheer luck of opportunity. Jacques and Chris had formally been in a band, “The Perserve,” they formed SWxM with some friends, and then with the usual shuffle of bands found Dierdre at Full Well Recording Studio. There, they mixed some seasoned players (Greg and Erik) into the pot and turned up the heat. This created a flavorful line up of phenomenal musicians for the relaunch in 2015 of SWxM.

I had the opportunity to interview the band and speak at length with their powerhouse vocalist, Dierdre Evans. We discussed at length their creative process and band dynamic. The lyrics of SWxM are a standout, they work to tell a story and audibly paint a picture mentally. The primary creators of this canvas are Dierdre and Chris. They think alike and this assists with a smooth progression from rough draft to final, but the entire band does contribute.

As the band said “while they’re in the driver’s seat, everyone takes part – the concept or key word or perfect line can come from anywhere in the band.” This includes influences to the likes of: Roger Clyne, Blackberry Smoke, Rival Sons, Heart, Santana and many more.

SWxM’s signature sound comes from all members, but Jacques is the sound sommelier; the finder of “the hook” and keeper of the spark that ignites the stove. The clear Southwest flavor from their home, peppered with a dash of blues and funk, borrowed from the Louisiana transplant Jacques. - AZ Culture

This year’s four-day festivus line up includes Circus Mexicus favorites The Black Moods, two very special appearances by Supersuckers front man Eddie Spaghetti, Jim Dalton & The Lawbreakers, newcomers Mr. Mirainga from Orange County, CA, AZ favorites Elvis Before Noon, Whiskey’s Quicker, The Zubia Brothers, Southwest by Midnight, Sugahbeat, Aaron Beavers and Mike Therieau from Shurman, plus Jason Boots making appearances throughout the weekend. Other performances on the Mexican Moonshine Main Stage will include The Strolling Bones, an all star band lineup playing tribute to early Rolling Stones classics, roots rock from The Pistoleros and a high energy reggae set from Black Bottom Lighters. The weekend closes out, as we mentioned back in point #1, with Jim Dalton’s Borracho Domingo @ Banditos Sunday p.m. Circus Mexicus XXV line up - Rocky Point 360

Southwest By Midnight's debut album, Mix Tape, features Phoenix Children's orthopedic surgeon Dr. Greg White on bass and backup vocalist.

All of the songs on the album are original to the band, and Dr. White's favorite is "602," a song that relates to things in the 602 area code.

Each CD is $10, with all proceeds benefiting the Music Therapy and Child Life programs at Phoenix Children's. You can get yours now in Phoenix Children's Hospital's Gift Shop.

You can catch Southwest by Midnight live at Wasted Grain in Scottsdale on Saturday, Sept. 3. - Phoenix Children's Hospital