North Hollywood, CA (October 11, 2019) – Re-opening the iconic Palomino Club, North Hollywood’s iconic beer joint and Country music club, for one night, Midland is once again forging a future tense from the past imperative. To celebrate their one night stand, the double Grammy® nominees will make their debut on Ellen Tuesday, October 15th with a performance and surprise announcement.
Current nominees for CMA New Artist of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year, Jess Carson, Cam Duddy and Mark Wystrach also grace the cover of touring industry bible Pollstar’s Oct. 14 issue. With a cover shot by acclaimed photographer Harper Smith, known for her high fashion work with various international editions of Harpers Bazaar, W, Interview, Vogue, Paper, Nylon and Playboy, the aesthetic truth of the road hard trio is examined through the eyes of some of the genre’s career-building performance bookers.
“Looking at how committed we’ve been the to taking it on the road, playing this music for the people is an interesting way to look at it,” says bassist/vocalist Cam Duddy. “My peak moment is when people sing the songs back to us. That never gets old.”
“We are always looking to put groundbreakers on our cover,” says Pollstar Executive Editor Andy Gensler. “Whether a touring icon like Billy Joel or Metallica, Brandi Carlile for building into a Madison Square Garden sell-out or Midland, who are breaking through the same way Waylon and Willie did, these are the stories we’re trying to tell. We are looking for innovators, but also musicians who really bring it, so for us, Midland was a natural.”
Beyond their Ellen performance, Midland returns the Palomino to its former glory that same night. With tickets snapped up before the band could make a formal announcement, the heavily anticipated show harkens back to the ‘70s/’80s Country/Rock that is the band from Dripping Springs, Texas’ bedrock.
The once legendary watering hole that’s served as an LA home for Merle Haggard, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, then Emmylou Harris, the Pretenders and Commander Cody, followed by Lone Justice, the Blasters, Dwight Yoakam and kd lang, as well as becoming local watering hole and launching pad Jim Lauderdale, Buddy Miller, Rosie Flores and Lucinda Williams is no longer a night club. The trio acclaimed by The New York Times for their “retro country elegance” is about to remedy that.
While LET IT ROLL, their No. 1 Country Album debut and second critically lauded project, was recorded in four different cities over the course of their relentless touring schedule, Midland has sought to play hard – and they’ve built a following of believers. NPR noted Midland “Evolves Its Vintage Sound,” while Esquireproclaimed their sound, “as well-worn as the barstool its protagonist refuses to abandon—think warm, Dwight Yoakam-esque country and swirling, Laurel Canyon folk” and The Austin American Statesmanwrote, “the melodic twang of 1970s country-rock… reaching high above honky-tonk bounds.”
Built on classic Country’s unapologetic embrace of grown-up themes, expect plenty of drinking songs, cheating songs and seduction songs. Maybe not on Ellen, but everywhere else. Beyond the cover endorsement of Pollstar, Midland’s “Set It Straight” Spotify podcast debuting 10/16 features fellow left coast country king of cowpunk Dwight Yoakam for some freewheeling conversation.
With Stagecoach Music Festival, Dos Equis, the Academy of Country Music, Igloo Coolers and Tito’s Handmade Vodka coming to the table as sponsors, alongside Pollstar, Midland at the Palomino will be a gathering of tribes, vibes and musical aficionados’ intent on having one last throwdown at the venue, which would have commemorated 70 years of honky-tonk heritage this year.
