“The Midnight” – Australian Tour: The Tivoli, 1.3.24
Theres a history behind “The Midnight”. A musical note-bending path stretched out over almost 100 years (Leon Theremin in 1928 and Robbie Moog in 1964) long before I saw the latest stage show at The Tivoli.
The Midnight captured my attention years ago. A distinctive vibe with a retro sound based in the eighties, strongly influenced by electronic development. Tonight, here in 2024 makes that “sound” around 40 years old. The Retro title is totally accurate.
Some of the great bands of that era brought with them the use (and occasionally the painful misuse) of new electronic gear produced in science labs around the world. And with it created legit split genres of music that made record companies scramble for contracts and pens.
Smart groups wrote good pop lyrics, and (almost) abandoned traditional 70’s band instruments to showcase what was now programmable, and musically layer-able tunes.
Think of Depeche Mode and Duran Duran and a few others and you’re looking at the great forerunners.
The Synth sound was crisp, clean and weirdly unnatural, exactly what the 80’s generation needed to breakthrough from a some very tired and predictable money-making formats.
The big move, however, was coupling it to huge PA’s and amps. This genre had to felt as well as heard. A few groups relied on tuneless songs without the hassle of being burdened by any shred of talent. They got left behind as soon as the punters woke up to that trick.
The Midnight, formed in 2012 are actually some touring band members backing Tim McEwan and Tyler Lyle, who are both clever singer-songwriters. Tim and Tyler essentially led the revival – or better still – renewed the healthy nostalgia for the Electronic / Chillwave / Futuresynth / NewRetroWave genres. Simply this: clearly, they are at the top of their game tonight. One of their older standout numbers “Sunset” from their 2016 Endless Summer album proved to be more than awesome, Live.
Are “The Midnight” any good, you might ask? Well, the Brisbane component of their Australian Tour was originally supposed to be at Woolloongabba’s Princess Theatre. But more ticket demand meant an upgrade. They instead played to almost a full 80s-inspired house at The Tivoli in the Valley.
What a night to be alive!
Reviewed by 101FM Radio Presenters Michelle Cop & Stu Robertson
Photography by Michelle Cop (MC Photography)
