Midori and Ezra Boy

MIDORI AND EZRA BOY - 'MIDORI & EZRA BOY' (Independent) MELODIC ROCK

MIDORI The eponymous album by the unusually named Midori And Ezra Boy was released in August 2015 and is their follow-up to 2013's 'Midas Touch'. The Bay Area-based Rock band is fronted by the attractive and equally talented lead singer Midori Longo, together with guitarist Sean Zilla, drummer Dave Briggs and bassist Tiger Yakimoto.

For an independent release, this album boasts a fantastic production courtesy of Midori's father, Ron Longo. There are eleven uniquely individual songs on offer that clock in at a total of thirty-five minutes in length. This is definitely a case of quality over quantity with each track being a superb slice of Modern Pop Rock with a distinct emphasis on the Rock. The only minor criticism, and I mean only minor, is that the excellent backing vocals are quite low in the mix, however, that said, it barely detracts from the quality performances throughout

Opening song 'So What' is arguably the most commercial track and is perfect Power Pop. The Blues of 'Burned' and 'Love Avalanche' have touches of the brilliant Amanda Marshall about them. My personal favourites are 'Wound Up' and 'Born Lucky', the former being straight out of the Rick Springfield school of song-writing from recent years. 'Over The Edge' is a little more laid-back and juxtaposed to the angst-filled style of 'Not Waiting Here' and 'On And On'. The band is not afraid to utilise a variety of musical styles with 'Mile High' even containing Rap style verses. 'Killing Me' is more classic Modern Rock whilst the closing number 'Light The Fire' sounding like The Vintage Caravan with female vocals.

It is easy to see why this band has already won several song-writing awards as Midori And Ezra Boy give an object lesson in how to write catchy Modern Pop Rock songs.

Mark Donnely - Fireworks Magazine UK

MIDORI & EZRA BOY and their self-titled album are a rare beast in the present Californian rock scene: they are one of the few - if not the only - playing female fronted melodic rock with an '80s feel right now in 2015.
This band is formed around lead female singer Midori Longo, drummer Dave Briggs, and guitarist, bassist, keyboard player & more Tiger Yakimoto.
Midori is an incredible singer both in attitude and a killer rock voice (and she looks pretty hot as well, by the way).

At first glance, looking at the album artwork and the band's name you may think about Indian music or something like that: not at all folks, the songs packed into "Midori and Ezra Boy" are short, quite infectious melodic rockers with a hard rock twist at places and a modern rock touch.
The songwriting and Midori Longo's way of singing will remind you Eighties / early Nineties female fronted bands such as Saraya, Vixen, If Only or, why not, Gudrun Laos.

The opening track “So What” is a fantastic AOR / Melodic Rock anthem with a sweet commercial refrain and an extremely catchy poppy chorus. All the 11 songs are in this vein alternating tempo and hardness.
Besides that really good opener, other highlights are the mid-tempo groovy melodic rocker “Love Avalanche”, the moving “On and On” (a bit Halestorm here), the rocking “Killing Me” and closing track “Light the Fire”, perhaps the more hard rock oriented tune on the CD and one of the best.
"Midori and Ezra Boy" is a more than welcomed female fronted melodic rock band not only in the poor scene for this genre in America, but also for the rest of the world eager to listen melodious rockin' tunes performed by a woman.
Short and effective songs with excellent vocals, pretty blistering guitar work and solid production. A definite must for fans of the previously mentioned bands, but it also touches the modern way of female fronted hard/heavy rock.
Rock the way it needs to sound like.

Midori Longo - Vocals
Tiger Yakimoto - Guitar, Strings, Backing Vocals
Dave Briggs - Drums, Backing Vocals
Sean Zilla - Bass
thanks to Gabor Kleinbloesem - 0Dayrox 2

Out of the Bay-Area in San Francisco come Midori and Ezra Boy. A band with a strong 1980’s US Hair Metal influence. This band is formed around lead singer Midori Longo, drummer Dave Briggs, guitarist Sean Zilla and bassist/guitarist Tiger Yakimoto. Midori is an incredible singer; with both an attitude and classic hard rock looks and a killer rock voice. She sings in the classic female fronted hard-rock-style and combined with the music, sometimes memories of “If Only”, “Laos”, “Saraya”, “Private Life”, “Vixen” and such come to mind while listening to their 2nd CD. The opening track; “So What” is a fantastic AOR/Melodic Rock anthem. It features a part of Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend”. 11 songs are included and besides that catchy opener, other highlights are the mid-tempo groovy melodic rocker “Love Avalanche”, the up-tempo “On and On” (also a bit Halestorm meets Paramore), the up-tempo The Donnas’ hard rocking “Killing me” and closing track “Light the Fire”, that rocks as hard and groovy as Blues Pills. Do not miss this great melodic hard rock album that features excellent vocals and blistering guitar work. A definite must for fans of previously mentioned bands, but it also touches the modern way of female fronted hard/heavy rock. Rock the way it needs to sound like!

Written by: Gabor Kleinbloesem


Ratings: Gabor 8/10 - My Global Mind online magazine

One of the best things about the North Bay live music scene is that it never stands still. The region has its share of mainstay local bands that have been consistently popular for decades, but there also are new bands coming up all the time.

When we asked area music lovers to tell us about their favorites among Sonoma County’s rising music acts, we got a long list of names, but four of them stood out. Nearly every list included the Bootleg Honeys, Midori and Ezra Boy, Snake Walk and the Timothy O’Neil Band.

So here is a quick look at a fab foursome of local groups with relatively short histories but a growing following:
(page 2 of 4)
Midori and Ezra Boy

Founded in 2008 and originally known as Midori and Audioclique, the band moved from soft pop rock to a heavier dance and party rock style in 2011, starting a new chapter in its career.

“We pretty much started a new band and changed the name,” said lead singer Midori Longo, 22. of Santa Rosa. “We moved forward with a different sound.”

The band’s bassist is Midori’s father, Ron Longo, who explained the origins of the group’s new name:

“The name came from Midori’s childhood,” he said. “She had a best friend in grade school that she was convinced was named Ezra Boy. She found out years later that his name actually was Savoy.”

Midori writes the lyrics and her dad writes the music; some of the songs come out of group jam sessions. The band also includes Dave Briggs on drums and vocals. Sean Zilla played guitar on the band’s current CD, “So What,” but recently moved to Los Angeles. The new CD is the band’s third so far.

“This new album is definitely polished, but it’s also a little more raw, especially some of the lyrics,” Midori said.

Midori and Ezra Boy performed at the first BottleRock music festival in Napa in 2013, and has played at the HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol and the Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa.

“I just like performing and traveling,” Midori said. “We’ve been to Canada, Florida, Colorado and all over the place. I love getting to play music, and meeting people we never would have met before.”

The band will perform 8 p.m on Friday, March 13, at 755 After Dark (formerly Aubergine) in Sebastopol. 829-2722. facebook.com/aubergine.sebastopol, ezraboymusic.com

View as one page Prev 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Next - The Santa Rosa Press Democrat

The Dirty Room

MIDORI AND EZRA BOY - Midori and Ezra Boy (Self Release)
While I am a metalhead I love all things rock n roll. I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and love all the music that came from those great decades. I do love today’s rock and metal. Well, today’s good rock and metal music. I was turned on to Midori and Ezra Boy by a friend that lives in the bay area. He told me these guys are pretty good and have an 80’s feel to them. Well he was right but way under sold them. These guys kick major ass and have a huge 80’s feel to them. The first song got me hooked. “So What, I Don’t Give a Fuck”. Now you're speaking my language. These guys are from the bay area. They have such a cool 80’s glam/pop metal sound to them they could have been played right along bands like Poison, Night Ranger, and TNT if they were in the 80’s MTV years. (These guys are a young band so I hope they know who those bands are LOL). Midori Longo is the lead singer and she has a great rock n roll voice. She can hit those down and dirty rock tones while having a sweet clear voice that can draw you in and keep you rocking. Her band is stellar. There are some great guitar riffs and cool solos here. While they have a 80’s vibe and sound they put out a new and refreshing twist that makes them unique and makes them stand out in a radio friendly rock radio scene that is all too boring and way too manufactured sounding. Midori and Ezra Boy are the real deal here. Great songs and catchy riffs with a hard edge that can fit in alongside today's younger rock scene as well as crusty old rockers like myself. It comes down to appreciating good quality music and these guys have that and more. They have played lots of big music festivals including the WARPED tour. It is only a matter of time before they are on regular rotation on rock radio all over the world. Do yourself a favor and pick this album up. Any fan of good rock n roll will be pleased. (Groovy the Metal Chicken)
https://www.facebook.com/MidoriLongoandEzraBoy - Groovy the Metal Chicken

One of the best things about the North Bay live music scene is that it never stands still. The region has its share of mainstay local bands that have been consistently popular for decades, but there also are new bands coming up all the time.

When we asked area music lovers to tell us about their favorites among Sonoma County’s rising music acts, we got a long list of names, but four of them stood out. Nearly every list included the Bootleg Honeys, Midori and Ezra Boy, Snake Walk and the Timothy O’Neil Band.

So here is a quick look at a fab foursome of local groups with relatively short histories but a growing following:

Midori and Ezra Boy

Founded in 2008 and originally known as Midori and Audioclique, the band moved from soft pop rock to a heavier dance and party rock style in 2011, starting a new chapter in its career.

“We pretty much started a new band and changed the name,” said lead singer Midori Longo, 22. of Santa Rosa. “We moved forward with a different sound.”

The band’s bassist is Midori’s father, Ron Longo, who explained the origins of the group’s new name:

“The name came from Midori’s childhood,” he said. “She had a best friend in grade school that she was convinced was named Ezra Boy. She found out years later that his name actually was Savoy.”

Midori writes the lyrics and her dad writes the music; some of the songs come out of group jam sessions. The band also includes Dave Briggs on drums and vocals. Sean Zilla played guitar on the band’s current CD, “So What,” but recently moved to Los Angeles. The new CD is the band’s third so far.

“This new album is definitely polished, but it’s also a little more raw, especially some of the lyrics,” Midori said.

Midori and Ezra Boy performed at the first BottleRock music festival in Napa in 2013, and has played at the HopMonk Tavern in Sebastopol and the Arlene Francis Center in Santa Rosa.

“I just like performing and traveling,” Midori said. “We’ve been to Canada, Florida, Colorado and all over the place. I love getting to play music, and meeting people we never would have met before.”

The band will perform 8 p.m on Friday, March 13, at 755 After Dark (formerly Aubergine) in Sebastopol. 829-2722. facebook.com/aubergine.sebastopol, ezraboymusic.com - Santa Rosa Press Democrat

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Midori and ezra boy - MOna Lisa

3/5/2014

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Midori and Ezra Boy

Mona Lisa
TYC Multimedia; 2013

3.7 out of 5

By Ted Rogen
The new album Mona Lisa by Midori and Ezra Boy is a project that has been in the works for the last two years. The band consisting of Midori (vocals), Tiger Yakimoto (bass), Dave Briggs (drums) and Sean Zilla (guitar) has been hard at work and it shows within the 13 songs on this girthy album. The band creates impassioned rock songs that have a commerical appeal that will attract a mass audience. Midori provides emotionally resonant vocals that carry the songs. You can tell throughout the album that she is singing from her heart and believes the words she is singing about.

The production is top notch throughout the record. Briggs’ drums snap, Zilla’s guitar has a meaty mid-range and Yakimoto’s bass provides a solid, robust bottom end. At 13 songs the album requires some investment but is worth your time. There are few lulls and the songs are relatively short - never eclipsing the five-minute mark.

The album starts off with a rocking, fist pounding number called “Way Too Close” that you can imagine playing at your local pub. There is definitely a bit of a 80’s influence from the dripping lead guitar to the stop-and-start style type verse. The second song “Whisper” displays that these guys have an emotional side that they don't mind getting down with. Midori gives a heartfelt vocal performance but don't be fooled - the chorus still rocks pretty hard.

“Swim In My Ocean” took me a bit by surprise in a good way. They ease off the distortion on this song and create a spacious environment for not only vocals but for the bass to be a bit more front and center. The title track “Mona Lisa” starts off sounding a bit like something you might hear from Rage Against the Machine before transforming into minimal instrumentation. Another notable song was “Saving Me,” which actually starts off sounding like a light jazz song. As it progresses the song showcases some of the best instrumentation on the album including blues guitar and very welcome horns.

Mona Lisa is a well-written, accessible album with a number of notable songs. Sometimes the album felt like it relied on too many rock ‘n roll clichés but for the most part it didn't have much of an adverse effect on my experience. Overall, the album is mighty impressive. - Ted Rogen

Midori and Audioclique - Bring It
2008, Midori and Audioclique

Midori and Audioclique hail from Santa Rosa, CA, and bring to us a new old sound. Somewhere between the teen pop of the past decade and classic rock of the 70’s and 80’s is where you’ll find Midori and Audioclique. Bring It is as much a declaration as an introduction. The July 2008 release should be the first of many from this young band.

Bring It is not nearly as confrontational as its title would suggest. This album plays like the soundtrack to One Tree Hill, Dawson's Creek, Everwood, and dozens of other prime-time teen dramas. Vocalist Midori Longo has a strong and supple voice that resonates throughout Bring It. Musically, Midori and Audioclique walk the line between 1990's alternative rock and 1980's pop-rock. The result is a vibrant album full of big hooks, harmonies and lots of guitar. Midori rails with the best on I Can't Rely and Bring It, and brings on the hyper-sensuality on Swim In My Ocean. Other highlights include Close Your Eyes, Go, and Take Me There. Take Me There is my favorite track on the album, and would likely have been a major hit in the 1980's.

Bring It is fairly even and sonically consistent throughout the album. There are plenty of highs and lows in the flow of the music, but Midori and Audioclique never seem to lose sight of their musical vision. This is one of those albums that is caught somewhere between good and great. I will be curious to see what Midori and Audioclique do as a follow-up to this very strong debut. Bring It is a snapshot from a band who could be around for a long time to come. And it won’t be long before Midori Longo posters grace the walls of teen boys everywhere.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5) - Wildy Haskell

idori & Audioclique Win ABC Radio Syndicated Fame Games Effigy Award for Most Popular Artist 2008

New Independent Artist Midori & Audioclique Nominated for 9 Awards at this Year's ABC Radio-Syndicated Fame Games Effigy Awards, winning the Effigy Award for Most Popular Artist of 2008.

Santa Rosa, CA (Billboard Publicity Wire/PRWEB ) January 29, 2009 -- Midori & Audioclique, a new independent artist from Santa Rosa in California, was honored in ABC Radio's Fame Games 2nd Annual Effigy Awards Ceremony. Midori was nominated for 9 Effigy Awards, and won the Effigy Award for Most Popular Artist of 2008. She was selected by popular votes of the internet and terrestrial radio listener base.

Midori & Audioclique
Midori & Audioclique

I'm so excited that we won this award
Fame Games is such a great way to give independent artists the chance to be heard by thousands of people, and it's so cool that many of the listeners enjoy our stuff. There are tons of amazing bands and artists featured on Fame Games, and it's an honor to be played alongside them. This award is awesome, and we are all so grateful to have won it!
Midori fills a void in music that has been gone a long time
Her music is innovative, creative, and lyrically stimulating. From the artist to the common folks, we can all get something from her music and message. Get ready, because Midori will be a household name.
Midori is one of those rare artists who connect with the listeners instantly. Why, that is isn't easy to explain. But her potential is undeniable and her support amongst Fame Games fans is massive!
The Effigy category "Most Popular Artist" was one of the main awards given by the radio show. Midori's award was announced and presented by Tony Cowell, a Fame Games correspondent as well as brother and business partner of legendary American Idol judge Simon Cowell. Midori was also nominated for another major award, "Artist of the Year", and this award was given to Tulsa's independent band Stars Go Dim.

"I'm so excited that we won this award," said Midori. "Fame Games is such a great way to give independent artists the chance to be heard by thousands of people, and it's so cool that many of the listeners enjoy our stuff. There are tons of amazing bands and artists featured on Fame Games, and it's an honor to be played alongside them. This award is awesome, and we are all so grateful to have won it!"

Midori is a 16-year-old artist who debuted her songs from "Bring It" 9 months ago on her My Space site. In a nine-month span, her songs and voice were noticed by several online music sites, and now her songs can be downloaded from most of the major online distribution locations such as iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, and CD Baby.

Midori is currently working with Sony BMG music producer Automatic, who has this week's number 10 song, Bettina's "Cradle to the Grave", on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales charts.

"Midori fills a void in music that has been gone a long time," said Automatic. "Her music is innovative, creative, and lyrically stimulating. From the artist to the common folks, we can all get something from her music and message. Get ready, because Midori will be a household name."

Laura Krier (AKA DJ Crier on Fame Games) singer/songwriter and independent musician. said, "The first thing you notice about this band is their stand-out music. Then, when you get to know them deeper you realize they are all such good, genuine and nice people to work with. This winning combination is what has gotten them this far. It's not good enough to just be talented. The magical appeal is in how you treat everyone you meet. I suspect that's why their fan base is pummeling our site with votes! I love it!"

According to Paul Sedkowski, Songwriter and Producer and Fame Games Presenter, "Midori is one of those rare artists who connect with the listeners instantly. Why, that is isn't easy to explain. But her potential is undeniable and her support amongst Fame Games fans is massive!"

About Midori & Audioclique
Sixteen-year-old Midori Longo fronts Audioclique, a band characterized by a mix of diverse classic rock and modern rock influences, creating a classic yet very unique and current sound. The band is currently in the studio working on their second CD release, due out in the Summer of 2009. Midori's song "Go" was nominated for the 2008 Best Indie Pop Song by the Hollywood Music Awards, which took place at the Kodak Theater in November 2008. She was also nominated for Best Vocalist by the Los Angeles Music Awards in 2008. To learn more about Midori & Audioclique, visit http://www.midorilongo.com or their MySpace site at http://www.myspace.com/midorilongo.

About Fame Games
MMI's Fame Games currently airs 6 shows Monday through Friday on ABC Radio Networks, including the all new Global Breakthrough Chart, and online at http://www.meermusic.com and http://www.famegamesradio.com. When artists submit their original song(s) to Fame Games they're - Billboard

Midori/Audioclique is a powerful band that hails from California. Their style of music can only be described as enchanting. After the first listen, the sensual vocals blow you away. They take you to a place that eases the soul. Midori is known for her lyrics and voice, but you have to hear it to fully respect her. The music warms your soul with the soothing rhythms and melodies. The lyrics are deep and meaningful and take on an array of different topics. This group has already started to gain fame through online sites and their fanbase is growing daily. Simply said, Midori wears her heart on her sleeve and the music is the perfect background for her vocals. I listened over and over to their songs and I was just blown away by the power you felt in every note. Check into this band if you love passionate, moving music. Prepare to be amazed.
-Metal Mark of AtlMetal.com

- Target Magazine

Jul 23, 2008 at 11:21 AM

Best Of The Batch: Midori & Audioclique - Bring It
- Posted by musicdish




* Album: Bring It
* Artist: Midori & Audioclique
* Genre: Midori & Audioclique is a combination of a more raw, more angsty Ashlee Simpson (minus the sound of sugary pop backups) and the deep, passionate voice of Cher - Music Dish Network

Rock/Pop Singer Midori Named May SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month”
By Dale Kawashima
Midori, a promising rock/pop singer based in Santa Rosa, CA, has won the May SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her performance of the original song “Close Your Eyes” (written by her father, Ron Longo). Midori is completing work on her debut album, which she will be releasing independently next month (June 2008).

Midori
“Close Your Eyes” is a melodic, appealing pop/rock ballad, which provides a good showcase for Midori’s clear, expressive vocals. The song was written and produced by Ron Longo, who also played all the instruments on this recording. Longo wrote nine of the songs on Midori’s upcoming CD, with Midori writing lyrics on three of the songs. Her brother Alex Longo also wrote one song for the album. In addition to “Close Your Eyes,” other key cuts on her album are “I Can’t Rely,” “One Main Bridge” and “Go.”
Midori was born and raised in Santa Rosa (which is north of San Francisco), where she is currently a freshman at Ursuline High School. She grew up surrounded by music, and she started singing in the fifth grade. By seventh grade, Midori began performing live at school assemblies and other events. Then in Summer 2007, she formed a band called Audioclique, which now plays with her on all her gigs. Audioclique consists of Midori (vocals), Kevin McCammon (bass), Conor McCammon (keyboards), Ron Longo (guitar and vocals), and Dylan Garrison (drums).
Midori talked about her music and Audioclique: “We are a young band with a mix of influences that creates a unique sound. Our sound can described as organic, classic rock fused with a modern presence, [blending elements of the Beatles, Avril Lavigne, Led Zeppelin, Kelly Clarkson and Matchbox Twenty].”

Midori (center) with her group, Audioclique.
For such a young artist, Midori has already accumulated some notable credits. She entered a talent contest on the popular UK site, Slicethepie.com, and finished in third place out of 1000 submissions. Midori has also won several awards on Garageband.com, including Track Of The Day and Track Of The Week.
“I’m excited about the release of my CD,” said Midori. We’re releasing it in June, and we’ll be doing a lot of promotion online. We’re also going to be playing some shows and hopefully launch a tour this summer. And on June 10, we’ll be performing in Los Angeles at the Airliner Club.” Lastly she added, “I just want to perform and have people enjoy the music, plus get a lot of gigs and build a strong fan base.”
Top Five Vocalists Of The Month - SingerUniverse Magazine

FEATURED MUSIC
Midori/Audioclique
We thought we would change things up a little and bring you a taste of the other side of the creative spectrum. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to catch up with Midori/Audioclique to bring you and getrekt.com readers an exclusive interview. Midori/Audioclique is an up and coming rock band out of Santa Rosa, CA that we're sure everyone is going to be hearing more and more about in no time.
Tell us the basics: first and last names, ages, and the instrument/s you play.
Midori Longo- vocals- 16
Kevin McCammon- Bass-18
Conor McCammon- keyboards- 20
Dylan Garrison- drums- 18
Ron Longo-guitar, producer-45
Where are you guys from?
Santa Rosa, CA (about 50 miles north of San Francisco)
When and how did the band get together?
Ron and Midori were composing and recording. TThey needed to put a band together so they could play live. They found Kevin, an awesome bassist. And it just so happens that Kevin's brother Conor is an incredible keyboardist. They both knew an amazing and extremely versatile drummer, Dylan. And that's how the band came together.
What's with the name? Tell us how you picked it.
Midori is Midori, and the members of the band are her sonic friends, hence the name audioclique :D
How would you describe your sound?
We are a young band with a mix of influences that creates a unique sound. Our sound can be described as organic, classic rock fused with a modern presence ala Beatles meets Avril meets Zepplin meets Sheryl Crow meets Matchbox. Four of our songs won several awards on garageband, including track of the day, track of the week, and several 1 spots in the Bay Area music category.In Jan.2007, our song 'Dangerous Side' was featured on the UK radio show The Rock Show with Wyatt Wendels (SKY 0155 UK). We also made it to the Showcase Round for slicethepie.com - AllGenres 4 Arena, and placed 3rd out of 1000 entrants (we were the top ranked U.S. band). Recently, Midori won SingerUniverse's Best Vocalist of the Month competition for her song 'Close Your Eyes,' and will be featured on their home page from 5/8/2008-6/8/2008.
Do you have any finished albums yet?
Our debut CD will be released June 2008 (next month !!! :D )
Who are your most dominant musical influences?
All the band members have different influences, which helps create a different sound. Our influences range from the Beatles to classic rock to metal to pop punk.
Where's your favorite place to play a show?
Anywhere there's lots of people and lots of noise!
What inspires you?
Great music of every style, people and musicians that are passionate.
Do you have day jobs?
Most of us are students. One of us is old :) and has a day job.
What do you have planned for the future?
keep writing new songs, recording, playing live, and hopefully going on tour soon.
What shows do you have coming up?
The Airliner Club (Los Angeles June 10)
The Cameo Cinema (St. Helena June 28)
Private parties
Where can we find you on the Web?
www.myspace.com/midorilongo
www.getrekt.com/profile/midoriaudioclique - www.zineninja.com

Artist Profile: Midori/Audioclique
Published by Ighuaranon May 16, 2008in Interviews, Multimedia, Profiles, Reviews and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Fronted by comely siren Midori Longo, Midori/Audioclique is a West Coast outfit that straddles the narrowing line between long-tail Jessica Simpson bands like Paramore->Be Your Own Pet and the wild wild world of self-produced ever-more widely available independent releases that take chances in the production room and sometimes crank out something that intertextually (so not a real word) leans on the wide-open sound of Zeppelin and what No Doubt must have sounded like before their first major label (read gated toms) outing. This project rides the wave in both directions, promising a fresh voice and one that is institutionally sanctioned by the payola powers that be.


It is in this very dichotomy that the interest lies.

Midori’s voice has all the making of mainstream stardom and the band that she rides understands the gravity of letting the moment ride, calling on vintage recording techniques and broad sounding mixes that remind us that there is a life in all this, not just an agenda to cut through the clamor. It will be interesting to see how they proceed, for indeed they will either blow open a door or walk through another where the party is well attended and they will scan the room in fear that someone may already be wearing the same dress.

Let’s give ‘em an A. Cuz the sound, when it’s sound, is sexy and so is she.



- musiczeitgeist.com

POWERPLAY ISSUE 184 - MARCH 2016 - PAGE 45
Having already won numerous songwriting awards with this their first release, even being nominated in the rock category at the annual HMMA Awards, Midori And Ezra Boy obviously know what they're all about. Hailing from the Bay Area, they deliver some superbly sugar-coated rock that should see them gracing the airwaves with ease. Lead singer Midori Longo can certainly hit all the right notes, having what Jim Steinman would describe as 'the voice of a homy angel' such is its range as it casts a rough edge across the sultry 'Burned' or hits the highs during the likes of 'Mile High', but she is only one piece of the whole. Ezra Boy, which is a daftbacking band name by any stretch of the imagination and is comprised of Dave Briggs on drums and Tiger Yakimoto on strings, round out the sound and perfectly complement Midori with some wonderful work on songs like 'Killing Me', which is reminiscent of TPau's 'Sex Talk'(now there's a band you never thought you'd never see mentioned in Powerplay) with its equal parts drive, passion and hook, or the wonderful 80s vibe of opener 'So What', which incorporates Loverboy's 'Working For The Weekend' and contains the same joyous gusto.

Regardless of having a sound that may alienate certain quarters of the metal community, there is no denying that the band deliver radio friendly fodder of such quality that many will find it hard to resist. Couple that with a vocalist capable of shattering glass, breaking hearts and stirring loins, and it's hard to see how they can fail.
DAVID THROWER - PowerPlay Magazine