The Midnight Sons Band

Canadian Musician March/April 2015 - Showcase Article
"Following in the footsteps of acts like the Sheepdogs, The Midnight Sons Band could be destined for a career of rock and roll glory".

Slight shades of the jam band scene and the Allman Brothers abound in the sound of Whitehorse's The Midnight Sons Band. The group formed in late 2012, employs melodic guitar, soulful lyrics, and occasional time signature bending drums to create a sound that is at once dynamic and unique, drawing from contemporary rock, blues, and folk music. Earlier this year, The Midnight Sons Band celebrated the release of their debut record, Traction. The album's title track serves as the perfect complement to the Yukon's seemingly endless summer days while they flex their muscles a little more prominently on "Next Time Around" and "Contraband". Following the footsteps of acts like the Sheepdogs, The Midnight Sons Band could be destined for a career of rock and roll glory. - Jim Norris

March 5, 2015 - Light on the Horizon - A million gigs, national recognition, and a new album: The Midnight Sons Band is rising
From its formation and early gigs at jam nights and open mics in 2012, to a residency at the Dirty Northern pub, to last year's performances at the Dawson City and Blue Feather music festivals, to a sold out release concert for the debut album, Traction — the Midnight Sons Band is making a mark on the Whitehorse music scene.
The band is now looking to build a national fan base. Traction’s title track was recently featured on CBC Music's Songs You Need to Hear, and they will be playing Canada Music Week, the premier showcase for Canadian musicians, in Toronto this May.
Mixing hard roots-rock with elements of folk, blues, and country, highlighting singer Alex Johnson's playful, jangly guitar rhythms and rough vocals, Patrick Docherty's wild drum rhythm, and Ian MacIntyre's solid bass lines, the band creates a sound similar to the Black Keys, the Sheepdogs, or a stripped-down Pearl Jam.
The album was produced by Jordy Walker, who has brought out the best in many of the Yukon's alt-folk community, including Kim Barlow, Old Cabin, and Brigs.
Recording at the Frostbite House, Walker made creative use of the studio's small space to get a clear but not overly-polished sound; the excitement of the band’s live performance is captured.
“He did a great job. He set it all up,” says singer, Johnson. “Nothing was perfect in the way that he set it all up. But it all turned out better than perfect. “We had a bar across the ceiling and hung blankets as vocal booth. He just made it work. He knew how to make it work in such a small spot. He does a lot of his recording in his basement, I think, and his basement is a quarter of the size of the Frostbite House. It's nothing new for him.”
The song, “Next Time Around” is a great example of Walker's production. Adding some delay and an additional bass line, he allows the band's music to expand as it crescendos in near chaos and drops again, making the emotional delivery of Johnson's lyrics even more haunting.
Since recording the album, the band added second guitarist Daniel Stark. Docherty says of his new band mate, “It's really cool, he's influencing the sound in a different way. He's awesome, very bluesy.”
The Midnight Sons Band is now writing songs for a new album and working with Walker on a live album, which will feature the full four-piece band. Docherty says of their new material, “Alex is a writing monster. And now with Dan, it's really something else because it brings a new feel to the group.”
The band is currently competing in the Road to Sunfest competition for a chance to open for Keith Urban at the Sunfest Music Festival this summer in Cowichan Bay, BC, making it into the top three contenders. As well, it is a finalist in the Recording Festival. The prize is a two-weeks recording residence the Grouse Lodge Studios in Ireland.
In addition to Canada Music Week, the Midnight Sons Band is planning a summer tour through British Columbia.
Traction is available in stores around Whitehorse and on iTunes. Outstanding Tracks: “Traction”, “Juneau” and “Next Time Around”.
- See more at: http://whatsupyukon.com/Arts-Entertainment/music/the-midnight-sons-band%3A-working-hard-and-going-far/#sthash.99oDGyTc.dpuf - Northern Publishing

GAINING TRACTION – The Midnight Sons Band – Ian MacIntyre, Daniel Stark, Patrick Docherty and Alex Johnston, left-right – have completed the recording of Traction, their first CD. They will release the work, which features 11 original songs, Jan. 13 at The Old Fire Hall.

One only has to stand inside a local coffee shop with members of The Midnight Sons Band to know how popular their music has become.

Band members – Alex Johnston (guitar/vocals), Patrick Docherty (drums/vocals), Ian MacIntyre (bass/guitar) and Daniel Stark (guitar) – are approached by one person after another asking about when they’re next playing and how their recent tour through British Columbia went.

The band members – who have become part of the weekly scene at Lizards Lounge, the Dirty Northern Public House and the Gold Pan Saloon, among other local pubs – are enjoying many successes these days as they compete for a chance to open for Keith Urban at the Sunfest festival next summer in B.C. and get set for the release of their first CD.

The CD release party is scheduled for Jan. 13 at The Old Fire Hall downtown, though their music will be available on iTunes prior to the release.

The recent success has been two years in the making.

As they recalled last Wednesday, it was toward the end of 2012 that Docherty and MacIntyre started playing music together.

It wasn’t long after that Johnston had moved back to town from Kelowna, B.C., and joined them on their sessions.

“It just clicked,” Docherty said.

In those early days, the three original members spent a lot of time playing open mic nights wherever one was happening – Epic Pizza, Paddy’s Place and many others. As MacIntyre and Docherty noted, nearly every night in Whitehorse, there’s an open mic.

“I think we’re pretty spoiled. There’s a lot of opportunities,” Docherty said as he recalled the early performances, walking off stage and the reward that came with beer at the end.

Their sound is one that’s developed almost entirely on-stage, as the band describes their performances as basically their practice sessions.

Johnston does most of the songwriting, with each of the band members adding their own sound on instruments to Johnston’s lyrics.

There is no formula to songwriting, Johnston said.

“It happens when it happens,” he said, noting that some songs are simply born on the spot during a live performance, others take time to come together and still others come together almost overnight.

And then there are those periods of writer’s block.

For a few months, that’s what Johnston was experiencing, and then, in the past few weeks, there have been about a half-dozen songs that have come together, due in part perhaps to Stark joining the band and bringing a new sound with him.

As the group has continued to perform, it has garnered a wider audience. Members were soon on the stages of events like the Blue Feather Music Festival, the Atlin Music Festival, among others, and became part of the regular line-up at Whitehorse bars.

It was their first gig at Lizard’s that the band learned they had garnered a bit of a following as staff at the bar noted about half the crowd were newcomers who seemed to be there to listen to the music.

As they’ve learned, especially over the past 10 days or so while touring British Columbia, Yukoners are great supporters of local talent.

MacIntyre noted at every stop on their tour there always seemed to be 10 to 15 Yukoners taking in their show, many who are Outside attending college or university and in the middle of exams.

The tour came together as the band made its way through the competition to perform at Sunfest. Part of the competition meant being part of a performance in Victoria. Having to drive down anyway, they decided to make a bit of a tour of it at various pubs.

“We made some really good contacts,” Docherty said.

And they’ve advanced to the next round, which means having to travel back south again in February, and they’re hoping to make another small tour of that as well.

That will come after the release of their first CD, which will feature music many Yukoners who have seen them perform in the past will recognize.

Docherty said his favorite tune on the CD is “What It Is.” It’s the most emotional and has a certain flow to it he likes.

For MacIntyre, “Contraband” is a favourite as a rock tune, while “Juneau” is just a good, fun song that takes him back to an early trip of the band performing in Juneau and Haines.

Stark, meanwhile, is quick to point out he wasn’t involved with the CD, but likes how mellow the song “Restless” is.

Docherty said he hopes listeners find a personal connection to the music on the CD, noting that one song can mean something different to everyone.

As the members get ready for the release of their first CD, MacIntyre, Johnston and Stark are also busy working their day-to-day jobs, and Johnston has a little one at home.

They acknowledged the challenges that come with working other jobs, with MacIntyre noting there are times he’s out of town for work and the band has to have someone else fill in on bass.

He noted, though, his workplace has been good about allowing him the time to go.

Johnston was quick to note that though it can be tiring, having a young family means a new way of doing things.

After a show, Johnston now usually heads home to be with his son, a change from staying out after a performance. - Northern Publishing

Arlo O'Riordan was severely injured in a head on collision on the Takhini Bridge in Whitehorse, Yukon. His wife and 3 week old baby, although bumped about, are doing fine. To assist with the financial burden during Arlo's rehabilitation, The Midnight Sons Band and their friends performed at Club 867 the evening of Friday, March 13, 2015. The evening raised more than $10,000.00 and a good evening was had by all.
https://soundcloud.com/cbcyukon/fundraiser-for-yukon-man-hurt-in-car-crash - CBC Radio Canada

Son Rise: The Midnight Sons get ready to rock western Canada
What's Up Yukon - October 3, 2013 by Barry "Jack" Jenkins

They got together in February, and now The Midnight Sons are heading out of the territory to spread their style of minimalist, rootsy folk-rock across western Canada.

Consisting of vocalist and guitarist Alex Johnston, drummer Patrick Docherty and bassist Ian MacIntyre, the trio have been performing steadily around the Yukon since forming The Midnight Sons.

Johnston started playing his own songs while going to school in Kelowna, then he dropped out to pursue a career in music. He auditioned for a Pearl Jam tribute band there, but didn't make the cut.

"I had no idea how to sing and this band was looking for a singer," he says. "I drove three hours out of town to go to this audition. And it was a cool room and I started singing and they said, 'You're trying way too hard to sound like Eddie Vedder.'"

Returning to the Yukon, he joined Docherty, who has played in Common Knowledge, among other Whitehorse bands.

"I saw him playing drums when he was in two other bands," Johnston says. "And he put something up on YouTube. I clicked on it, and immediately thought, 'You guys are good. You've got good music.'

"Pat and I tried to do something before. We weren't even ready to be in a band. We shouldn't have been allowed to even play music."

After playing a few sets at the Whitewater Wednesday Jam Night at Epic Pizza over the winter, the duo met MacIntyre in February.

"I heard them play a couple of times," MacIntyre says. "We got talking after a few beers and I said, 'You guys sound great, but you could use a bass player.'"

The band has since taken off, with gigs at Epic, Bailey's Pub, Paddy's Place and the Jarvis Saloon. Outside Whitehorse, they've played Haines Junction, Juneau and Haines. They now host an open mic on Wednesday night in a cramped space at the back of The Dirty Northern.

"Some nights we have people crash and fall over my drum kit, they're dancing so hard," says Docherty.

While the Sons have yet to produce their first album, they have recorded some demo tracks with Marcus Steiner and Rich Jaeger of The PPL. While the sound is rough and un-produced, the tracks reveal the spirit of their performances and Johnston's songwriting.

Johnston claims his songs are influenced by Kings of Leon, but they actually have a strong roots-rock feel, like Creedence Clearwater Revival mixed with The Sheepdogs and The Black Keys.

On songs like "Traction" and "Rather Love," Docherty is fun to watch, beating out playfully intense jazz rhythms on his drum kit to Johnston's wild, distorted strumming and his deep, hoarse voice, straining against the high notes and the emotion of his lyrics.

In October, The Midnight Sons are touring Western Canada with The PPL, who just released their second album. MacIntyre will be taking on the bass duty of both bands.

"It should be a really tiring tour," he says. "But it's going to be fun. I'm excited for it."

On Oct. 3 and 9, their tour will intersect with Speed Control's, providing a Yukon music showcase for the people of Cranbrook and Golden. Those towns may never be the same.
- See more at: http://whatsupyukon.com/Arts-Entertainment/music/son-rise%3A-the-midnight-sons-get-ready-to-rock-western-canada/#sthash.oqwgdZRR.dpuf

http://whatsupyukon.com/Arts-Entertainment/music/son-rise%3A-the-midnight-sons-get-ready-to-rock-western-canada/#sthash.aBdrwAYJ.dpbs - Article – What’s Up Yukon


https://www.facebook.com/AtlinFestival?ref=stream#!/AtlinFestival/photos/a.10152508114364034.1073741828.273372589033/10152508123934034/?type=1&theater - Atlin Music Festival

http://www.yukonyouth.com/2014/02/battle-of-the-bands-raises-the-bar-yet-again/ - Article – win Battle of the Bands – Whitehorse
http://www.cbc.ca/player/AudioMobile/Airplay/ID/2433943165/ - CBC INTERVIEW Jan 14, 2014, Whitehorse - Northern Publishing

Musicians dream of taking it to the next level.

Whether it's going from an empty garage, to a small open mic night, or from the open mic scene to a paid gig at a local bar. For many, the next step up is the most challenging: to take their music to a big stage at a big event.

That's a big part of why the Battle of the Bands in Whitehorse has been a continued success — the event provides new musical acts with big opportunities.

The annual event is co-hosted by the Frostbite Music Society and B.Y.T.E. (Bringing Youth Towards Equality).

What started as a small talent show more than 10 years ago is now an annual competition between musical acts – and it's been growing in popularity, among both crowds and bands.

B.Y.T.E. Whitehorse Outreach Coordinator Allison Furniss says that there are so many bands interested that there is some stiff competition before the battle even begins.

"We had an overwhelmingly high number of entries this year," she says. "We were actually pleasantly surprised to have to make some really tough decisions. After a lot of discussion between Frostbite and B.Y.T.E. we came to accept seven competing bands this year."

Along with a rule that all competitors be under the age of 30, Furniss and the other organizers also consider how long the groups have been together when choosing the final line-up. They also like to display a broad range of musical styles, from hip-hop artists to DJ's and MC's.

"Battle of the bands can be a launching pad for a lot of these up-and-coming artists," Furniss says. "For many of them it's definitely the first time they've had an opportunity to play for such a big audience at a large event."

The quality amps, brighter lights, and bigger stage all unite to provide these bands with a view over the horizon, a peak into possible futures with bigger stages and events.

They're also being judged by people who know music.

"Our judges are representatives from Rendezvous, from the Sunstroke Music Festival, and from Dawson City Music Fest, so in that sense there's a lot of scouts," Furniss says. "Often performers in Battle of the Bands have gone on to get professional recordings of their music and a lot of our bands have gone on to play these other festivals."

The Battle of the Bands has been a boost for past performers such as Declan O'Donovan, who was invited to perform at Northern Scene in Ottawa last spring, and was nominated for a Maple Blues Award in the fall.

Other bands, such as Brass Knuckle Society, were invited to play at the Sunstroke and Dawson City Music Festivals last summer, and have had a steady stream of gigs through the winter. And last year's winner, the hip hop duo Vision Quest, were invited to play the Future Routes Festival at the Yukon College, the Dawson City Music Festival, and the Blue Feather Music Festival.

This year's battle had a varied line up, from DJ Botfly playing high-energy dubstep, to the young band Dead Simple who graced the stage for the third year and won second place.

The winners were the Midnight Sons. The band was formed in December 2012 and they've played most of the available venues around town, including a regular weekly gig at the Dirty Northern Public House on Wednesday nights.

The band is a trio, with Patrick Docherty on drums, Ian MacIntyre on bass/guitar, and Alex Johnston on guitar and vocals.

"I write all the songs by myself on an acoustic guitar so it's original and from the heart," Johnston says. "It won't blast your head off, and it won't put you to sleep; it's somewhere in the middle."

Winning the competition represents a very tangible boost to their new musical career.

"We have a tour coming up in March and that's part of the reason we entered the Battle of the Bands," Johnston says. "We need a demo CD to give out when we play those locations. Recording songs is around four to five hundred dollars each and we're pretty financially strapped, so winning Battle of the Bands gets us that demo which we can use on the road."

In addition to a photo shoot with Vanessa Falle and playing the main stage at the Rendezvous' Party on Main Street event on February 15, the winning band had their choice of a professional song recording with Jordy Walker, or a music video with GBP Creative.

For The Midnight Sons the choice was clear, and now when they tour their music south to Alberta and British Columbia they'll have a CD to sell to the crowds.

Beyond their tour, Johnston isn't sure exactly what's in store for The Midnight Sons. Still, he's optimistic.

"I'm confident we're going to put our best foot forward. And to all the other bands in Battle of the Bands I would like to say to go out there and put your best foot forward."


Tags
Battle of The Bands, The Midnight Sons, Dawson City Music Festival - DCMF, Declan O'Donovan, Dirty Northern Public House, Ian MacIntyre, Alex Johnston, Patrick Docherty, Blue Feather Music Festival, Brass Knuckle Society, Bringing Youth Towards Equality (BYTE), Future Routes - See more at: http://whatsupyukon.com/Arts-Entertainment/music/the-boost-a-battle-can-give/#sthash.BRIZeYZ4.5RVQ08tr.dpuf - Northern News