Converting the Skeptics: Midland

Some of you need to learn how to have a little fun...

Welcome back to Don’t Rock the Inbox! This is the another iteration of one of our new schemes: Instead of having new (and some old) country round-ups for paying subscribers every Friday, we’re shaking things up — including with some themed, curated guides coupled with a playlist. Subscribe to get access, and listen along! And catch up on our most recent guides, on Ingrid Andress, Sam Hunt, Reba, Eric Church and Kip Moore.

By Marissa

I am not sure if you have heard, but “country music,” meaning the twangy stuff, is back - Zach Top, honkytonk sounds, very good hats and jeans tight enough to make Dwight Yoakam smolder-smile in that very Dwight Yoakam sort of way. My reaction to this is twofold. First, yay! I love this foundational corner of the genre. No complains here! And, second, Midland has been here. For a while. They released “Drinkin’ Problem” in 2017, which sat on country radio next to “Body Like a Backroad” and pre-breakup Florida Georgia Line, and a lot of folks were too caught up with whether or not they were “authentic” to actually let themselves enjoy the music (my counter: do you actually care about music or do you care about the “idea” of music, sit with that for a minute while I have actual fun). Not to mention that so much of country has always been about artifice anyway, but that’s a story for another time - as is how uncomfortable Midland’s willingness to toy with masculinity and sexuality also seemed to also make people (another part of the band that I also happen to find extremely fun, and important ). Like look at this 2017 headline. You’re admitting the songs are good, and isn’t the music supposed to the the only thing that matters? Someone needs to remind y’all that life is short:

Anyway. Beyond all that, Midland (the trio of Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cameron Duddy) has been making honkytonk inspired records for a while now, that are modern and fresh and well ahead of the current trend that’s bringing 10-gallon hats and steel guitar back to Music Row. I had a lot of fun profiling these guys in 2019 and will never forget it for several reasons, one being that we took their pink limo down into Shelby Park to talk, and while I was sitting there chatting with the boys - including Wystrach in a pair of overalls - a dad from my kids’ daycare rode by on his bike so completely confused I think he almost fell over (he was fine, thankfully). What I hoped to do with that piece, and most pieces I write (not too dissimilar to what we do in this column) is persuade you to give a band or artist a chance if you dismissed them before, and leave with a different understanding of their music. And actually want to listen to it. That’s the goal anyway.

So without further ado, here’s a guide to some of my favorites…

“Mr. Lonely”

A groovy, dancehall ready riff that’s a naughty good time in the Eddie Rabbitt kinda way, which is the best kinda way. Try telling me you like Zach Top’s “Sounds Like the Radio” but don’t like this…I will probably ask you to work out some issues with a therapist (I’ll give you the number of mine).