They've got the number 1 song at Canadian country radio, they're debut album is coming out on September 22, and Midland had a whole lot of fans grooving with them at the Boots & Hearts Front Porch Stage on Sunday afternoon.
Mark, Cameron, and Jess owned the stage in Oro-Medonte with a mix of charm, humour, and a ton of talent. To say that the hype for these dudes is legit has become an understatement. And it seems 100% likely that this is the last summer you're going to see Midland play an afternoon slot on the second stage at a major country music festival.
A little while ago we saw a stripped down set from Midland in Toronto, and on Sunday they took that and pushed it beyond what we could have hoped for with performances of songs including Burn Out, Electric Rodeo, Altitude Adjustment, This Old Heart, and a killer rendition of Dwight Yoakam's Honky Tonk Man.
Related: Midland Comes North to Toronto
The harmonies and melodies and lyrics that Midland share through their music are high level. The way they entertain and interact with the crowd feels almost effortless. And their ability to sing and play country music is putting them on all of the radars and Must See lists and should result in more radio hits, award nominations and appreciation for Mark's moustache.
The crowd was hot (from the sun and the excitement) for the Midland set, and when they started with Check Cashin' Country the singin' and dancin' in the crowd started immediately. And when the set wrapped with their debut smash hit, Drinkin' Problem (and then a surprise encore of Tom Petty's Runnin' Down A Dream) it was clear to see that the crowd was satisfied.
Note: We are kind of digging all of the dropped Gs in the songs that Midland releases and performs. Here's hoping there are more like Drinkin' Problem, Check Cashin' Country, and Runnin' Down A Dream in the future.
After seeing Midland on stage Sunday with a few thousand country music fans, it's pretty clear that On The Rocks is going to be one of the most anticipated albums of the fall. And with 13 tracks, including the five we know from their self-titled EP, country fans are going to have some good stuff to sink their teeth into.
Midland may be telling stories now about playing in empty bars just a couple years ago, but with performances like the one they gave on Sunday at Boots & Hearts 2017, they'll soon be telling stories about travelling thousands of miles from home, across borders, and singing their songs with fans who can't get enough of three guys with great hats, facial hair, and voices for country music.
Stay tuned, there's a lot more Midland coming your way!
Midland, On The Rocks Tracklist
1. Lonely For You Only
2. Make A Little
3. Drinkin' Problem
4. At Least You Cried
5. Burn Out
6. Out Of Sight
7. More Than A Fever
8. Check Cashin' Country
9. Nothin' New Under The Neon
10. This Old Heart
11. Altitude Adjustment
12. Electric Rodeo
13. Somewhere On The Wind
