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JANUARY 7, 2011
FRONT PAGE POLITICS BUSINESS MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY SPORTS STYLE WORLD GREEN FOOD TRAVEL TECH
LIVING HEALTH DIVORCE ARTS BOOKS RELIGION IMPACT EDUCATION COLLEGE NY LA CHICAGO DENVER BLOGS
Michael Giltz
Freelance writer and raconteur
Posted: March 3, 2010 05:55 PM
BIO
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2
9
views
0
0Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyExclusive: Midlake On "The Courage
Of Others"
What's Your Reaction:
Read More: Bert Jansch , Denton , Eric Pulido , Fairport Convention , Midlake , Pop Music , Rock Music ,
Spin , Texas , The Courage Of Others , The Trials Of Van Occupanther , Entertainment News
Midlake burst into prominence in 2006 with The
Trials Of Van Occupanther , one of the most acclaimed
albums of the decade (and #21 on my list of the 100
Best CDs Of The 2000s ).
But no one will accuse them of striking while the iron
is hot. The bandmembers went back to their day jobs,
built a recording studio in their hometown of Denton,Texas, immersed themselves in British folk-rock by
the likes of Fairport Convention and Pentangle and
have finally emerged almost four years after their last CD with The Courage Of Others , a quieter,
moodier and genuinely beautiful album. Oh, and they're doing again something rock bands tend to do:performing live. And not a moment too soon.
"We didn't play a live show from October of 2007 until this tour," admits guitarist Eric Pulido, who
joined Midlake right before they recorded their first EP. "It's kind of strange to say you're in a band but
you haven't played a show in two years."
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BECK IN TROUBLE?
Dropped From New York
Radio Station, TV Ratings
Tonight, they're in Los Angeles and the band is on the road through June, hitting their hometown on
March 13, Austin (for SXSW, where they initially broke out) on March 18 and New York City April 7-8.
Last time on tour they were almost surrounded on stage by keyboards to capture the Seventies AM radio
vibe of Van Occupanther . Now they've added a few musicians, freeing up everyone to rock out, though
ironically it's for an album that features dashes of flute and a pastoral sound.
"We feel very Lynyrd Skynyrd on stage with seven guys and four guitarists," says Pulido. "It's great not to
be playing a keyboard with one hand and a tambourine with the other.
"We definitely want to get a little heavier live. We've been pretty soft. When we play a festival in Europe
and the last act has been really heavy or dance and then we come out with a flute, well..." he laughs.
But that haunting sound has proven bewitching. From the scene-setting opener "Acts Of Man" to the
uncertainty of "The Courage Of Others" to the promise of (some) redemption on "In The Ground," itgrows richer with each listen. ( Hear some tracks on MySpace right now. ) As a result, fans have crafted
loving mash-ups, like this mix of "Acts Of Man" with footage from the brilliant silent film classic Sunrise .
NPR highlighted the album and called it "a gentle masterwork." Spin says, "these new old-soundingsongs gradually burrow into your consciousness." Overseas -- where Pentangle, Bert Jansch and the like
are household names -- the praise has been broader. Mojo and Uncut and Q have all praised it, with Q
saying the band had "taken another great step forward" with an album that is "quietly epic."
But Pulido rejects the idea that they "get it" in the UK more easily than in the US.
"I wouldn't say it's a geographical sort of thing," says Pulido. "The reviews have been all over the place
everywhere."
After the instantaneous and almost overwhelming praise for Van Occupanther, it's got to be hard to see
some not pay the attention to the band's new work that their previous raves should have guaranteed. All
Midlake wants is for people to live with The Courage Of Others for a while.
"The album's a grower," says Pulido, who runs an organic coffee company in Denton but insists it's moreof a hobby than a going concern. "You know people in the media have stacks of CDs and only so muchtime and they play the first track and think, 'OK, that's what they're doing.' And maybe they've had a badday or they ate something. And you think, 'Really? Just one track? We just spent two years working on
1 of 5
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More Celebrity News at People.com
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Comments (5,615)
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Comments 0 Pending Comments 0View FAQ
Camille Grammer's
Porn Past Comes
Back To...
Taylor Swift & Jake
Gyllenhaal Break
Up:...
Pregnant Natalie
Portman Shows
Growing Baby
Bump...
Raven-Symone
Shows Off Dramatic
Weight Loss,
Talks...this.' We just want people to give it a listen."
That's happening in concert where they've been to Europe (hitting London's Shepherd's Bush venue
among others) and now back in the US. Pre-show rituals include watching concert videos by Fairport
Convention (of course) and Iron Maiden (!). And savoring what they've accomplished. They've
engineered their lives so they can make the music they want and share it without any outsize
expectations or debt to force them into creative or business decisions they would regret.
"We want to be in the moment and know, hey, we're with our friends and we made some music and here
we are in Shepherd's Bush, this beautiful space, playing for 2000 people and we get to see the world,"
says Pulido. "We want to appreciate that."
They want to appreciate it and do it again. Soon."We definitely want to record the next album faster," says Pulido. "We want to have less down time. We
want to record and be out there. I like touring! I like being in a band."
And maybe by the time the new album appears, people will have caught up with their last one.Thanks for reading. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog. Download his podcast of
celebrity interviews and his weekly music radio show at Popsurfing and enjoy the weekly pop culture
podcast he co-hosts at Showbiz Sandbox . Both available for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and
gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews.
Follow Michael Giltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelgiltz
Related News On Huffington Post:
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Casey, founder and Executive Director of the Designers Accord, works with
organizations all over the world to create positive social and environmental impact. Shehas...
#SXSW : The Best Panels, People and Moments from 2010 (VIDEO,POLL)
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LIVING HEALTH DIVORCE ARTS BOOKS RELIGION IMPACT EDUCATION COLLEGE NY LA CHICAGO DENVER BLOGS
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FRONT PAGE POLITICS BUSINESS MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY SPORTS STYLE WORLD GREEN FOOD TRAVEL TECH
LIVING HEALTH DIVORCE ARTS BOOKS RELIGION IMPACT EDUCATION COLLEGE NY LA CHICAGO DENVER BLOGS
Michael Giltz
Freelance writer and raconteur
Posted: March 3, 2010 05:55 PM
BIO
Become a Fan
Get Email Alerts
Bloggers' Index
2
9
views
0
0Inspiring Funny Hot Scary Outrageous Amazing Weird CrazyExclusive: Midlake On "The Courage
Of Others"
What's Your Reaction:
Read More: Bert Jansch , Denton , Eric Pulido , Fairport Convention , Midlake , Pop Music , Rock Music ,
Spin , Texas , The Courage Of Others , The Trials Of Van Occupanther , Entertainment News
Midlake burst into prominence in 2006 with The
Trials Of Van Occupanther , one of the most acclaimed
albums of the decade (and #21 on my list of the 100
Best CDs Of The 2000s ).
But no one will accuse them of striking while the iron
is hot. The bandmembers went back to their day jobs,
built a recording studio in their hometown of Denton,Texas, immersed themselves in British folk-rock by
the likes of Fairport Convention and Pentangle and
have finally emerged almost four years after their last CD with The Courage Of Others , a quieter,
moodier and genuinely beautiful album. Oh, and they're doing again something rock bands tend to do:performing live. And not a moment too soon.
"We didn't play a live show from October of 2007 until this tour," admits guitarist Eric Pulido, who
joined Midlake right before they recorded their first EP. "It's kind of strange to say you're in a band but
you haven't played a show in two years."
MOST POPULAR ON HUFFPOSTBIG NEWS: Celebrity Body | Playboy | Movies | Britney Spears | Smarter Ideas | More...
LOG IN | SIGN UP
Get Entertainment Alerts
Email Comments
More Dead Birds, Fish
Found Across The World
Comments (2,634)
WATCH: Demi Moore In A
Teeny Bikini
Comments (400)
Elizabeth Edwards' Will
Revealed
Comments (573)
Lindsay Garvey iPhone
Alarm Glitch: How It Cost
Me My Job
Comments (909)
Intestinal Parasites May Be
Causing Your Energy
Slump
Comments (131)
Rudeness Is A Neurotoxin
Comments (33)
WATCH: Ashton & Natalie
Get Naked, Have Sex In
New Movie
Comments (196)
Two House Republicans
Violate Constitution With
Voting Blunder
Comments (8,852)
BECK IN TROUBLE?
Dropped From New York
Radio Station, TV Ratings
Tonight, they're in Los Angeles and the band is on the road through June, hitting their hometown on
March 13, Austin (for SXSW, where they initially broke out) on March 18 and New York City April 7-8.
Last time on tour they were almost surrounded on stage by keyboards to capture the Seventies AM radio
vibe of Van Occupanther . Now they've added a few musicians, freeing up everyone to rock out, though
ironically it's for an album that features dashes of flute and a pastoral sound.
"We feel very Lynyrd Skynyrd on stage with seven guys and four guitarists," says Pulido. "It's great not to
be playing a keyboard with one hand and a tambourine with the other.
"We definitely want to get a little heavier live. We've been pretty soft. When we play a festival in Europe
and the last act has been really heavy or dance and then we come out with a flute, well..." he laughs.
But that haunting sound has proven bewitching. From the scene-setting opener "Acts Of Man" to the
uncertainty of "The Courage Of Others" to the promise of (some) redemption on "In The Ground," itgrows richer with each listen. ( Hear some tracks on MySpace right now. ) As a result, fans have crafted
loving mash-ups, like this mix of "Acts Of Man" with footage from the brilliant silent film classic Sunrise .
NPR highlighted the album and called it "a gentle masterwork." Spin says, "these new old-soundingsongs gradually burrow into your consciousness." Overseas -- where Pentangle, Bert Jansch and the like
are household names -- the praise has been broader. Mojo and Uncut and Q have all praised it, with Q
saying the band had "taken another great step forward" with an album that is "quietly epic."
But Pulido rejects the idea that they "get it" in the UK more easily than in the US.
"I wouldn't say it's a geographical sort of thing," says Pulido. "The reviews have been all over the place
everywhere."
After the instantaneous and almost overwhelming praise for Van Occupanther, it's got to be hard to see
some not pay the attention to the band's new work that their previous raves should have guaranteed. All
Midlake wants is for people to live with The Courage Of Others for a while.
"The album's a grower," says Pulido, who runs an organic coffee company in Denton but insists it's moreof a hobby than a going concern. "You know people in the media have stacks of CDs and only so muchtime and they play the first track and think, 'OK, that's what they're doing.' And maybe they've had a badday or they ate something. And you think, 'Really? Just one track? We just spent two years working on
1 of 5
Sen. Jon Tester
Tester Pushes to Reform Senate
Rules With Greater Transparency,
Efficiency
Steve Ballmer
My Keynote Address at the 2011
International Consumer
Electronics ShowDON'T MISS HUFFPOST BLOGGERS
HOT TRENDS
camille grammer jennifer
connelly baby
bump jersey shore
raven symone weight
loss rebecca budig
More Celebrity News at People.com
Fall
Comments (5,615)
Camille Grammer: Kelsey
Made Me Do Real
Housewives
READ MORE
Rihanna to Launch Her
First Fragrance
READ MORE
POLL: Take Sides in JerseyShore's Explosive First
Feud
READ MORE
Beastie Boy Beats Cancer
John Legend Parties With
Pauly D, 'Precious'
Comments 0 Pending Comments 0View FAQ
Camille Grammer's
Porn Past Comes
Back To...
Taylor Swift & Jake
Gyllenhaal Break
Up:...
Pregnant Natalie
Portman Shows
Growing Baby
Bump...
Raven-Symone
Shows Off Dramatic
Weight Loss,
Talks...this.' We just want people to give it a listen."
That's happening in concert where they've been to Europe (hitting London's Shepherd's Bush venue
among others) and now back in the US. Pre-show rituals include watching concert videos by Fairport
Convention (of course) and Iron Maiden (!). And savoring what they've accomplished. They've
engineered their lives so they can make the music they want and share it without any outsize
expectations or debt to force them into creative or business decisions they would regret.
"We want to be in the moment and know, hey, we're with our friends and we made some music and here
we are in Shepherd's Bush, this beautiful space, playing for 2000 people and we get to see the world,"
says Pulido. "We want to appreciate that."
They want to appreciate it and do it again. Soon."We definitely want to record the next album faster," says Pulido. "We want to have less down time. We
want to record and be out there. I like touring! I like being in a band."
And maybe by the time the new album appears, people will have caught up with their last one.Thanks for reading. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog. Download his podcast of
celebrity interviews and his weekly music radio show at Popsurfing and enjoy the weekly pop culture
podcast he co-hosts at Showbiz Sandbox . Both available for free on iTunes. Link to him on Netflix and
gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews.
Follow Michael Giltz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaelgiltz
Related News On Huffington Post:
SXSW 2010 Live Sunday Interactive Keynote: Valerie Casey
Casey, founder and Executive Director of the Designers Accord, works with
organizations all over the world to create positive social and environmental impact. Shehas...
#SXSW : The Best Panels, People and Moments from 2010 (VIDEO,POLL)
#SXSW 2010 has some of the hottest speakers and thinkers in the tech
world presenting this weekend in Austin. We'll be updating this pagewith...
More in Entertainment...TOP VIDEO PICKS
Paltrow Dishes on Cruise
Kiss
Raven Symone's HugeWeight Loss
Jessica Szohr's Sobe StripDown
1 of 9
MOST DISCUSSED RIGHT NOW
HOT ON FACEBOOK
HOT ON TWITTER
Celebrity Body
Gulf Oil Spill
SoccerHUFFPOST'S BIG NEWS PAGES
Recency | Popularity
More Celebrity News at Popeater.com
Camille Grammer's Porn
Past Comes Back To
Haunt Her
558 Comments
Seth Rogen: I'm Not
Getting A Prenup
42 Comments
Most Anticipated Indie
Albums of 2011
(SLIDESHOW)
8 Comments
Beastie Boys Rapper
Beats Cancer
32 Comments
Which Stars Will Play The
Lead Roles In 'The Three
Stooges' Remake?
66 Comments
'Knocked Up' Sequel
Coming?
18 Comments
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
John Edwards Proposes toMistress Already?
Celebrity Skin Howard Dean Sex
Airlines
Video
MSNBC
MORE BIG NEWS PAGES »
FOLLOW HUFFINGTON POST
FRONT PAGE POLITICS BUSINESS MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT COMEDY SPORTS STYLE WORLD GREEN FOOD TRAVEL TECH
LIVING HEALTH DIVORCE ARTS BOOKS RELIGION IMPACT EDUCATION COLLEGE NY LA CHICAGO DENVER BLOGS
Advertise | Log In | Make HuffPost your Home Page | RSS | Careers | FAQ | Contact Us
User Agreement | Privacy | Comment Policy | About Us | Powered by Movable Type
Copyright © 2011 TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. | "The Huffington Post" is a registered trademark of TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. All rights reserved.