Midnight Mob

There are few things in life as satisfying as sweat-drenched, flamboyant blues rock. You throw on Rubber Factory or maybe Elephant and you let yourself get washed away in a sea of riffs, licks, and blatant sexual energy. And in 2016, you've got plenty of options to channel your retro blues love. Arctic Monkeys, Black Keys, Jack White, Alabama Shakes, the Arcs. Well, here's another name to add to that list. Let me introduce you to Midnight Mob.

We've got the exclusive premiere of Midnight Mob's latest track, "Swing On." With its mix of blues, hard rock, and a hint of punk, "Swing On" (and Midnight Mob) need some much needed riot grrrl vibes to a scene that is unfortunately highly dominated by men. "Swing On" pairs blistering guitar riffs with the titanic wail of frontwoman Blackey Deathproof until you want to bang your head til your hair is flailing in every direction and maybe try to smash the patriarchy while you're at it. - Baeble Music

STP records have kindly collected together various EPs and singles and onto one CD, a way of introducing this female-fronted New York outfit to the UK and a wider audience. The Midnight Mob are very aptly named – the witching hour is when the clubs, bars, alleys and backstreets are alive with the crime, passion and fast living of those that come out at night. This is a collection of tunes that tells a story of sleaze and grime. Cowbells, wailing wah-wah pedals, vocals oozing sex appeal, riffs that strut their stuff up and down the boardwalk. Musically I can see parallels with the likes of prime Guns ‘n’ Roses or even Aerosmith coming at you via 70′s New York City with touches of the Dictators and a big Blondie influence in the vocal delivery. The hedonism of the decades of the 70s and 80s comes together on here, completely free of the hangover that the 90s would deliver. The songwriting is pretty varied, ranging from the turbo-charged delivery of opener “Overdrive”, through some fantastic hits like “All For Nothing” or “Perfect Crime”, to the acoustic tones of “These Days” and with the ambitious “Black Moon Rising” that clocks in at over 7 minutes. Album closer “So Hard” is the final shot of sleaze in the arm giving you just enough energy and life blood to help you make it through the night. Tom Chapman - by Tom Chapman

Another release by STP records this time a Limited edition release of tracks from the first 2 eps from Midnight Mob from New York City and in there words, creating wide eyed stares is what they do, haha I like that, so my eyes are open but as to wide, well lets go crank the volume and find out shall we? - by Woodstock Punk Rock

Midnight Mob is a New York City-based female-fronted outfit given the opportunity to turn a few heads and raise a few eyebrows (and horns) in Europe via the good people at STP Records. - by Gaz E

The second in their range of very limited edition CDs helping to get UK coverage for bands from around the world, STP Records are releasing the excellent These Days album from New York City rockers Midnight Mob. Consisting of ten rousing tracks of punk and incendiary rock, the release is a feisty and thrilling showcase for an equally compelling band. - RingMaster

Mixing the best of gritty rock with their own unique touch, the band has been known for great electric shows, and now they had opportunity to break it down in an acoustic setting. - Cryptic Rock

If you're looking for some kickass, take-no-prisoners, high-octane rock 'n' roll, look no further; Midnight Mob is here, and they're ready to jam! The NYC/Long Island-based band is a straight-up throwback to the golden age of rock; the look of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, stage presence of the Sex Pistols, and sound of The Ramones with a hint of Black Sabbath...Midnight Mob will have you stomping your feet and banging your head in record time! We at Joonbug had first seen these rockers after they had opened for former Runaway Cherie Currie at a recent show. Duly impressed, we reached out to speak with them about their sound, their message, and more... - by Molly Boekenheide

Midnight Mob is a female-fronted American punk/hard rock band from New York City, NY, and, my new favorite band of now and, well, forever! Midnight Mob formed in 2009 and, currently, consists of Blackey Deathproof (vocals), Carly Quinn (bass, vocals), Mickey Squeeze (lead guitar), Spydyr (guitar), and Catastrophe (drums). Their press kit says:MidnightMob-03 “GNR/Danzig/Cheap Trick laced with Joan Jett‘s bastard daughter on lead vox” spewing their “blend of high octane Rock N Roll with Social Distortion sentiment.” Their motto is: “If your heart ain’t in it you might as well be dead.” Well, Midnight Mob‘s heart is all in it, and, now, mine is, too! Best damn band I’ve heard all year!!

OK, so I fall hard for pretty much any black-haired, red lipsticked, punk rock chick. I can’t help it. My brain is just wired that way, I guess. In just this past week alone, I fell for Zoe Vette (of Zoe Vette & the Revolvers), then, it was Samara Cain (of Gasoline Thrill), and, today, I’m reeling, head over heels, for Blackey Deathproof, and her amazing band! Blackey looks like Brody Dalle‘s little sister, and, is both sexy-hot and adorably cute. Sexy hotness is obvious [check out the promo pics and live shots on their website], but, if you need proof of adorable cuteness, well, just watch this video (also on their website):

Midnight Mob‘s self-titled debut EP was released in early 2011. The band delivers 4 tracks of driving hard rock with a punk heart, while Blackey belts out gritty, powerful vocals burning with passion. “Perfect Crime” and “So Hard”, the first two tracks,MidnightMob-07 are energetic hard rockers with furious guitar riffs, fiery vocals and insanely addictive melodies, but, “Hit or Miss” is an absolute pop/rock gem! It is pure, unashamed hooky brilliance, and it sounds like Joan Jett with a hint of Pat Benatar fronting GNR. You will be singing “Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh” in your head for days! Why was this song not blasting from the speakers of car stereos across the country?! Finally, “Overdrive”, the most punk track here, became the band’s first video, although “Perfect Crime” has an awesome video (my favorite!) as well. Yeah, this EP is too damn short, but, the quality of these songs far outweighs the number of the tracks. Watch the videos for “Overdrive” and “Perfect Crime” here:

Midnight Mob followed up, in late 2012, with another stunning EP, Black Moon Rising, that offers 6 more tracks, as well as more eclectic influences in those tracks. Blackey’s vocals still blaze, mostly, but, on some songs, she relaxes, and kind of croons. “All For Nothing” and “Walking Dead” were pre-released as singles in late 2011,MidnightMob-08 and, a video was shot for “All For Nothing”. That power pop/rocker incorporates the band’s Cheap Trick influence by re-working the intro of “I Want You To Want Me” into a song that’s familiar but fresh. “Be Mine”, my favorite track, is the first of several that works in a psychobilly influence. “These Days”, an acoustic track (with a video), is another; as is the awesome “My Undead Darling (You Still Haunt Me)” which also works in a horror punk influence, sounding like The HorrorPops meet The Misfits. “Walking Dead”, a hard rocker, is another horror-inspired track. And, the epic closing track, “Black Moon Rising” is a bluesy Danzig-esque ballad in which Blackey Deathproof delivers her most intense and best vocal performance. Amazing! So, watch the videos for “All For Nothing” and “These Days” here:

Midnight Mob is a phenomenal band with a badass front woman gifted with an amazing voice. I stumbled upon them by accident while perusing releases on CD Baby, but, I am, now, forever their biggest fan. They’re playing a show in New York City on October 12, 2013, at the 2013 CBG Festival, two days after my birthday. It will take me just short of 8 hours to get there (and 8 more to get back). Well, I can dream.

So, 2013 has been a difficult year for Midnight Mob. Vans were totalled, trailers were sold, tours were cancelled, and founding member Catastrophe left the band. But, their hearts are still all in, and, they won’t be kept down. And, their October 12th show is still on. So, as they like to say, “Peace, Love, Swag N Roll …” -

Midnight Mob are a band from New York City – influenced by Guns N Roses, Danzig, Cheap Trick, Social Distortion, Motorhead and T- Rex – fronted by kick ass lady Blackey Death Proof!

Tell me a little bit about yourself?
My name is Blackey Death Proof, and I am the lead singer of Midnight Mob. I enjoy long walks in the park, classic movies, various foods, rolling around stage like a maniac and screaming my lungs out, as well as being the front lady for Midnight Mob.

You’re a freelance make-up artist, hair stylist and alternative model right?
Yes indeed. I have my cosmetology license, but unfortunately I have not been able to keep a salon job due to my band schedule. Fortunately being in a creative field I have been able to meet many creative people looking to build their portfolio whether a photographer or model. I am paid in this field to make others sexier and to be sexy on the other side of the camera. Many photographers love the attitude I add to my photos, which I give credit to the crazy faces I am known to make. Even when I don’t get paid, I still get good stuff out of it, which lands me other jobs. I have received many fun promotional gigs as a bonus instead of pay. These promo gigs are a blast and I get to meet some pretty cool peeps.

How did you first come to music?
I have been listening to music since the womb just like Marc Bolan and I haven’t stopped since. I love all sorts of music. There’s the prefect song or genera for every moment. I came out kicking and screaming in the month of May some 20 odd years ago, and the people around me seemed excited and cheered so I thought there could be some future in it from the beginning. I grew up on gossip, blues, punk rock, and metal. Music was always there. I joined a church Christmas choir when I went to boarding school, but I didn’t REALLY start singing until I joined the band at 19. It was something to cross off the list of things to do before before you die and it just kind of took off.

What do you wear on stage?
Cowboy boots, a self-customized shirt, pants that stretch and some bling. The grand finale is my signature bullet belt. It has been with me forever and is indestructible…which I love.

How important is your stage outfit to you?
It is essential. On stage it’s all about being comfortable and having good range of motion. If I wear something too elaborate or too tight I can’t move or breathe which is way less fun and slows me down. I tend to be very rough with my clothing and have become notorious for tearing my pants. So I’ve gotten fond of those leathery looking leggings. They look awesome, I can jump around, and they are inexpensive to replace. I put much work and thought into what I wear on stage because it so important to be visually awesome & unique.

Make-up-wise what’s your onstage must?
I always do cat eyes and lipstick. I like kicking it old school; it is easy and does not look scary after an hour. I do love some cool smokey eyes, but I always ended up looking like The Crow after he is shot when I was done on stage.

What’s your biggest beauty indulgence?
HAIR SPRAY AND A TEASING COMB!!!!

What are your offstage outfits like?
I pretty much look the same. I mean, if I’m at work I like to be a bit more chic, but you would never really say I am night and day when I’m off stage unless you catch me in my work out clothes and that is another story.

Who are your style icons?
I’m inspired by a lot of people and music. I just combine all my favorite things: metal, punk rock, Bettie Page and various horror/Tarantino movies.

What do you do creatively when you’re not creating/playing music?
I really love to sew. My mom taught me how to do some basic tailoring so I’ve been making my own clothing since I was a kid. If I didn’t alter my clothes in some way, I just don’t feel quite like it belonged to me.

What makes your musical style different?
I think it’s a really good combination of a lot of great time eras. We all come from different musical backgrounds and there’s really something for everyone in it.

Have you ever encountered sexism within the music community?
Not too much. I mean, being a female in an industry dominated by men, most of them can’t help but stare at any girl that’s going to get up there. We are expected to be a bit more timid and well ladylike. So naturally they stare harder when my bass player, Carly, and I get up there and leave a pint of blood on the stage. In all seriousness it has been cool so far and if anything I have been paid huge compliments on my talent.

How do you deal with the haters?
Not every one’s going to like you: what you’re doing, what you sound like, what you’re saying. My band and I are very positive and have made it a point to be cool with everyone because that’s just how people should treat each other. If they don’t like us at that point it’s really their problem and we move on.

Tell me about your latest projects?
We just celebrated the release of our music video for “All For Nothing”, directed by Jarret Belluci. We had a blast shooting it and are through the moon proud of it. In fact the director liked working with us so much and our product, he wants to do another. So hopefully with our crazy schedule we will have another one out to you in the next couple of months. - Conversations With Bianca

New York’s Midnight Mob describes themselves as five strangers who came together to set the world on fire. With the combination of their fiery passion for music, their copious amounts of energy, and their kick ass rock and roll sound, they are on their way to do just that. Pop-Break’s Lauren Stern spoke to the band’s lead singer Blackey about Midnight Mob’s history and their upcoming endeavors for the new year.

Pop-Break: You guys just started playing together not too long ago. How did you meet?

Blackey: Well, I knew Catastrophe from the local music scene. He dated one of my good friends at the time and gave drum lessons at a music store where I took guitar lessons from Mickey Squeeze. Funny enough they actually wanted me to play bass for their band maybe a year before Midnight Mob started. The two of them stayed close for a while but Catastrophe had a professional side project he was working on in a recording studio. Squeeze was involved for a minute and ultimately decided to leave and I was asked if I wanted to do some backups. At the time I sang some random bluesy stuff for an old boyfriend that toured with him. Two weeks later their lead singer quit and they asked me to take over. I figured “why not?” it was on my list of things to do before I die. Eventually things fell apart with the producer and Squeeze jumped back on board.

Midnight Mob's frontwoman, Blackey

Carly and Spydyr were found randomly. We had been looking for a bass player for a few months and had NO luck. Eventually, Catastrophe, out of frustration, shouted out in the middle of his college campus “Does Anyone Know a Bass Player?!” A fan of Catastrophe’s former band, Visions Through Sound, said, “I know this chick that goes to college upstate and that she’s transferring home, that plays guitar, but I’m sure she can handle it”. Carly is kind of ridiculous and bass came to her right away. I mean, I can’t even play the tambourine, and she just picked up the bass in 30 seconds. We actually had three rhythm guitar players before Spydyr. Individually they were great players in their own way, but they never quite fit or really wanted to make the serious commitment. Spydyr introduced himself to Catastrophe at some local bar and told him if we ever needed another guitar player, he would love to try out. Lucky for him we just had our last performance with our previous guitar player. Spydyr was meant for us, though. He’s like our sweet beautiful 6-foot angel that we desperately needed.

Pop-Break: Each one of you has a different nickname. Are there meanings behind those nicknames?

Blackey: Well, I got “Blackey” from a group of friends I hung out with when I was 14 years old. Another girl in our gang of misfits had the same name as well as likes & dislikes as me so she became “Whitey” for her platinum blond locks and I became “Blackey” from my giant dark mass of hair.

Mikey “Catastrophe” is pretty self-explanatory. He’s a hot mess. He breaks, tears, runs over stuff, and loses everything. Total definition of a bull in a china closet.

Mickey Squeeze — his nickname was given to him by Catastrophe prior to Midnight Mob. Catastrophe had never played with a guitarist like him before. He had a knack for squeezing out all the right notes when he played.

Carly Quinn — she gave herself that name and it just suited her. It was based off of Harley Quinn.

Spyder — his name is a touch ironic and he had it before he joined. He is deathly afraid of spiders and the beginning of his last name begins with “man”. So his buddies called him Spiderman. He then shortened it and altered the spelling when he joined, but feel free to chant “Spydyrman” at our shows.

PB: Who are some of your major influences?

Blackey: Me personally, I’m a big fan of Iron Maiden, The Brick Bats, Iggy and the Stooges, Danzig, Johnny Thunders , The Cult, Motorhead. We draw from all over the place. The band loves Social Distortion, anything Motown, GNR, etc…

PB: Your single “All For Nothing” is such an awesome track. Is there any story behind it?

Blackey: I dated this guy a while back, nice guy, but totally had a drinking problem. We were friends for a while, but I didn’t really notice how out of hand he was until we started dating. We couldn’t go anywhere without him breaking something, breaking himself, getting into a fight, insulting someone, or just being obnoxious. He would always get really heavy and would tell me he was worthless and that I was the only thing good in his life. I would always tell him that it wasn’t true and that he could do anything and be happy if he just chose to do so. After a few months of that, it was just too much — I cared about him, but I just couldn’t watch him be miserable anymore. I worked really hard to clean up my act, be a stronger person, and make a better life for myself and he just wasn’t ready to do the same. So I left.

PB: On your website, you describe your music as “101 Death Proof.” What does the phrase mean and how did you come up with it?

Blackey: I was using [the stage name] Blackey Deathproof for a while. I am a big [Quentin] Tarantino fan and love his style. [The name is a reference to Tarantino's Grindhouse film Death Proof.] Right around the time, we found the pin=up art work that we now use as our current logo. We were using a slogan that we made up from when we first started playing, then after a year and some months of developing our sound really didn’t fit us anymore, so one of them saw my profile and thought Death Proof fit us perfectly. Pared with our pin-up and an old-fashioned bottle label, we are ready to rock your face off any time anywhere, a unified force that is unstoppable which makes us the Midnight Mob — 101 Death Proof.

PB: Your self-titled EP just dropped recently. How has the reception been so far?

Blackey: Overall, the reception has been very positive. We have had many great write-ups and only one negative one. We are all very happy with it and everyone who purchased it has been a satisfied customer. We have been spun on approximately about 150 college radio stations nationwide and have been added to a few bigger FM stations.

PB: What can people expect when they listen to your new EP?

Blackey: It’s a high energy rock ‘n’ roll album written to shake you out of your coma and slap you stupid.

PB: Is there any specific time frame or date for a full-length release?

Blackey: Originally, our self-titled EP was supposed to be full-length. We actually had it fully recorded, and when we listened back, we were completely unsatisfied. “All For Nothing” and “Walking Dead” would have not been on that full length. We decided to take the best four and make an EP. We’re choosing quality over quantity. We do have a new five-track EP scheduled for early 2012. This EP will include an acoustic track and “Dying Alone,” as well as others. Recording began on Dec. 10.

PB: If you could have one artist play a show with your band, who would it be?

Blackey: Motorhead!

PB: What are your upcoming tour plans, and is there a nationwide tour in the works?

Blackey: This month we’re staying quiet because all of the recording, but as of now we have a tentative date April 12 to begin our nationwide tour. We’re pushing out that far in order to have our PR in place. We love to tour. It has been so much fun in the past, but it is quite expensive so strategy is very necessary. - Pop Break

-Introduce Yourself:

I’m Spydyr, Rhythm guitarist for Midnight Mob and star of Spydyr’s Web, which can be found on our YouTube channel.



-How did you get your start?

I actually got my start with Midnight Mob. I was just a guitarist looking for a band to start or join and the Mob was gracious enough to take me in.



-Who are some of your influences?

Tony Iommi, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Jerry Cantrell, Adrian Smith, Jim Root, Synyster Gates to name a few.



-How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

It’s Loud, Sexy and Dangerous!



-Do you have any music available for purchase, & if so where can people go to buy it?

People can purchase our music on iTunes, CD baby, Amazon and many other various sites.



-Fav. song to perform?

That’s a tough one haha, maybe either “Dying Alone” or “Walking Dead.”



-What is the most embarrassing thing thats happened to you while performing?

We played the grand ballroom at Webster Hall in NYC, and as we performed our final song “Bad News” I messed up on the intro throwing off things… but we recovered thank God haha.



-Who is someone you would like to work with or play a show with in the future?

I’d love to work with any member of the classic Guns N Roses or Alice in Chains or even Tony Iommi.



-Fav. band/artist of all time:

Either Black Sabbath or Guns N Roses… tough choice.



-What is something people may be surprised to find out about you?

I care a lot and donate when I can for charities and support groups.



-What is 1 thing you would really like to see or do in your lifetime?

Play Madison Square Garden.



-Since it’s almost Halloween, growing up what was your best Halloween costume?

I was Billy Mayes after he had passed away a few years ago. By far my best costume and Halloween night!





-What was your fav. cartoon or tv show while growing up?

Probably Tom and Jerry.



-Any last words/message to your fans?

Just keep Rocking and keep doing what you’re doing! You’re our support and we love you all!

If anyone wants to follow me on twitter my name is @SpydyrUnlimited.



Website: www.MidnightMob.com

Email: JoinTheMidnightMob@gmail.com

Fans: www.MidnightMobFans.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoinTheMidnightMob - Put Me In the Picture

A journalist receives countless press releases every week. Most go unopened. The ones that do get perused wind up being a “pass”, especially short notes that say “Please listen to my/this band or solo artist”. Many sound desperate, which leaves the writer braced for the worst if they do take the time to listen to an attached mp3 or YouTube link. But every so often there is a jewel hiding in all that spam. Midnight Mob is definitely one of those perfect diamonds in the rough.

Hailing from New York City, this group is made up of some unlikely suspects. Mike Catastrophe (drums) and Mickey Squeeze (lead guitar) were working in a music shop as instructors when they met up with Blackey Deathproof (lead vocals), who was a guitar student. The band went through a few bassists and rhythms before adding Carly Quinn on bass and Spyder on rhythm.

Carly was the result of Mike’s desperate move one day while a student at Hofstra. He asked if anyone knew of a decent bassist. Someone spoke up and mentioned that there was this girl who was at Oneonta right now but was coming back the following semester. She played guitar but could probably learn bass pretty fast. Upon her return, Mike handed her a bass and said “Here, learn this.” She did and was a good fit.

Spyder’s story is, honestly, a little comical. Apparently he’d been a fan of Midnight Mob for a while, after discovering them on the internet. He had come out to some of their shows but still depended on a friend to approach Mike at the bar one night to ask for an introduction. Once face-to-face, Spyder explained that he loved the band and wanted a shot at a guitar audition. Mike laughed and said “Well, as a matter of fact, we just fired our rhythm the other day”.

This lineup of Midnight Mob has been together for about a year and a half. The core members will celebrate their three year anniversary in February. It’s been tough to make this band work as they don’t have the Cinderella story of the high school garage band that grew up together. They are from different neighborhoods and experiences. The only two members who had ever been in a band before were Mike and Mickey. Everyone else has had to suffer hours of practice, time in front of mirrors, arguments, tears, dance parties and occasional salvos of objects being hurled at each other. Some people just didn’t fit so they left, or were asked to leave. But the end result has been worth it. The group of today has a great stage presence, all well connected which results in an amazing energy level and performance.

Midnight Mob’s sound is pure rock and roll. Blackey’s vocals are a cross between Joan Jett and Amy Lee with a side order of Janis Joplin. Her energy on stage is super high and she doesn’t just connect with an audience, she’s sort of contagious. Mickey pulls out some of the sweetest guitar riffs straight out of rock history books. The guy demands everything from his Les Paul and together they deliver. Spyder, Carly and Mickey bring it all together and the band works like a well oiled machine. If you can fight the urge to dance at one of their shows, then either you left your soul at home or you’re on some very strong tranquilizers.

I got some time to chat with Blackey and Mike after their set. We talked about the challenges of making it in the business, especially for NY bands. Being aware of more than one DIY or indie from the city who just couldn’t seem to break the surface, I asked if it was a competition issue or just a “city thing”. Both stated that the NY scene is very cliquey and it’s hard to get in with the clique that has the better momentum. Also, many of the small clubs in Manhattan and Brooklyn are suffering. Many have closed their doors, including the one where Midnight Mob did their last EP release show.

The other problem is that, with so little money available, labels are very frugal. Bands and solo artists have to do all the leg work and deliver a complete package to an A&R–including a fanbase–before they will even be considered.

We all agreed that one of the most important tools in the business today is networking–getting your name dropped in the right circles, meeting someone who knows someone. In an industry that still tends to be very closed-lipped and more elitist than protective, it is still difficult to find the right people directly. You’re always looking for the “trickle-down” or “six degrees of separation” that will get your foot in the next door.

Midnight Mob’s schedule has them in NJ and NYC for the next few weeks. You can find out more on their official site or their Facebook
http://midnightmob.com/ - Catalyst

At The French Roast on the corner of West 85th Street and Broadway, I got to meet the singer of the New York based up and coming rock/ punk band Midnight Mob. Singer, Blackey Deathproof, appears with a straightforward but humble and polite attitude, an attitude far away from her hardcore growling and screaming vocals. It is a sunny and warm November day as we sit down in the outdoor patio. I ask for a cappuccino and Blackey goes for an omelet.

How did you guys meet?

We met in 2009 and were randomly connected through friends. By then I did not see myself as a front figure since I, until then, only did back up singing, specifically in the blues field. All of us shared a unique passion for hard rock and punk and felt an instant association. Today everybody has certain roles that together create a functioning totality. For example, I’m everything but the informative, structured backbone of the band. Our bass player, on the other hand, keeps us organized!

Speaking about roles, what does your music making process look like?

We all collaborate in the making of our music. Someone comes up with some guitar riffs and licks while someone catches a hooky melody, although I’m usually the one writing the lyrics. I find it important to really feel and live the words I sing.

Who or what inspires you?

As far as other artists, I’m a great fan of Iggy Pop and Iron Maiden. But when it comes to things that inspire me in my writing, my main stimulating source is life itself. I’m not much into public displaying emotions and romance but rather focus on my efforts in getting clean from drugs and alcohol. Until a couple of years ago I lived a pretty rough life, but I’ve been sober since 17 years old by now. That makes five clean years! Yay!

Your song All for Nothing has a somewhat softer sound than the rest of your songs. What happened in the making of that track?

We all love the hard rock and punk stuff, but we also know that in order to appeal to a greater audience we sometimes have to create more versatile material. It’s still us, but the smoothest possible side of us. We don’t believe in sitting and playing in a basement and complaining about other artist’s sellouts. As long as we feel that we can represent it, we’ll give it a go. Regardless, money is needed to enable doing what you really want in the long run.

You are working hard on the NYC live music scene at the moment. Any plans on touring Europe or other parts of the world?

We are currently planning a west coast tour sometime middle of this coming spring. Europe is something we really want to do and we obviously aim for it. Going overseas requires financial resources that we unfortunately don’t have at the moment. It’s not a question on if we go, but when. So keep yourself posted on our website MidnightMob.com or my blog, BlackeyDeathProof in Blogspot - Yam Magazine

What am I listening to? It’s something sleek, fresh, and a hard hit of seduction. Something I could take on a treadmill or out on the town. Something called Midnight Mob.

They describe themselves as ‘five strangers’ who came together with one blazing motive: ‘to set the world on fire’. Now we’re cooking with gas. That’s the kind of ambition I like to hear about. As soon as I took a sip of their love potion, I was done in. I’ll bet they’d play until their instruments begged them to stop.

They’re arsenic-pumped, fully armed, and refuse to submit to apathy.

And here I thought hard rock was dead. - Bigger Than Beyonce

If Brodie Armstrong was still making decent music and Joan Jett was current, the outcome would be something like Midnight Mob’s lead singer, “Blackey.” The frontwoman of the New York punk/alternative rock group has plenty of presence, as well as the vocals to back it up. This group doesn’t seem to have a care in the world, but does it very well. Here is their latest music video for the single, “All For Nothing.” Check them out at www.midnightmob.com



-rook - Rul Dope

Q&A: Blackey of Midnight Mob
Bluesy metalheads play Ground Zero
By Matt Wake
Metromix
September 8, 2010

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Q&A: Blackey of Midnight Mob
Rock band Midnight Mob plays Ground Zero on Sept. 18.
(Credit: Courtesy of Midnight Mob )

There’s usually a can of Big Sexy Hair Spray in Blackey’s bag when she hits the road with her Massapequa, N.Y., “rawk” band Midnight Mob. The 21-year-old singer, who looks like a young, cherubic Joan Jett done up in “Shout at the Devil” glam, has the real-deal pipes to match her black-eyeliner look. (And since Blackey’s studying at Brittany Beauty School to be a hairdresser and makeup artist, her choice of hairspray is probably well-informed.)

A punk vibe is audible on the Midnight Mob burner “Overdrive.” And Blackey (she won’t tell me her real name) goes bluesy on “Say It Ain’t So,” a track with slide guitar and West Hollywood grooves.

“I have a place in my heart for rockabilly and Elvis and stuff,” she says. Blackey got her start singing as a teen in the church choir, before being drawn to rock by albums including “Led Zeppelin II.”

Midnight Mob, which includes guitarists Mickey Squeeze and Spyder, drummer Michael James and bassist Carly Quinn, has been know to do a live cover of T. Rex’s “20th Century Boy.”

“I think Marc Bolan was just a ridiculous performer,” Blackey says. “Watching anything with him is kind of ridiculous and I don’t know how anyone could not like it.”

The group is prepping a four-song EP, which Blackey says contains a Motorhead influenced tune, planned for a November release.

Blackey, I heard a Chrissie Hynde thing in your vocals on “Hit or Miss.” Is she a singer you’re into?
I am influenced by Chrissie Hynde. I’ve always been more of a…I like Joan Jett, Janis Joplin, Wendy O. Williams. I like Brody from The Distillers and Courtney Love.

Nice touch with the T. Rex mention in that same song. I like “20th Century Boy” so much it didn’t bug me when they used it in a car commercial a few years back.
No, no. I don’t think any band that does that should be looked on as selling out. It’s just another way to get your music out there. Youth today can go, “That’s catchy. Where is it from?” It allows them to look more to the old stuff.

So who’s the best lead singer in rock today?
Does it matter what time they’re from?

No, just as long as they are still playing.
I’m a really big Clutch fan, but I think what’s-his-face from The Rolling Stones is ridiculous and I can’t believe he has that much energy to be jumping around the way he does. Also, Iggy Pop. In my early teens I was very, very influenced by the punk scene. I love the way he moves. I always loved music, but I’ve never pictured myself being the lead singer.

What’s the most un-shy thing you do onstage?
Oh my goodness—I think within the last year I’ve been able to let go. I don’t even care what I look like up there. I’ll roll on the floor. (Laughs.)

Do you have a signature move yet? Like how Axl Rose has his slide thing, and Mick Jagger has all his weird moves.
I don’t know. I’m very influenced by Elvis, Iggy Pop and that rockabilly style of moving up there. I don’t think I have a specific move, or it hasn’t been pointed out to me.

So it’s just a stream-of-consciousness thing?
Yeah, I don’t really think about it, I just move the way I feel.

What’s the most hung-over you’ve been for a show?
Huh?

What’s the most hung-over you’ve been for a show?
I actually don’t drink when I’m playing. I’ve never been a big drinker, or at least not the last couple of years. I like to be very present up there. I don’t need anything to make me do what I do.

I was looking at Midnight Mob’s list of upcoming shows and you guys are playing a Merrick, N.Y., venue called Jugs-N-Strokers. What kind of place is that?
(Laughs.) It’s actually a biker bar. We kind of fell in love with the place. Our home base, a couple towns over, it shut down, and we haven’t really found a place. This place the people were so nice. It’s hard to find venue these days where they want to hear the music. I can’t wait to play there again.

Midnight Mob plays Spartanburg's Ground Zero (with The Deflicted and Raging Nipple) at 8 p.m. Sept. 18?. Cover is $5. For more information, call 864-948-1661 or visit www.myspace.com/jointhemidnightmob.

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The Revolution Needs a Soundtrack.
October 7, 2011
tags: calendar

Of course, this weekend, you should be occupying Philadelphia, rooting for the Phillies and celebrating Yom Kippur. Satisfy your soul, stand up for your rights and practice your civic pride.

But also appreciate the local music scene.

There’s lots of good stuff this weekend, including tUnE-YarDs (above, playing the 2nd Street Festival over the summer), which will play at Union Transfer on Sunday. Also on Sunday, the Philadelphia Orchestra (below, playing at MLK high last January) will play al fresco for free on Penn’s Landing. The show begins at 6:30. Here are a few other interesting shows this weekend.

Friday:

Ska legends The Toasters play the North Star Bar.

Beatallica, a Beatles/ Metallica mash-up, play live at the Grape Room.

Rapper Kuf Knotz and his troupe perform at Milkboy Philly.

Saturday:

Electro superstar Skrillex (below) plays the Electric Factory.

Midnight Mob (below) plays The Legendary Dobbs. - Jump Philly

Introducing a new feature on MurphGuide.com: Spotlight Artist
(a.k.a. Artist of the Week, or Artist of the Day, depending on how frequently we update).

Our first featured artist is Michael James and his band, Midnight Mob.
Band Lineup:
Blackey- Lead Vocals
Mickey Squeeze- Lead Guitar
Spydyr- Rhythm Guitar
Michael James- Drums
Carly Quinn - Bass

How long have you been performing? And how long in NYC?
Midnight Mob has been together since Feb. '09. Actually our very first gig was at Klub 45 Connolly's in Time Square in Feb 09'. They put us on at Midnight.

What are your musical past lives (i.e., previous bands, your early years, etc.)
I have been playing out since I was 13 so the past 9 years, and accomplished a couple of regional tours in that time. The younger members of the band: Blackey, Carly, and Spydyr have never performed in a band or had stage experience before joining the group. Squeeze has had a lot of teaching experience, but has been in and out of bands for most of his playing career.

What is your favorite venue to play?
One of our favorites is Crash Mansion on Bowery. It has an awesome atmosphere. The crowd pushes right up to the front of the stage and they absolutely love our blend of psychedelic sex rock.
Where can we hear/buy your music?
You can hear our music streaming at our facebook fan page and on Myspace. We have been in talks with some indie and major labels. Right now we are planning a digital release of our single "Over Drive".

What are some of your musical influences:
Guns 'N Roses, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Stone Temple Pilots, Buckcherry, Social Distortion, Joan Jett and the Black Hearts.

Tell us a story about performing live in NYC.
One of our first shows in the city was at a club of some significant prestige. The show was double booked and on top of that the toilet was flooded, so went on at at about 2:30 in a very literal cesspool.

Do you have any advice to share with someone just starting out?
Music is art, Music is passion, but it also is a business. Midnight Mob practices six days a week, promotes endlessly and we still feel we need to do more to become a better unit and get our music out there. Want to be in a successful band? You need to WORK for it and then WORK some more!

Can you recommend another local act we should feature on MurphGuide?
Exemption. Bad ass three piece out of New York. They play Brooklyn and the city all the time. If you dig Midnight Mob you will love these guys. They have been called the heavy metal Beatles.
[update: Exemption was featured here on MurphGuide on Aug. 2. 2010]


OK, time for some blatant self-promotion:
What would you like to plug?
Sunday, June 27th, 8:30pm
Midnight Mob
Live @ Main Stage Webster Hall
Part of Emergenza US Finals
All ages show, get your tickets from the band for $20 or at the door for $25.
at:
Webster Hall
125 E. 11th St.
(bet. 3rd & 4th Ave.)
New York, NY
WebsterHall.com
- Murph Guide

Mobbing the Midnight Hour
posted on June 29, 2010 – 10:31 pm
post thumbnail

words and photos by Stephanie Augello


Southern Spark

“Because the night belongs to lovers. Because the night belongs to us.” Patti Smith’s classic song rang throughout Whitaker Street’s Hangfire, as DJ Brian Lackey, also drummer of The Cusses, spun an exuberant crowd into last call. Such was the auspicious climate of Friday, June 18, the night of Outlet Magazine’s Summer 2010 release party.


The fun began at The Co-Laboratory, where attendees were treated to live music, catered faire from newly launched local venture The Picnic Fairy and copies of the publication. We were all out to toast. As the release party came to a close, thrill seekers spilled over to Hangfire, where the PBR flowed like water, and Savannah proved that it deserves to be deemed the dance party capital of the East Coast.

The Outlet party was the culmination of an adventurous month that began, not only with New York is Boring’s 3-Day Play launch party, but with the symphonic invasion of Athens-based troupe Venice is Sinking onto our turf in the Low Country.

Athens, GA is no menial point of origin for a band. The city has, in the past, given us The B-52s, R.E.M. and Of Montreal. Venice is Sinking released their latest album, Sand and Lines, on June 15th. A quietly experimental live piece, it possesses a gentle, yet profound sense of melody and composition. With a creation such as this under their belt, Venice is Sinking might just be the next essential puzzle piece to emerge from that prolific locale.

Until recently, Savannah was a forgotten city on tour routes. The times, it seems, have changed. Venues such as The Jinx, The Wormhole and The Co-Laboratory create raw, honest experiences for audiences. Things are happening here in Georgia, and other locations on the East Coast could learn from its example.

The Old Scene

Music scouts and blogs hail Williamsburg as the epicenter of the music universe. But the grassroots spark that once filled the wider New York circuit is now absent. In places like my hometown of Merrick, Long Island, the current conducted energy level is equal to that of staring at the walls of a bank interior.

I attended high school in the mid-late 1990s, an era which many consider to be the “glory years” of the Long Island music scene. My early LI musical experiences range from sitting in on countless basement band practices, to getting kicked in the face in a mosh pit at The PWAC.

At 13, I caught a Foo Fighters show at NYC’s Tramps – 3 months before the release of their first album. When I was 15, my buddies and I made friends with a roadie outside of a show headlined by San Francisco punk outfit Tilt. Later that night, our new pal invited us up on stage to dance with the band. That same year, I stepped in a pool of vomit at a Bouncing Souls show.

Those last two episodes took place at Coney Island High on St. Mark’s Place, which to me, is STILL the coolest place to have ever existed. These accounts are remembrances of things past, and I regret to inform you that all of the aforementioned venues had shut their doors by the early 2000s.

The New Scene

Today’s fledgling LI bands often take to backyards for a showcase. While in New York earlier this month, I attended one such exploit. The event was to promote local band Midnight Mob’s debut as headliners at NYC’s Webster Hall on Sunday, June 27.

Opening acts Vision Through Sound and Harold’s Trousers kicked off the evening, which reached its climax when Midnight Mob took to the arena with its brand of self-described “Psychedelic Sex Rock.” Their strong classic rock influence, and electric live energy, revved up the crowd, and conveyed that this band is certainly worthy of tearing up the main stage at Webster Hall.


After the bash, I sat down with the members, as they spoke of their roots and ambitions. Produced by Chris Russell, Midnight Mob includes Lauren “Blackey” Palazzo (vocals), Mickey “Squeez” Occhino (lead guitar), Carly Quinn (bass), Sal “Spydyr” Manteria (rhythm guitar) and Michael James “Mikey Catastrophe” Sarna (drums). They formed as a cover band in 2008, but quickly abandoned that approach, in favor of creating original music. They’ve spent the past year competing in a contest sponsored by Emergenza, winning 1st place in both initial rounds. The show at Webster Hall was the final round of the US competition, which sends the winner to perform at a festival in Berlin, Germany.

Midnight Mob views their debut at Webster Hall as a sort of “coming out party.” Their ability to work as a team has greatly expanded their fan base, and when Spydyr joined this spring, they felt that everything had finally come together. “This is just the beginning. It’s scary and exciting,” stated vocalist Blackey Palazzo. “Life has been so small. I don’t think anyone grasps that it could be you.”


At just 21-years-old, Blackey has already shown the verve necessary for success in rock ‘n’ roll. Highly influenced by Southern gospel and blues, while still a teenager, she traveled Mississippi to aid in the post-Katrina clean-up. Blackey’s sense of gratitude rang out during their set that night, when Mob performed a wild rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

To this band, it’s about more than just stages, fans and tours, it’s about the soul of the music itself. It is a soul that is derived, not just from a Southern blues tradition, but from the roots of their own backyards. Guitarist Squeez is of the belief that the scene on Long Island fails to cater to original music, and that Midnight Mob is already playing a role in “bringing back” the vitality of previous generations.

The day after that backyard show, I jumped into my rented Dodge Charger to trek back to Georgia, stopping to spend a few hours in Athens with our friends from Venice is Sinking. Bands such as Venice is Sinking and Midnight Mob make me optimistic about the future of music. Both are fueled by a passion far stronger than the superficiality that exists in much of today’s market.

When I first dropped into Savannah five years ago, I was a prematurely jaded stranger on a “blues tour” of the American South. Equipped with a spiral notebook and a video camera, I sought to answer a somewhat rhetorical question: “Is the spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll still alive in the land of its birth?”

While painting the town on one of those first nights, I was full of whiskey and a crisp 23-year-old attitude. At some point, I bolted from Sorry Charlie’s, which is now closed, across Congress St., over to The Jinx, hit the “record” button on my camera, and voiced my question to the crowd of partygoers. With just a few words, one man summed it up: “The spirit IS alive. The spirit is alive – HERE – in Savannah.” I’ve seen it growing ever since. If that same fire can be fanned up in New York, that place might once again become, well, just a little less boring.
- New York Is Boring

1) Introduce yourself:

Blackey Death Proof, Lead vocalist for Midnight Mob

2) How did you come up with your stage name?

When I was 14, my best friend and partner in crime shared a similar taste in style, music, people, movies, friends, etc. We also shared the same first name. This became irritating to us and our
friends. We tried other nicknames to help distinguish ourselves from each other, but they failed. Finely, our good friend Steve Mahgan brought up the one obvious difference between us she was
a blonde and I was a brunette. At first they were going to go with Blondie and Brownie, but I refused to be called that so they went with the alternative, “Blackey” and “Whitey”.

3) What sets you apart from other aspiring artists?

I draw from many influences that’s others my age seldom would such as 70’s punk, 80’s thrash metal, with a dash of 50’s rock n roll.

4) What single or project are you currently pushing?

We just completed our video for our new song “All For Nothing,” directed by Jared Belucci, and we are having our release party this Friday. We are all pretty stoked!

5) What is the philosophy by which you live by?

“I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way”- Jessica Rabbit

6) Which artists have inspired you to pursue music?

There are so many, but I would have to say Iggy Pop, Elvis, Freddie Mercury, Etta James, and Bruce Dickinson.

7) Who does most of the songwriting?

As a band, we are all fortunate to contribute in one way of another. We all come from different musical influences and as a result created our unique sound and diverse appeal.

(8) What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry?

The internet creates a tremendous amount of competition, making it difficult to appeal to labels.
In order to push your band a tremendous amount of money is needed as well as contacts you make along the way. In the end we have to find a way to do absolutely everything ourselves,
which is a daunting task.

9) If you could change one thing about the music industry what would it be and why?

In New York and Long Island there is no rock radio for upcoming rock artists. The radio is a
huge appeal to the masses and there is no platform in our hometown to take advantage of.

10) Are there any singers/ bands that you would like to collaborate with in the future?
Iron Maiden, Goldfrapp, Primal Scream, Danzig

11) What producer would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Matt Hyde

12) What is your favorite movie and favorite book?
I am movie freak, so it is really hard to pick just one. Right now my favorite movie would have
to be Vertigo. I’ve been on an Alfred Hitchcock binge. My favorite book would probably be any
kind of food menu.

13) What is your favorite part of your live show? How has it evolved?
I roll around on the floor. I now roll further!!!

14) What is your Lp going to be like?
Currently we are producing E.P.’s to get music out faster to open our time up for more writing,
touring, and face time with our fans.

15) Any final words for the people.
“Run to the hills. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!!!” - U Combo

"Midnight Mob has begun to carve out a niche as the flagship punk rock band of the post CBGB New York underground rock scene." - Village Voice

"Midnight Mob's performance this thursday at Mulchay's left fans frightened as lead singer Blackey channeled ghosts of rock eras passed as rode the stage as a skilled pegaseus jockey would in mythological greece. I am for one greatly excited an wait on pins and needles for the release of their debut album, MYTHOLOGICAL LOVE MACHINE".
- Good Times

"...A throwback to the mid-80s, when hard rock and hair metal dominated the airwaves. Their set made me feel like I was on the L.A Strip in 1986." -Aural Fix 2009 - Aural Fix

You must see these guys live. They are reminiscent of Heart when they rocked the stage, yet different. This was truly one of my top performances of the entire weekend. - That Mag - by Jodie E. Saueraker

Hundreds of bands will be invading more than 50 venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Featured artists include Jane's Addiction, Devo, Dirty South, Robert Delong, Billy Idol, Surfer Blood, We Are Scientists, Cheeky Parade, Face the King, Midnight Mob, Ex Cops, Walking Papers featuring Duff McKagan - 13 ABC

Hundreds of bands will be invading more than 50 venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn We Are Scientists, Cheeky Parade, Face the King, Midnight Mob, Ex Cops, Walking Papers featuring Duff McKagan - Empty Lighthouse Magazine

terrific buncha rockers with a bluesy lead singer and a classic rock metal punk cum mentally sound which matched their through the roof energy - Rock NYC - Iman Lababedi

It's time for the next album sent to us by STP Records’ dear Uncle Stu. Last week it was DragSTER – this time, we’re going for a band we’ve never listened to before from the vast array of unusual artists on the STP roster. Why not? Well, they’re all the way across the Atlantic, so we’ve never seen a show, for a start…

Midnight Mob are one of the relatively few out-of-country connections for STP – based in the writhing, carbon-dioxide spouting metropolis of New York, the group has a dramatic setting for some very, very dramatic music.

The CD’s cover doesn’t reveal much – and not knowing much about the group myself, I was actually quite surprised to hear such a modern sound from our favourite label. Midnight Mob veer straight into heavy, near-cataclysmic sounding rock music and altogether form one of the most powerful sounds we’ve had blaring from an STP Disc.

These Days is a limited edition collection of everything (more or less) that the group had done at the time of release, and, as a result, acts as a sort of introduction to the group for UK audiences. Without further ado, let’s see how they rub off on Cat on the Wall…

Midnight-Mob-These-Days


MIDNIGHT MOB
THESE DAYS

STP Records, 2014
Produced by Maor Appelbaum & Dave Caggiano







Midnight Mob represent a particularly hefty brand of Hard Rock – the vocals, provided by the leather jacket clad femme fatale, Blackey Lor, are strong, seductive and bombastic – throaty and powerful.

The record’s production between Maor Appelbaum Mastering and Dave Caggiano ensures everything is heard clearly, without intrusion. Nothing is distorted or gets in the way of the group’s efforts and nothing is modified into oblivion. It means a fine balance between a very smooth, polished release while maintaining a gnarled sound that you’d expect from any decent touring group.

It’s a record that sounds primed for radio play. A record that can appeal to a vast majority of rock, punk or metal listeners without problem. Not as a safe option, but rather as a testament to multiple influences, interests, habits and creative urges from some very talented people. Rattling riffs, drums being beaten within an inch of their lives and a truly stirring set of vocals make this a very competitive record in a very wide market.

Having never met the group, spoken to them about music, etc, I could be aiming for a complete misfire – but Midnight Mob strike me as a very easy group to fall for. Collectively, they seem like a band shooting for the stars and capable of battling with the best of them, and through some songs that seem more traditional in tone, some violent, hard hitting tracks and one or two that fit roughly in between, they effectively get the opportunity to show their all.

The charisma in Midnight Mob can’t be underestimated.



Stu is well aware that I have no primary knowledge of Midnight Mob – but the beauty of STP Records is not discriminating press from any group. And finding out what the uninitiated think of them. His policy is ‘open press’, and thank goodness for that – it brings many new discoveries!

This band are, at first, a strong departure from what I expect from STP. Musically, I feel I can stand by them being a little ‘different’ – but in terms of attitude? Well, they fit right in. They are not only talented musicians, but they’re that unique sort of anti-establishment figure that captures STP’s collective sensibilities.

There’s something that can appeal to any fan of the heavier side of life in this record – a rare accolade. A go in without fear, come out exhausted sort of record. A sensory overload record that bursts from the woodwork, pins you down and makes you listen to it from start to end. A pleasurable punch in the face. If you’re into that sort of thing.

You can’t complain. Even if you did, they wouldn’t hear you.

How does this introduction to New York’s night time rockers fare for us? Colour us impressed!

Favourite Track: Overdrive. Loud, rambunctious, and perfect to the form of organised chaos that should lead in any great record. - Cat On The Wall Music & Culture Webzine

It’s festival season! As the cold winds die down and the sun starts to peak through, it is a tell-tale sign that thousands will gather in various parts of the world to celebrate music of every genre. I appreciate a good festival. I appreciate the effort the goes behind the organizing of a mutli-day event and I appreciate the talent that gains exposure throughout the duration.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to Seaside Heights to be a part of the Jersey Shore Festival. Yes, Seaside Heights is home to MTV’s The Jersey Shore. It needs to be noted, however, that Snooki did not do it justice. I don’t say that in a bad way. I simply mean there is a beauty within this ocean town. It has the ability to wipe away your stressors and let you enjoy the majestic ocean in a unique way.

The Jersey Shore Festival is run by Indian, Rhyan Sharkey and, from what I can tell, a diverse group of volunteers. We were told about it by our friend John Pfeiffer. It features sponsors such as Coors, Coastal Modular Group, Edelbrook, Sailor Jerry, a bunch of media outlets and many more. The short version is this- it was awesome, I mean truly awesome. I had one of the best weekends that I have had in a while. It’s the perfect formula – the beach, great music, adult beverages, good people and warm weather. How can that be bad?

We arrived on Friday night to torrential downpours. The rain was a bit unusual and eerie in light of the storm tragedies that recently hit the Jersey Shore. Our first stop was the Aztec, a hotel that is frozen in time from decades ago when the Jersey Shore was the premier destination for NYC families. It was perfect. I could have sat in my room and sipped martini’s with Don Draper all day and never missed a beat.

I digress.

During the previous week I had organized my plan of attack to see the bands I wanted to see. That plan immediately dissolved on Friday night because of the rain. It would be impossible for me to mention every band we saw as there were nearly 160 acts but I will mention some that stood out. You can see the full list here: http://www.jerseyshorefestival.com/bands

At EJ’s we got to witness former That Mag radio show guests Midnight Mob. You must see these guys live. They are reminiscent of Heart when they rocked the stage, yet different. This was truly one of my top performances of the entire weekend. Can I pick favorites? I’m not sure but I’m going to anyway. The night was capped off by Pasedena. Admittedly, I had never heard of them but everyone told me they were the band that I needed to see that night. Hailing from Maryland they blew me away. My partner, Ccelli, even agreed that they were someone we needed to continue watching. I realized their crowd was quite large and started chatting it up with some folks. People had driven from all over to see this band. One girl told me her friend sent her the Facebook invite and she immediately hopped in the car to be at the show. One of the things they are known for is their “stage selfie”. The lead singer Joey turns his back to the crowd and someone snaps a photo from the stage. You can see them on their Instagram and the fans find it very memorable.

The next day when we awoke all I could think about was breakfast. You know, those really good shore breakfasts that cost about $10. I found it at Bobber’s Family Restaurant. If you go, ask for Kim, she is the best. After the delicious treats we went straight to see all the vendors lined up on the boardwalk. From one end to the other, folks had their tents lined up selling their wares. I bought a t-shirt and spun the wheel for the NJ State lottery. Ccelli got heckled for not playing any boardwalk games to win me a prize. I enjoyed that. He absolutely should have thrown a dart in a balloon to win me a stuffed animal.

Seaside Heights

Saturday’s music started early for us. Let’s recap some hi-lights. There were two young kids by the Aztec pool in the afternoon who killed it on the guitar. My only regret is not getting their name (more on that later, though). Gina Cutillo sizzled on the stage and rocked a mini leather skirt like I have never seen. Seeing Gina was a recommendation from David Fiorenza, a respected local musician whose opinion I take in high regard. One of the more surprising acts for me was Black Tooth Grin, a punk band from New Jersey. I didn’t really know what to expect because the guitar player stripped down to his boxers on stage. I have to say though I enjoyed their performance and everyone’s head was bobbin’.
Midnight Mob

Midnight Mob

Our good friend Reji B. suggested I check out Midnight Mosaic. I only caught the end of their high energy set, but I will Google to hear more by them. Back inside the Aztec we caught Philadelphia’s own Love Cartel. These four Philly boys performed a more stripped down version of their tracks in comparison to their album, i.e. no horns. These guys rock. Check them out at the TLA on June 4th. #PhillyLove

Ropetree, I was told, was a local favorite so we headed over to Hook’s to check them out. The crowd knew every word which always tells me a band is doing something right. Back at the Aztec, we caught Lower the Veil. I noticed quite a few people with their t-shirts. One of the band’s fans found me and could not stop talking about the greatness I was about to witness. After their set, I agreed. The one song they did, “Soon”, is now on repeat in my iTunes. The night was getting later and we were growing weary. We decided that butterfly fries were in order, so back to Jimbo’s. As I walked in, I heard a base line that caught my attention. I looked to the stage and saw three musicians jamming out. I became completely mesmerized by the finger work they were doing on the neck of the guitar/bass. It was brought to my attention they were from Marlton, New Jersey and go by the name of Black Dirty. Apparently they play in Philly pretty often, but I hadn’t heard of them. My bad! So I bought their album today.
Ropetree

Ropetree

We ended off the night seeing End of an Era. I had to go to new heights to see them, literally. I couldn’t get close to the stage because of screaming fans that had been waiting to see them, so I watched from my balcony. I’m glad I did. I got to see the whole thing. This band had an amazing high energy, engaging performance, and was a band that knew how to work the crowd. I plan on catching up with them more at some point.
End of an Era

End of an Era

Again, there were nearly 200 bands and I’m sorry if I left you out. I did my best to see as many as I could and I can’t wait to return next year. Shout out to Indian and Rhyan!

One thing I would like to note. As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t know the name of the two young kids playing. They were young so I forgive them for this, but if you are a seasoned band please have your name on your drum kit, hang a banner, and say your name a few times throughout your set. Please. We want to know who you are. Also, as I was snapping photos of the bands, I realized I didn’t know their Instagram, Twitter or Facebook names to properly tag them. I had to go home and look them up in order to include them in my social media mentions. No fan will do that, I promise. Make it easy for your fans to find you. Encourage engagement! I will also note that there were only two bands to hand me flyers promoting their show, Paris Under Fire and Stranger Danger. Hats off to you both. At this point and at a festival of this magnitude, everyone should have done that.

The festival continued until Sunday night but Philly called so we had to leave early. All in all, I think the diverse talent was exceptional. This is the place to go to discover your next favorite band. I have a whole new appreciation for Seaside Heights and made some very fond memories. You can see more of my awesome cell phone photos on our facebook page! - Jodie E. Saueraker, That Mag

The 2014 CBGB Music & Film Festival announced the lineup will featured artists include Jane's Addiction, Devo, Dirty South, Robert Delong, Billy Idol, Surfer Blood, and more at one of its free Times Square concert, the grand finale to this annual five-day festival.

On Sunday, October 12, CBGB will host New York City's largest free concert taking over six city blocks from 10:00am to 7:30pm.

Hundreds of bands will be invading more than 50 venues throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn We Are Scientists, Cheeky Parade, Face the King, Midnight Mob, Ex Cops, Walking Papers featuring Duff McKagan are just among some of the others that will take the stage.
- See more at: http://emptylighthouse.com/janes-addiction-talib-kweli-robert-delong-more-be-featured-2014-cbgb-music-film-festival-941070473#sthash.3RA73Ygp.dpuf - Empty Lighthouse Magazine

Photos - Getty Images

On 53rd street I found the first band up Midnight Mob, a terrific buncha rockers with a bluesy lead singer and a classic rock metal punk cum mentally sound which matched their through the roof energy. Lauren the lead singer is their calling card, a pure blast of TNT while most people are struggling through the coffee. In leather jacket and spandex Lauren (actually, Blackey, though she introduced herself as Lauren…) through 30 minutes of riffarama. An outstanding original “My Undead Darling (You Still Haunt Me)” zombied out the very appreciative audience, and it was topped only by a cover of Clutch’s “Electric Worry” which sounded like a blues classic, and then Lauren topped that by jumping into the photographer’s pit. Midnight Mob did themselves nothing but favors. - Iman Lababedi

It’s time for the next album sent to us by STP Records’ dear Uncle Stu. Last week it was DragSTER – this time, we’re going for a band we’ve never listened to before from the vast array of unusual artists on the STP roster. Why not? Well, they’re all the way across the Atlantic, so we’ve never seen a show, for a start…

Midnight Mob are one of the relatively few out-of-country connections for STP – based in the writhing, carbon-dioxide spouting metropolis of New York, the group has a dramatic setting for some very, very dramatic music.

The CD’s cover doesn’t reveal much – and not knowing much about the group myself, I was actually quite surprised to hear such a modern sound from our favourite label. Midnight Mob veer straight into heavy, near-cataclysmic sounding rock music and altogether form one of the most powerful sounds we’ve had blaring from an STP Disc.

These Days is a limited edition collection of everything (more or less) that the group had done at the time of release, and, as a result, acts as a sort of introduction to the group for UK audiences. Without further ado, let’s see how they rub off on Cat on the Wall…

Midnight-Mob-These-Days

MIDNIGHT MOB
THESE DAYS

STP Records, 2014
Produced by Maor Appelbaum & Dave Caggiano







Midnight Mob represent a particularly hefty brand of Hard Rock – the vocals, provided by the leather jacket clad femme fatale, Blackey Lor, are strong, seductive and bombastic – throaty and powerful.

The record’s production between Maor Appelbaum Mastering and Dave Caggiano ensures everything is heard clearly, without intrusion. Nothing is distorted or gets in the way of the group’s efforts and nothing is modified into oblivion. It means a fine balance between a very smooth, polished release while maintaining a gnarled sound that you’d expect from any decent touring group.

It’s a record that sounds primed for radio play. A record that can appeal to a vast majority of rock, punk or metal listeners without problem. Not as a safe option, but rather as a testament to multiple influences, interests, habits and creative urges from some very talented people. Rattling riffs, drums being beaten within an inch of their lives and a truly stirring set of vocals make this a very competitive record in a very wide market.

Having never met the group, spoken to them about music, etc, I could be aiming for a complete misfire – but Midnight Mob strike me as a very easy group to fall for. Collectively, they seem like a band shooting for the stars and capable of battling with the best of them, and through some songs that seem more traditional in tone, some violent, hard hitting tracks and one or two that fit roughly in between, they effectively get the opportunity to show their all.

The charisma in Midnight Mob can’t be underestimated.



Stu is well aware that I have no primary knowledge of Midnight Mob – but the beauty of STP Records is not discriminating press from any group. And finding out what the uninitiated think of them. His policy is ‘open press’, and thank goodness for that – it brings many new discoveries!

This band are, at first, a strong departure from what I expect from STP. Musically, I feel I can stand by them being a little ‘different’ – but in terms of attitude? Well, they fit right in. They are not only talented musicians, but they’re that unique sort of anti-establishment figure that captures STP’s collective sensibilities.

There’s something that can appeal to any fan of the heavier side of life in this record – a rare accolade. A go in without fear, come out exhausted sort of record. A sensory overload record that bursts from the woodwork, pins you down and makes you listen to it from start to end. A pleasurable punch in the face. If you’re into that sort of thing.

You can’t complain. Even if you did, they wouldn’t hear you.

How does this introduction to New York’s night time rockers fare for us? Colour us impressed!

Favourite Track: Overdrive. Loud, rambunctious, and perfect to the form of organised chaos that should lead in any great record.

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Here comes the social media train! Hurrah!

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And don’t forget to visit STP…

www.STPRecords.co.uk - Cat On The Wall - Music And Culture Webzine

My adoring public is already aware of the fact that, for the most part, I’m not really a person that is comfortable in the “nightlife” scenes, due to the fact that I’m a person that has a really bad self-esteem issue. However, when it comes to this blog and the fact that I’ve been doing this, unpaid, for three plus years, I have been known to just ignore my issues and actually enjoy my craft and promote the living hell out of it.

Case in point was last night’s excursion…A last minute “I have an extra ticket” invite which turned out to be very beneficial to this blog…to Revolution Bar & Music Hall in Amityville, New York for the Faster Pussycat/London Quireboys/Midnight Mob (ticket shows all three) show that was held last night.

There were at least 200 heads last night throughout the night (most showed up, to their loss, AFTER the first three acts had rocked the place) and, as usual, the staff and especially the sound department were on point. With the few shows that I’ve covered at the venue, it was pretty much status quo, as there were no incidents that I was aware of.

The first band of the night, an original trio named Phosfate (find them on Facebook), which I had the pleasure of speaking with at the end of their set. These three guys; which consisted of Mike (lead singer/guitar), Joe (drums/backing vocals) and Dave (bass); whose music is obviously new, took to the Revolution stage like they owned it. Performing such rocking tunes as “Wait to Die”, “Conviction”, and “This Burden”, this trio impressed this unpaid blogger with crisp sound and overall interaction.

I would just like to add that, although this blog is (for the most part) a small craft in a huge ocean, when I introduced myself to try to obtain a set list (for informing the masses of their songs), they were humbled enough to not only give me a signed set list but they allowed me the chance to “spread the word” on my hobby with them and, as we writers are supposed to do, gave me the opportunity to write about and promote them!

The second band of this six-band extravaganza was a punk cover band known as Suburban Decay, a quintet of gnarly punk rockers, who covered such hits as “Last Caress”, “No Future” and “(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone” (punk cover of a classic Monkees tune). As with all cover bands, they did perform all their tunes with precision and, with apologies to them, they were an odd change of pace from the norm.

Third on the roster was a Long Island, original band named Midnight Mob, which consisted of two guitarists (founder Mickey Squeeze and Spydyr), a female bassist (Carly Quinn), drummer (known as Beatz) and female lead vocalist (Blackey Deathproof), who have been around since 2009. They performed original tracks, two off their self-titled EP, such as “All for Nothing” and “Be Mine”, and, so my research tells me, are no strangers when it comes to the music scene; they can also be found on Facebook and other media-savvy sites.

They are a beautiful addition to the rock scene (which people have speculated is supposedly dying) and should definitely be checked out, as they really impressed me not only with their wonderful music but with their humility when I asked for some research material. Matter-of-fact, the lead singer was almost downtrodden in informing me that she couldn’t find my requested set list…to me, that was a sign that their interest in my promotion of the band (however small it may be) was genuine! - Dal's Music Note$

I often wonder what the new style of rock music will sound like when my daughter is in her teens and really diving into the music scene. The style changes as every decade comes, and with that a new attitude is brought upon the genre. Maybe this is a sign of getting old, but I just can’t get into a lot of this “new rock” being played all over FM radio and tv. I go down a path less traveled to find new music that meets my rock ‘n’ roll needs. A path that leads me to bands from all over the world many people have yet to discover, and some that are already making a name for themselves just waiting to break out. The band I will be talking about today is one of the latter.

Midnight Mob are a group of rockers from New York that are destined to make it big in the music business. With a sound different from almost every new rock band out there, these guys and gals can win over fans of hard rock, metal, punk, and classic rock after one listen to any of their tunes. From the powerful vocals of frontwoman Blackey Deathproof to the scorching guitar solos from Mickey Squeeze, this band has proven that they’re the real deal.

The music is the perfect blend of madness and attitude, capable of giving you an adrenaline rush that could last an entire day. Let’s start with the guitars; the riffs and solos Squeeze and fellow guitarist Spydyr pump out are insane. You have to go back a couple of decades to hear playing like this. They’re loud, aggressive and have a tone that will make any guitarist jealous. For all you groove nuts out there, you’ll be shaking everything you’ve got after hearing the duo of bassists Carly Quinn and drummer Beatz. The way Beatz pounds on the drums to make his upbeat style flow so smoothly through your speakers is beyond me. Quinn will rattle your bones from head to toe, urging you to get up and dance like you’ve never danced before.

As good as the musicians playing these catchy tunes are, the vocals are what first dragged me into their entrancing rock ‘n’ roll web. Deathproof has a voice that can hold up to any rock vocalists there is, male or female. She sings with soul, power and passion as her raspy voice hits notes high and low, seamlessly weaving her way in and out of the music. The vocal melodies she comes up with will be stuck in your head for days, proving that this girl is more than just another pretty face that knows how to sing.

If you’re on the hunt for something new to revive your rock ‘n’ roll spirit, look no further than Midnight Mob. This band can best be described as controlled chaos, and could possibly be the group to give rock new life in its sedated state. You should all know how to use social media by now, and you should all know that that’s the best way to keep up with all your favorite artists. So why not go ahead and check Midnight Mob out of Facebook, Twitter and Reverbnation; you won’t be disappointed. - Shutter 16 Magazine

Engineered like a major-label endeavor, Midnight Mob's incendiary rock vid 'All For Nothing' is too passionate to be received as bleakly as the title directs, but its small-town pageantry can't disguise an underlying nihilism we can all relate to.' - The Akademia

This crazy story from the road was written by the rock band, Midnight Mob. You can check out their story, after the break.

So two years ago we replaced our original van. We bought a slick black 15 Passenger and dubbed it Glenn Vanzig. One of our first long trips with it was out to Chicago from NYC. What’s great about investing in a 15 passenger extended is that you can throw a hitch on and tow a trailer or take out 2 benches store all the equipment in the van, way better on gas, time and parking but blows on space.

We figured for this trip we’ll take the trailer. The van we bought didn’t have a hitch so we went to U-Haul and got one installed, stopped by the mall for a jack and while driving through the parking lot a stranger needed a jump. We lent a helping hand and we got $20 for being awesome score! We make our way back to the trailer and one of the wheels looks very questionable. We try to replace it with a spare but its rusted on, so we head to a local mechanic he uses his industrial strength tools and gets it off and puts the spare on. We ask how much and dude says $20 cash. Holy crap karma rules!

We pack up and leave at night (best way to leave the city), 5 band and 2 crew. Everyone’s comfortable and we’re cruising way ahead of schedule and going to get to the first venue in Muncie, IN really early with time to get all our bags into a strangers house that was cool enough to have us over plus load into the venue at our own pace. Crew member Anthony has to take a dump and we pull over in OH. Whenever we stop somewhere we always get some attention from the locals. Local one comes through and says you need to fix your trailer asap. He said if you don’t, it will flip. Less than 5 minutes later local 2 comes through and says the same. He said there’s actually a trailer depot the next exit that could help. Crew member Anthony was promoted to St. Anthony.

We get to the trailer depot and they don’t do maintenance but said to go to the hardware place across the street. To get a visual, this town area “main st” is a trailer place, mechanic, hardware shop, drive through liquor store and a taxidermist. All these places are across and next to each other. The hardware place looked at our issue and said go to the mechanic across the street. The mechanic said he’s busy but to the hardware store for a certain part. The hardware place said go to the mechanic. The mechanic was cool enough to put everything aside to inspect it. Hours pass and the mechanic says he could fix it for a couple hundred by tomorrow. We told him that we have a show in a few hours. He said he would buy the trailer off of us and to go to the U-Haul place across the street. Now we’re thinking wtf I didn’t see a U-Haul place. The only two places we haven’t been in this town is the drive through liquor store and the taxidermist. So we go back across the street and walk around the hardware place and we find U-Haul trailers out back, but who rents them? So now it’s like a game of clue.

We go into the hardware place and they tell us to go next store for the trailers. The taxidermist!? We go in and it’s filled with cigarette smoke bears, deer, birds and all sorts of woodland creatures. Surprisingly very soft. No one was at the front desk, but then we heard a voice, “c’mon back”. We go into a back room and there’s a guy there smoking and organizing U-Haul stuff next to dead animals ready to be made presentable again (pet cemetery!). Plenty of heads were also on the wall. The amazing thing was that he could hook us up with a trailer for dirt cheap. We won! We go back to the mechanic and let him know. As soon as we let him know we get a call from the taxidermist that he double booked the trailer and we’re out of luck. We sold the trailer, dumped two back benches and a dolly. Then we loaded all the gear in the van plus ourselves and hauled it to the show. We get to the venue right before we were scheduled to go on, had a great show and made some new fans. We later rewarded ourselves in Chicago with a band nap in a movie theater (cool & spacious), deep dish and then later on a band bought us more deep dish. Totally worth it! Treat your trailer like a car and keep up with regular maintenance. If someone needs to take a dump it could be a blessing in disguise. - Digital Tour Bus

Artist: Midnight Mob
Release: Honest Brutal Glorious
Release Date: March/April 2016
Genre: Hard Rock

Midnight Mob is one of the most memorable hard rock acts to come out of the New York area in recent memory. The band’s unique talents in blending of so many different shades of rock – combined with one of the highest-energy live shows currently on the indie circuit – has always made it stand out among its contemporaries.

The band’s upcoming EP, “Honest Brutal Glorious,” is all three of those things. It is Midnight Mob at its purest and most unapologetic – that is to say, at its best.

Frontwoman Blackey Lor’s vocal performance on “Honest Brutal Glorious” is on-point across the board, and the record serves as a perfect example of what makes her one of the most versatile vocalists in indie rock. She can sing with soul, as she does on the EP’s spirited opening track, “Song for the Damned,” just as well as she delivers powerful angst on a song like “Run for Your Life.” Moreover, she makes it look and sound easy, projecting the convincing swagger that has become her calling card.

In its entirety, the band’s collective ability offers a listening experience that seamlessly demands a wide range of reactions from its fans. Certainly, there are some trademark headbangers on “Honest Brutal Glorious,” but the band doesn’t stop there. The dance rock flair of “Swing On” will surely have audiences stomping and clapping along during live shows, while “Stay,” the album’s stripped-down closing track, is as beautiful as it is haunting, as it tells the tale of a love lost.

“Honest Brutal Glorious” serves as a reminder of what hard rock can be when bands continue to push past old boundaries. Certainly, the members of Midnight Mob have no fear when it comes to challenging themselves, and their hard work pays off with an EP that will surely stand as one of the year’s best.

Track listing:
1. Song for the Damned
2. Run for Your Life
3. Ghosts
4. Black Mamba
5. Swing On
6. Stay - Lehigh Valley Underground

1. Why music out of all the other art forms? What is it about music that makes you tick?

It chose me, really. I didn’t know I could sing until I was in the band. I think because it felt honest. Even if I was unknowingly trying to play a character when we first started, the public feedback was always there, the videos, and recordings. I believe everyone can tell what’s real and what’s an act. I was always so shy and secretive so this was a great outlet to push myself to be honest and truly know how I view the world and myself and what I actually wanted to put out there. Did I actually want to be a character? Acting, play a roll. Drawing and painting, is up for interpretation and doesn’t demand my physical body to express whatever I feel at that exact moment in time. Fronting a band…I’m spilling my guts and forced to be what I am and know if I’m not honest it’s a waste.

2. What is your 5-year plan for your career? How do envision your career and what steps are you taking daily to reach your goal?
I’d love to be traveling with the gang and playing big tours. Continue to push myself and hopefully help people in some way. If I didn’t feel like I could do something positive and be a part of making a difference I don’t think I’d stick with it.

3. What are the main tools you use to promote yourself? What successful strategies have you been implementing to reach the masses?
We use the internet mostly. But or greatest strength is our live show and just meeting people face to face. We’ve come so far just being personable and taking an interest in our fans. We’ve opened many lucrative promotional opportunities by just being friendly and leaving it all on the stage even if it was for 2 people. Go out an support as many bands as possible. Working together with other bands is huge.

4. How many hours do you dedicate to your craft per week?
It’s a full-time job and then some. I have my lazy moments but I ultimately I hear a difference in the sound that comes out of me if I’m not being mindful. My bands kind enough to take care of a lot of the behind the scenes stuff with the internet and reaching out to different companies… So I owe it to them and myself to make sure I’m able to be the best I can be. The modern band is a business and is treated as such. We do what the labels used to do for bands. We do the writing, recording, artwork, promotional stuff, booking, manage social media, build our websites, fulfill the sales orders, reach out to contacts to schedule events etc… You do it because love it, it’s your passion and you believe it.

5. What other artists do you collaborate with regularly? And why?
We haven’t done anything with anyone “regularly” but I’ve sang on my friend Jackson James in Statue of Anne track “Painted Grin” which was an honor. It’s a beautiful somber song and loved trying something new. On our new EP we had Nick Fargo from Mother on our song “Black Mamba”. I wanted to really make the listening feel like they were experiencing something bigger then us all and on some near impossible journey that they triumphed over. Fargo has this epic opera tone when he projects that helped tell the story I was trying to convey. I’m blessed that our New York scene has a lot of talent and creativity. I think working with anyone helps you get outside your comfort zone and grow.

6. The world is connected and you now have access to the globe, which continents you would like to perform for?
Europe would be GREAT. But honestly I’d love to see the US from a bigger stage and get to all the places we haven’t been able to reach yet. Our country has so much cool stuff to see, food to try, parts that got mountains, deserts, forests, plains, freezing, swampy. It’s pretty rad. If we were able to venture outside the US we would be heading to the UK first. There are some great people out there that went out of their way to promote us in an attempt to get us out there. Big shout out to Stu from STP Records.



7. What was the latest place you visited? What have you learned? What did you particularly like about it?
We did a little southeast tour. I love the south. Foods great, people are wonderful, I love the country, and the music scene is awesome. I don’t know if it’s us, but everyone we encounter is so unbelievably nice and helpful. There’s always someone that opens their home to us so we can sleep and shower. It’s a lot of driving, not much sleeping, but at the same time very pleasant. In NC we had a venue cancel on us due to city legal zoning issues, which is extremely rare. Instead of being negative about it we turned it into a positive. The owner met up with us and contacted everyone he knew around town and in other cities. Unfortunately no open shows, but he gave some gas money because he was a good dude. We then hauled it to Charlotte, googled open mics and stopped into a small pub. The result was an awesome fun time, new friends and we sold a ton of merchandise.
On a more personal note I actually went to Africa this past July for a few weeks with a church group. We have been helping set up schools. One in particular making sure the teachers have the things they need along with supplying food, water, and medical supplies for the children and teachers. We are in the process if bringing electricity so they can have two computers. In their education system when you’re in the 8th grade you need to take a test to get into one of the few boarding high schools and if you don’t pass you don’t continue your education. For one thing I loved not having a phone. I learned that children are children no matter what part of the world you’re from. Running after and surprising a bunch of kids is a great way to break the language barrier. How to properly prepare a chicken for dinner and make bread. How extremely tough and awesome African women and the pricelessness of a strong family system. It was very cool for me to be in a majority Christian nation since there was always something to connect over no matter what. One of my fondest memories was painting a school building all day in the hot sun. In the culture I was in this was considered to be a man’s job. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I earned a lot of respect from the men. I was told I was worth MANY cows - I AM PR AGENCY LLC

Hi guys, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
We’ve been awesome! The past few months have been extremely exciting. We finally finished the EP and got a wonderful team behind us. We also just shot the music video for our first single “Swing On” with seriously talented beast of a director Jarett Bellucci and Cinematographer Chris Walters. We’re all if great spirits!

Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Swing On”
Swing on was the last addition to the six songs on the EP and was a real turning point. A week or so before laying down the drums we fiddled around with the main riff, which was from an old song of ours, and it all seemed to just click. Unlike the other songs, “Swing On” seemed to write itself and became the foundation of this EP. It deals with three main part: First, the realization of being a hot mess and needing desperately to change. Second, knowing you’re going to fight for it no matter what it costs in order to be the better person you need to be and silencing all the other negative voices that try to keep you in that mind set that you can’t change and you’ll always be mess. Third verse… a total GLORY! All with the chorus screaming for you to take off the mask, get in the ring, start swinging and never stop.

Did any event in particular inspired you to write this song?
All the songs tell a piece of that story of being completely lost and stuck between the rock and a hard place but wildly determined to come out in a blaze of glory and wanting to encourage the listener that they can do the same. Admittedly I struggled on and off with substances to deal with some dark issues from my youth. I was always running. Truthfully I didn’t realize how in pain I was and how much of a messed up lie I was living till it all came crashing into my face. I knew if I didn’t plunge head first into healing, sobriety, and a relationship with God, it would all be over. I was so blessed to be in my band and have them stand by me through all of it. “Swing On” summed up the past two years of dealing with all that.

The single comes off your new album Honest Brutal Glorious – what’s the story behind the title?
The title “Honest Brutal Glorious” actually came from an interview we did months before we even starting recording. We were describing our live show and how we’ve developed as artists over the years spent in the band. Everyone knows the saying “Sex, Drugs, Rock n ‘Roll” but the band taught us to be better people. Performing what I was writing really made me think about what I wanted to say to the world if I only had one chance to do so. You don’t know how you can affect people. Music is so powerful. Every time we played a show it became a challenge to see the world and ourselves differently. On stage I’d mentally go back into some dark hell hole that inspired the song and find a more “honest, brutal, and glorious” way to climb out. We had two crazy turbulent years and it was a miracle we made it through. “Honest, Brutal, Glorious” was meant to be the title.

How was the recording and writing process?
Grueling but incredible. It was an experience that really bonded us together in the end. At the start of all this everything seemed to be a disaster. We got into an accident and totaled our van, which was our way of touring and getting money to support the band. Then our drummer and founding member of the band decided to leave. I was also overcoming a bunch of personal stuff and getting myself right. As soon as we found Chris Beatz my left vocal chord was partially paralyzed and I had ton of health issues on top of a cyst on my larynx. For weeks I’d attempt to get in the vocal booth and do a take and it just was a heartbreaking nightmare. We had to delay everything months and for a long time I didn’t think I’d be able to sing again. It was insane and I nearly lost my mind. I even tried getting a shot in my throat (SO METAL). BUT once “Swing On” came into the picture we suddenly felt a bit of new life. My health got better and we did a lot of experimenting and all pushed ourselves as musicians and the end result blew everything we envisioned out of the water. Even if this isn’t our big break our bond with each other and dedication to this team was stronger than ever. We finally started to feel like ourselves and the rest of the songs started to REALLY make sense. I didn’t finish the lyrics 100% to most of the songs till I was in the vocal booth. I think having this song and knowing the outcome of the story helped develop the true nature of each individual character we tried to bring out of each song.

Would you call this a spiritual sequel to your previous record or this is standalone new material?
It’s both. We write what we’re going through at the time. We REALLY want it to capture our blood sweat and tears and pour every ounce of it into the listener’s ears (that rhymed, rock!). Anything less just doesn’t feel right. With the second EP “Black Moon” we were confident and found what really made us come alive on stage and tried to cage that wild animal and put it on a recording. Lyrically I kept writing about my weird double life and my knowing there was hope but couldn’t figure out how to really come out of what I was in. “Honest, Brutal, Glorious” is the tale of that journey for all of us.

I can hear some Dead Weather in your music – is that a coincidence or do they play a role in your music? Who would you say are your biggest influences?
That’s an amazing complement. Thank you! I really love their sound and they have an amazing super group line up. But it’s more coincidence. I’ve only gotten to listen to a few of their songs. I’m a sucker for any dirty rocking swampy blues sound. It calls to me in the middle of the night. Alison Mossart had a SICK voice dripping with grit and soul and Jack White really writes a lot of genius music that I can’t help but like and he sounds awesome with her.

Our Influences are all over the place. Led Zeppelin, The clash, Cheap Trick, Etta James, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Johnny Cash, Social Distortion, The Clash

What honest brutal reality got to inspire the songs and lyrics on this album?
Our crazy honest, beautifully brutal, glorious lives. It’s the truth. The lyrics came from our day to day.

What else is happening next in Midnight Mob’s world?
Were always talking about hitting the road. The road has always felt like home for us – a home full of perfect strangers, new experiences, new friends, new family. We will be playing various conferences this year, so stay tuned. Coming up in the near future we are playing the Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA on 2/20/16 at H*MAC. Shortly after that on 2/26 we will be releasing our video for the song “Swing On”. The night we will be having a special release party for it at Drom in NYC. We’re going to rock out with our friends, family & fans then watch the video together. - Vents Magazine

Midnight Mob are gearing up to release their new EP, Honest Brutal Glorious in March, and if their inspirational new single, "Swing On" is anything to go by, it's going to be an explosive release. Meshing a wide variety of influences, from blues and soul to punk and metal, Midnight Mob are one group that you don't want to sleep on. We recently had the chance to chat with vocalist Blackey Deathproof about the new EP, the message behind "Swing On" and the band's already full calendar of upcoming festival appearances this year. - The Prelude Press

New York rockers, Midnight Mob, are kicking ass and for a very good reason. Their music is filled with powerhouse vocals, gritty guitars, and what PureVolume refers to as “bone crunching riffs.” The band have been praised by Guns N’ Roses bassist, Duff McKagen, thanks to their performance at the CBGB Music Festival and they’ve also had songs featured on WWE’s Smackdown. With a new EP, Honest Brutal Glorious, set to be released next month, we wouldn’t be surprised to see more tricks up this band’s sleeve. - Lucy Out Loud

New York-based rockers, Midnight Mob have recently released to brand new singles, as well as, having a new EP on the way. So we decided to catch up with vocalist Blackey Deathproofrom Midnight Mob to catch to them about what they have planned this year!

How are you?
“Fantastic thank you! Excited to be getting out all of our new material and get back on stage.”

You have just released your new single 'Swing On', can you tell me a little bit about the track?

“Sure! ‘Swing On’ was literally the last minute, barely caught the train, addition to the EP. ‘Swing On’ evolved from another original we used to do called ‘Pull The Trigger,’ which you can hear a live version of on our ‘Black Moon Rising’ EP. We were looking to reinvent ‘Pull The Trigger’ and Squeeze got the idea to take the main riff and try it with a groovier drum beat. It worked right off the bat literally a week before we were scheduled to record. The lyrics are personal dealing with my vices, breaking myself down and fighting to rebuild myself back up again. No pain no gain.”

What made you decide to release it as your new single?

“We decided to release it as our first single because we felt it was the catchiest and had the most potential for exposure because it can fit into a few genres. It has a great groove that makes you wanna move, plays well in the hard rock market, touches a metal note as well, but can still has the ability to cross over into the rock country world. ‘Swing On’ we also felt was the glue that bonded this album together and rounded out the music on a whole perfectly.”

You will be releasing your new EP 'Honest Brutal Glorious' this year, can you tell me a little bit about the release?

“Great question! Yes the new EP will be released in late March on all downloading platforms and we will also be selling physical copies through our website at www.MidnightMobFans.com/Shop if that is your fancy. This new EP, ‘Honest Brutal Glorious’, will feature six tracks of high-octane rock n roll, two singles (‘Swing On’ and ‘Ghosts’) and two videos.”

How would you say your new EP will compare to that of your previous releases?

“The biggest difference is that we have a completely different drummer, Chris Beatz. The foundation to every band is your drummer. Chris allowed us to experiment more musically since he had a lot more tools in the toolbox. This led us to be more creative, intricate and complex. We were able to grow into a much more mature songwriting machine. The other big difference was that these songs came about out of utter chaos & turmoil.”

What do you think sets you apart from other bands and artists on the scene?

“I think we’re extremely unique in our makeup. It’s a female fronted four piece that includes a female bass player, and we’re both are respected among other musicians. Our music also is its own thing, only we can have these songs sound the way they do. We inject our own passion and energy into our writing sessions, recording sessions and live performance. Each member lends a unique fingerprint on each song. We are rooted in blues and classic music but keep our arms wide open to embrace modern ideas.”

Tell me one fact about the band that you don't think your fans will know.

“I love Pokémon and know the pokerap.”

Will fans be able to see you live anytime soon?

“For sure! Here are the near future confirmed dates so far:

3/4: Connie’s Ric Rac, Philadelphia, PA

3/26: Bull Shooters Saloon, Philadelphia, PA
“We’re always adding dates so feel free to stop by www.MidnightMob.com for all show/news updates.”

What are you most excited for this year?
“We’re really excited to see what doors this new EP opens for us. Already the new EP got us added to one of the main stages at the Launch Music Conference & Festival in April and we were also added to the Fashion Meets Music Festival in September.”

Describe the band in three words.
“Honest Brutal Glorious” - Shou It Out Loud Reviews

With Comparisons to JOAN JETT AND THE RUNAWAYS, Rock Band, MIDNIGHT MOB Discusses Their Upcoming EP “Honest Brutal Glorious”, Their Biggest Inspirations and Much More!
Posted On 02 Mar 2016
By : Leah Adams
Comment: 0
Tag: All Access, All Access Music Group, Artist Interview, Beatz, Black Moon Rising, Blackey Deathproof, Brody Dalle, Carly, Carly Quinn, Catastrophe, CBGB Music Festival, Cheap Trick, Cherie Currie, Chris Beatz, clutch, Dirty Peaks, Duff McKagan, Gramery Theatre, Guns N Roses, Honest Brutal Glorious, Iggy Pop, Jane's Addiction, Janis Joplin, Joan Jett, Johnny Cash, Lemmy, Like You're Made of Stone, Mickey Squeeze, Midnight Mob, Motley Crue, Motorhead, New York, NY Dolls, Pink, Pink Floyd, Pledge Musis, Social Distortion, Squeeze, Swing On, The Clash, The Dead Boys, The Distillers, The Runaways, The Supersuckers, The Wildhearts, These Days, Times Square, WWE Smackdown


Midnight Mob MotelThe New York based powerhouse rockers in Midnight Mob have staked their claim at the intersection of punk, metal, blues, and soul.
Vocalist Blackey Deathproof, guitarist Mickey Squeeze, bassist Carly Quinn, and drummer Beatz flawlessly blend classic rock influences with modern day inspirations to create something beautifully reckless.
Having already impressed the likes of Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan with bewitching live performances at the CBGB Music Festival and songs featured on WWE Smackdown, Midnight Mob is set to rock the world one riff at a time.
To date, the Mob has released two EPs – 2011’s self-titled debut and 2013’s Black Moon Rising - in addition to 2014’s full-length album These Days. Stay tuned for the band’s Honest Brutal Glorious EP, set to drop in 2016.
Midnight Mob Online:
instagram.com/MidnightMob101
Soundcloud.com/MidnightMob
Youtube.com/TheMidnightMob
Facebook.com/MidnightMob
twitter.com/MidnightMob101
Here’s the video to their newest single, “Swing On”:
Learn more about Midnight Mob in the following All Access interview here:
Thanks for your time today! So, how’s 2016 been treating the band so far? What were some of the highlights of 2015?
Anytime! We love talking about music. This year has been really amazing. All of our hard work over the past 2 years is finally coming to fruition. The first single, “Swing On”, was released on 1/21, the video for the single was filmed and will be released on 2/26, the new EP, Honest Brutal Glorious, will be released late March plus we have a bunch of festivals in the works and it is all supported by a killer team!
The biggest highlight of 2015 was finishing recording our new ep and exceeding our PledgeMusic goal, which was at 121%. Our PledgeMusic campaign funded our recordings and was supported from fans all over the US and in Europe. It was an achievement that makes everything worthwhile.
How do you think your sound has changed since you first formed in 2009? What has stayed the same?
In the beginning we weren’t really sure what our focus was. The band originally bonded over more classic style rock n roll, which our first and second ep’s had more of. Overtime we found more influence introducing different styles of rock n roll and push our musical boundaries a bit more. One of the new tracks is a punk track with a reggae bridge if you can picture that, but it works seamlessly. Another track has a punk rock vibe then transitions into dance beats which is followed by Sabbath style outro. After all is said in done the first single is a disco metal track that can cross many genres even into heavier country. Even though we branched out and experimented a bit, we still have the same high energy, big vocals, guitars, bass, drums, same attitude towards quality and most importantly it comes off real and genuine.
How did you all first come together and form Midnight Mob? How did you come up with the band name? What other names were you considering?
This is a long story full of crazy coincidences and side stories, but here it is in a nutshell. Squeeze was giving guitar lessons at a local music store, which unfortunately bit the dust. I was his guitar student. Catastrophe, our original drummer, gave drumming lessons at the same place. They bonded over Mötley Crüe and started jamming. Catastrophe and I had some mutual school friends. I was dating one of these mutual school friends who fronted a band. I did backing vocals for this band from time to time. Catastrophe noticed me and asked if I was interested in joining a project he was doing. During this project is where I found my voice. Squeeze was part of that project originally but split because it was really cheesy. Not long after I graduated from backing vocals to lead vocals. At the same time Catastrophe named the project, Midnight Mob, after a lyric that was in one of the producer’s songs, whom was heading this project. The project soon fell through, but the name, Midnight Mob, stuck.
Catastrophe & Squeeze reunited this time with me as the singer. Catastrophe found Carly (bassist) through a fan of his former band. There was a day where we tried to come up with other band names, but we really didn’t and Midnight mob was official. Chris Beatz filled the drummer seat years later.
You’ve been compared to Joan Jett and The Runaways. Would you agree with that comparison?
I can definitely see the physical resemblance and that’s always extremely flattering comparison. She was a very big part of flying the flag that women can hold their own in a male dominated arena so she gets a serious rock salute. But I think the comparison doesn’t really go any further than the physical. I tried playing guitar but totally failed at that. Vocally I have been also compared to Brody Dalle, Janis Joplin and Pink, which I think is more me.
On a side note Joan Jett is really sweet. We played with Cherie Currie (Runaways) & Joan came to the show. We talked with both of them for a while, really cool.
What was the inspiration for your newest single, “Swing On”?
Each song tells a piece of a story of being “buried alive” overcoming your almost expected demise then realizing it’s not all over so you fight, never giving up and punching your way to the surface grasping that glorious high of beating the odds. Growing up I had my vices with substances to deal with some dark issues. Like everyone else’s story, it was a band aid that wasn’t coming close to holding me together. Eventually I realized all the pain I was in and all the lies I was putting out there until emotionally one day I couldn’t get up. This was it, this was my fight, live or die. So I swung harder than I have ever swung and didn’t stop until I was sure it was over and I could move on. “Swing On” was about the final two years of that journey.
When do you plan on releasing your forthcoming EP, “Honest Brutal Glorious”?
The plan is to release Honest Brutal Glorious on all platforms March 25, 2016. For all those hardcore old school souls out there interested in a physical cd you can purchase that from our store at www.MidnightMobFans.com/Shop on the same day. Who knows we may even put a promo code out there for those on the mailing list?!
You’ve been performing a lot this month! What’s been a favorite show? Where are you excited to play at next?
That would definitely be our show NYC show at Gramercy Theatre supporting the Dirty Pearls. That same night for one night only people could buy a physical copy of Honest Brutal Glorious. It was a sold out Saturday night filled with so much love for us. It was truly incredible. Fans came from NJ, PA, CT and upstate NY for the event. on 2/26, we celebrated the release of the video for “Swing On” at Drom in NYC.
What bands have continued to inspire you and the group’s music? Who would you love to work with one day?
We’re inspired by: The Clash, Social Distortion, Iggy Pop, Motorhead, Johnny Cash, The Distillers, Cheap Trick, The Wildhearts, Pink Floyd, NY Dolls, Iggy Pop, The Supersuckers, Clutch, The Dead Boys
We would have loved to work with Motörhead. Motörhead really embodied the stick to your guns do what you love mentality. They made timeless rock n roll that combined punk, metal, blues and a whole lot of soul. Over the years we have encountered countless people namedropping artists that they have worked with looking to change us into what’s “popular” and make us the next biggest thing. Motörhead & Lemmy’s philosophy has kept it real for us and is a true testament to put your head down and keep pushing forward. If it’s from the heart and what you bleed for, you’ll succeed. In the words of Lemmy, “Stand- you can make it, Stand- you can take it, Stand- realize that nobody can break you, Stand- Like You’re Made of Stone”.
Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has been vocal about being impressed with your live show. What did that feel like?
Amazing! We had no idea Duff was around until we finished our set, which was NYC Times Square opening for Jane’s Addiction as part of the CBGB Music Festival. He was even on the stage right before we played in the background and we had no idea. You can see him in the back of some of our photos. Afterwards I approached him and we took a picture. He basically gave me a ton of positive feedback about our set. Months later a friend of mine was at his book signing and she asked if he remembered us. He totally did our set time and everything and said we were great. It feels really good to have that assurance, that proof we are good enough.
What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?
To not be afraid and they’re not alone. I hope it inspires people to take a deeper look at themselves and the world and believe they can make changes. I believe the truth sets people free and no matter how dark the subject matter I’m speaking about in a song, I always want there to be hope in it. I don’t want to sing a song about being victorious without conveying that it takes sacrifice, pain, and letting go of what makes you comfortable. Gotta leave something behind to get further, yah know? I get stronger every time even on the rough days when I want to give up and have a hard time feeling it. …it always pulls the truth out. You can never move forward without the truth and forcing yourself to be honest and getting out of your comfortable dark bubble…It will be brutal and at times you’ll feel like your gonna want to die and its not worth the sacrifice to get there. Some times it means letting go of what we love most…..But in the end, it’s Glorious. - All Access Music

Interview with rock n roll band Midnight Mob, lots of very interesting answers and incredible stories! These New York natives will be hitting Philly twice within the next month on March 4th and March 26th. Keep an eye on www.MidnightMob.com for more US dates coming soon!

How long have you been a band and how did you get started?

We have been rocking for 7 years and got started in our former drummer’s garage. The hub of where we all met was centered around a local music store where Squeeze and our former drummer gave music lessons. In 2014 the current version of the band began. Seeing Chris Beatz sit in on drums to help out our friend’s band on New Year’s Eve ignited the current Midnight Mob lineup. Blackey and Carly went down to a local rock club’s New Years Eve party, saw Chris play and instantly were intrigued. At this time we were trying out various drummers. They exchanged numbers and as early as March he played his first show with us in NYC and is still throwing down the beats.



How would you describe your sound?

We tossed some rock n roll in a pot with old school metal. Then we put it in a slow cooker with Blues for 24hrs. Next we put it in a punk rock blender, added some rockabilly. Slapped it in a bowl sprinkled some soul on top and served it with a tall glass of your nana’s swampy country lemonade. All while your grungy cousin makes arm pit farts right next to you…and still cracks himself up.



Tell us about the Honest Brutal Glorious EP! (how the writing process was, vision for the album, differences from prior releases etc.)

The making of this EP will be seared into our memories forever. The first demos were literally being recorded in 2013. We totaled our van and our drummer left that year. We were left in the weeds just as our touring was finally starting to pay off. Fans were coming out to our shows in all these different states, we were starting to demo new material and then all of a sudden all our momentum was gone. We couldn’t book shows and we couldn’t find a drummer that did any justice to the music. While we were drummerless we decided to continue demoing new material with a drum machine and rewrite previous material acoustically. Basically the entire foundation of the EP was a product of our time without a drummer. All we knew was that we weren’t giving up and that blood was to be drawn for this new music to come out. We all agreed that this new EP would be more intense musically & lyrically than our previous releases. Throughout this period I was also working on my sobriety (3years this year) and personal relationships with those that weren’t feeling my sobriety. To add the cherry on top I managed to damage my vocal chords. A vocal specialist told me I couldn’t record for 3 months and at this time basically all of the music was already recorded. There was so much frustration and anxiety about everything but we all saw it as everything happens for a reason and it will get done when it’s done. At the same time we had no money to even to do the recordings we were doing. We were hardcore banking on that we would reach our goal on PledgeMusic. If it’s meant to be it’s meant to be. We matured so much as a band going through all of this stuff and it made us stronger. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Which song on the EP resonates with you the most and why?
It would be a toss up between “Swing On” and “Black Mamba”. "Swing On" was a last minute addition to the EP that came together a week before we started recording. Unlike the other songs, it practically wrote itself and became the happy triumphant ending to the story we were telling with the first 5. It was the concrete that held our rock n roll brick house together.

"Black Mamba" is the blood, sweat, tears, soul, sacrifice, and that fire inside you to conquer the impossible. This was the most physically challenging song to sing and demanded I take my vocal abilities to a higher level. At the time I was still healing from vocal problems and could barely be the singer I used to be let alone a better singer I needed to be in order to pull this monster off . I can’t describe what it felt like to go through that nightmare and then nail this song. It was so magnificent and deeply humbling.



Is there a story behind your latest single, “Swing On”?
It’s about becoming the person you’re meant to be. It’s in story order. First verse is about knowing you got to change and even if you don’t really believe in yourself you have no choice but to go for it. The second verse is when you’re gaining some confidence in that you did the right thing but you’re sad you have to leave certain people behind and still fight off the voices telling you you’re a loser. Last verse is when you become a total warrior and do a victory dance all while the chorus it tell you from the start to take off your mask, stop hiding and start fighting. That’s kind of what the last two years in the band was like for each of us in our own way.



I see you’ll be hitting Philly in early March! Do you plan on playing new songs at these upcoming shows? & any plans to tour soon?

Yes we will actually be doing two shows in March in Philly. On 3/4 we’ll be at Connie’s Ric Rac and on 3/26 we’ll be rockin’ Bull Shooters Saloon. Both of these shows will feature new tracks off of Honest Brutal Glorious. We will definitely be touring this year, which we can’t wait for. We are confirmed for Fashion Meets Music Festival in OH, Big Lick Festival in VA, Dewey Beach Music Conference in DE and Launch Music Conference in PA later this year. Other dates are in the works spanning all over the US.

What can fans expect to see from you in the near future?
The near future is going to be awesome! We are releasing the video for “Swing On” in February, we are releasing a video for the song “Ghosts” in March and last but not least our new ep, Honest Brutal Glorious, will be released in late March and available on all download platforms. We will be posting all our updates at www.MidnightMob.com. Come by take a peek and never miss out! - Spotlight Views