JAN/FEB 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT Chris Carroll

Bil Zelman McKenzie Smith, Eric Pulido, Eric Nichelson, Tim Smith, Paul Alexander Slow and steady wins the race for this indie breakout band

AFTER EXPLORING CLASSIC-ROCK this is the vibe for the . If we can make infl uences like Fleetwood Mac and Crosby, every song as good as this, we’ll have made Stills & Nash on their breakthrough album, something we’re really proud of.’ That was 2006’s The Trials of Van Occupanther, the the turning point.” members of Midlake wanted a new direction. Smith wrote all the songs, then fl eshed They found it in the folk-based tradition of them out with the rest of the band. “I write vintage British acts such as Steeleye Span alone, usually,” he says. “I like to be in a mericana Music and Fairport Convention—then set to the comfortable place—my house, preferably. I A long, arduous task of making that sound don’t like any turmoil or anything going on in Festival & Conference work for them. my life. The last thing I want to do is pick up September 8-11, 2010 . Nashville, TN “It took time to learn how to play together a guitar when things are going badly.” JAN/FEB 2010 as a band in that way,” acknowledges singer, While the songs on Van Occupanther MAttention MUSIC & MUSICIANS guitarist and keyboardist Tim Smith. “The fi rst were rooted in an observational, third-person year was a learning process for us. Then the point of view, is ArtistsMAGAZINE and Bands second year we got our fi rst song recorded, more direct. “I don’t remember setting out Now Accepting Music Submissions and it all happened after that.” with some purpose in mind. I just started through Sonicbids.com! The result is The Courage of Others, a writing,” says Smith. “I didn’t mean for it to stunning return featuring 11 startlingly vital be as much in the fi rst-person perspective Four Days, Over 100 Artists songs that emphasize the Texas band’s as it was. Our previous album was about careful arrangements and Smith’s tuneful, other characters and things, and this one is "the coolest music scene today" understated voice. Although fi nding the right a bit more personal to me. But it wasn’t a NY Times direction was a long process, the album conscious thing.” Act Now and Save! came together relatively quickly by Midlake’s Midlake plans to spend much of 2010 Huge Savings on Festival wristbands and painstaking standards, starting with the song on the road, a relief after having been locked Full Conference Badges “Acts of Man.” away in the studio for much of the past two Join us at the next “That song was written and recorded in years. “We’re a better band now, so it was Americana Music Festival and Conference September 8-11, 2010 fi ve days, which is really quick for us,” Smith worth it,” Smith says. “We wanted to be in Nashville, Tennessee says. “That never happens—and it was really happy with the album.” DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS nice. We listened back and thought, ‘Wow, –Eric R. Danton For more information contact www.americanamusic.org or call 615.386.6936

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