Defined as “the long-awaited answer to bro-country that so many have pined to hear played once again on country radio,” the Dripping Springs, Texas-based band Midland took the country music industry by storm in 2017. The trio consists of Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach, and Jess Carson. They signed with Big Machine Records, releasing their debut LP entitled “On the Rocks” to critical acclaim. Fans followed and industry insiders critiqued, but the truth is image and chops don’t make the music. Their hit style and huge following come from a carefully cultivated mixture of talent and excellent music taste.
Their album “On the Rocks” sounds something like a dancehall standard from the ’80s, a throwback which we generally don’t approve of unless you’re referencing one of the greatest times in country and western music. The album is loaded with amazingly mellow harmonies juxtaposed against the harsh realities of life on the road, broken hearts, and the general angst a country music song is often mocked for actually having in the first place. It all works phenomenally well for Midland.
