Midnight Strangers
"…combination of the Kooks and the Doors. Frontman Chris Swimley’s vocals e… Read Full Bio ↴"…combination of the Kooks and the Doors. Frontman Chris Swimley’s vocals evoke echoes of classic Morrison, minus most of the psychedelia and plus a heaping handful of modern-day wit.” The Owl Magazine
Musicians are essentially strangers you encounter late at night in a bar, some might call them “midnight strangers”, which is exactly how this San Francisco band adopted their moniker.
Retro new wave music wrapped in enticing vocals, while layered over ripping guitars and synths, the Midnight Strangers produce rock music that represents the struggle to form connections with others. The track “Strangers” reflects lead singer, Chris Swimley’s observation of himself and others at shows. He states, “We are all longing to feel the emotions and sense of connection we feel when we listen to music. Music is really just musicians attempting to express their emotions through their songs. And though the bands who play these songs are complete strangers to us, when the music is done well, it’s like we’re living a first person experience of the emotions of others. We connect at the deepest level. The connection is so strong that it compels to join in and sing along. That is what I love most about music.”
When Swimley first ventured into the music industry, the outcome was Modern Delusions, an album that led him to win “Best Male Alternative Vocalist of the Year” at the 2007 L.A. Music Awards. After nearly completing his third solo album, Days Of Decadence, Swimley decided to expand his project and added friends Anthony Petrocchi (drums) and Rob Pera (guitar) to the line-up. Inspired by bands such as the Killers and U2, the music of Midnight Strangers combines a bit of electronic instrumentation with a solid mix of drums, bass, and guitar for what they call a “retro new wave” genre.
The addition of Petrocchi and Pera allowed Swimley to translate the live versions of the songs into a heart pumping, energy driven live show. Along with a colorful eye-catching projection movie that is played over the band, there are drum and guitar solos not found on the album. The live show is a unique performance that you can’t experience by just listening to the CDs or watching the videos.
The newest album, Days Of Decadence, contemplates modern society’s ability to basically acquire anything we desire instantly. The idea that America and other wealthy nations are literally being driven insane by a manufactured appetite for endless amounts of stimulus and possessions is the main concept behind the album. Swimley’s stint of living in Los Angeles involved watching people around him struggle with this affliction and wrestling with the issue himself. This experience opened his eyes to the delusion people had regarding their decadent lifestyles. Swimley recalls, “In the effort to appear successful and wealthy, people we’re literally spending themselves into bankruptcy. Their lives were a constant state of stress and despair because of the overwhelming and unsustainable debt they had acquired. Yet they would do nothing to alter their spending habits and instead the only continued to further immerse themselves in their false reality.”
Swimley reflects on the album stating, “The thing that excites me the most is that it really moves me. This album is definitely much more modern and up-tempo then the last. It was designed with the live performance in mind, so it is my hope that the songs create an excitement to see them performed live. I wanted to create an album that was full of energy and dynamics but that a message too. I hope it moves others as much as it moves me.”
Musicians are essentially strangers you encounter late at night in a bar, some might call them “midnight strangers”, which is exactly how this San Francisco band adopted their moniker.
Retro new wave music wrapped in enticing vocals, while layered over ripping guitars and synths, the Midnight Strangers produce rock music that represents the struggle to form connections with others. The track “Strangers” reflects lead singer, Chris Swimley’s observation of himself and others at shows. He states, “We are all longing to feel the emotions and sense of connection we feel when we listen to music. Music is really just musicians attempting to express their emotions through their songs. And though the bands who play these songs are complete strangers to us, when the music is done well, it’s like we’re living a first person experience of the emotions of others. We connect at the deepest level. The connection is so strong that it compels to join in and sing along. That is what I love most about music.”
When Swimley first ventured into the music industry, the outcome was Modern Delusions, an album that led him to win “Best Male Alternative Vocalist of the Year” at the 2007 L.A. Music Awards. After nearly completing his third solo album, Days Of Decadence, Swimley decided to expand his project and added friends Anthony Petrocchi (drums) and Rob Pera (guitar) to the line-up. Inspired by bands such as the Killers and U2, the music of Midnight Strangers combines a bit of electronic instrumentation with a solid mix of drums, bass, and guitar for what they call a “retro new wave” genre.
The addition of Petrocchi and Pera allowed Swimley to translate the live versions of the songs into a heart pumping, energy driven live show. Along with a colorful eye-catching projection movie that is played over the band, there are drum and guitar solos not found on the album. The live show is a unique performance that you can’t experience by just listening to the CDs or watching the videos.
The newest album, Days Of Decadence, contemplates modern society’s ability to basically acquire anything we desire instantly. The idea that America and other wealthy nations are literally being driven insane by a manufactured appetite for endless amounts of stimulus and possessions is the main concept behind the album. Swimley’s stint of living in Los Angeles involved watching people around him struggle with this affliction and wrestling with the issue himself. This experience opened his eyes to the delusion people had regarding their decadent lifestyles. Swimley recalls, “In the effort to appear successful and wealthy, people we’re literally spending themselves into bankruptcy. Their lives were a constant state of stress and despair because of the overwhelming and unsustainable debt they had acquired. Yet they would do nothing to alter their spending habits and instead the only continued to further immerse themselves in their false reality.”
Swimley reflects on the album stating, “The thing that excites me the most is that it really moves me. This album is definitely much more modern and up-tempo then the last. It was designed with the live performance in mind, so it is my hope that the songs create an excitement to see them performed live. I wanted to create an album that was full of energy and dynamics but that a message too. I hope it moves others as much as it moves me.”
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Midnight Strangers Lyrics
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