Midlake

Midlake is a folk rock and indie rock group from Denton, Texas, in the United States. It forms in 1999 and remains active. The band first gains wider attention in Europe.

Formation and early sound

Midlake begins at the University of North Texas, where a group of jazz students starts playing together. Their first work appears under the name The Cornbread All-Stars and focuses on funk and jazz improvisation, with strong influence from Herbie Hancock. The group later moves toward indie rock. Tim Smith stops playing saxophone and starts writing songs shaped by artists such as Jethro Tull, Radiohead, Travis, and Grandaddy.

The original line-up consists of Tim Smith on vocals, guitars and keyboards; McKenzie Smith on drums; Paul Alexander on bass; Eric Nichelson on guitar; and Evan Jacobs on keyboards. Jacobs later leaves, and Nichelson moves to keyboards. Jason Upshaw joins on guitar, and then Eric Pulido replaces him on guitars shortly before the debut EP Milkmaid Grand Army is recorded. The band later settles into the line-up of Tim Smith, Paul Alexander, Evan Jacobs, Eric Nichelson, Eric Pulido and McKenzie Smith.

Albums and releases

Midlake’s debut album, Bamnan and Slivercork, is released in 2004. It is recorded at home in Denton and mastered at Abbey Road Studios. The record shifts the band further toward lo-fi psychedelic electronica and draws on influences including Grandaddy and The Flaming Lips. Jason Lee produces and directs the video for “Balloon Maker” and continues to support the band.

The band’s second album, The Trials of Van Occupanther, is completed after nearly a year and a half of recording and re-recording and receives generally positive reviews. Its third album, The Courage of Others, follows, and its sleeve pays homage to Andrei Rublev, the 1966 film by Andrei Tarkovsky.

In 2013 Midlake releases Antiphon, with Eric Pulido taking lead vocals. The album appears on ATO Records in North America and Bella Union in Europe. The fourth album also includes backing vocals from Alexander, Chandler and McClellan. In 2022 the band releases For the Sake of Bethel Woods on ATO Records in North America and Bella Union in Europe.

Recent activity

The group later announces A Bridge to Far and releases its first single, “The Ghouls.”