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Midland (band)

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Midland
Midland at the New York State Fair in 2019
Background information
OriginDripping Springs, Texas, U.S.
Genres
Years active2014–present
LabelsBig Machine
Members
Websitemidlandofficial.com

Midland is an American country music group formed in 2014 in Dripping Springs, Texas. The group members are Mark Wystrach (lead vocals, guitar), Jess Carson (guitar, vocals), and Cameron Duddy (bass guitar, vocals). Through Big Machine Records, the band has released two EPs, their self-titled EP and The Last Resort. They have released four studio albums, On the Rocks, Let It Roll, The Last Resort: Greetings From and Barely Blue, which have accounted for seven charted singles on the Billboard country chart: "Drinkin' Problem", Burn Out", "Make a Little", "Mr. Lonely", "Cheatin' Songs", "Sunrise Tells the Story" and "Longneck Way to Go". Midland's musical style is known as neotraditional country.

History

[edit]
Mark Wystrach in 2018

The band Midland was formed in Dripping Springs, Texas. The trio met separately around Los Angeles, where Jess Carson and Cameron Duddy were in a number of bands through a number of years.[2] After Carson left L.A., Duddy and Mark Wystrach met and formed a country-rock band called The Young Whiskey.[3] The trio met up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for Cameron Duddy's wedding in August 2013; both Wystrach and Carson acted as groomsmen.[4] As Duddy recalls the story, Carson and Wystrach arrived in Jackson Hole for the wedding a week early. After playing songs together on the front porch of Carson's cabin, they proposed starting a project together. Six months later, in January 2014, Duddy called Carson and Wystrach to suggest that they record some songs,[3] and they went to the Sonic Ranch recording studio in El Paso, TX to record for 10 days. As stated by Mark Wystrach, "when we went to the Sonic Ranch, we became a band. We walked away believing in what had happened."[5][6] Wystrach and Duddy then both moved with their families to Texas where Jess Carson lived.[7] They named the band after a song by Dwight Yoakam that was called "Fair to Midland".[8]

Mark Wystrach grew up surrounded by music as his parents were both fans of live music. His parents owned a country music venue. In addition to being a lead singer, frontman Wystrach is also an actor and model. Wystrach was signed to IMG Models. [9][10]

Jess Carson in 2019

Jess Carson grew up on a farm in Oregon where the main genre was country music. His sister and father were musicians, so he started playing guitar. [11][12]

Cameron Duddy in 2019

Cameron Duddy started playing music after a difficult situation in his family; he found that music helped to lessen the tension, saying, "Sometimes you don't get to talk about all the things that you maybe want to talk about and the ice breaker started to be music." Duddy got his first guitar from his father; it helped him to find his identity for becoming a musician.[12]

Duddy is also a music video director; he won an MTV Video Music Award for "Locked Out of Heaven" by artist Bruno Mars.[13] He has directed over 20 music videos in his career, working with several top artist.

Midland's first song, "Fourteen Gears", was around 2015. The song, according to Duddy, was "another one of the early moments that defined and solidified the band."[14][15]

2016–present

[edit]

On March 9, 2016, the trio signed to Big Machine Records and released the Midland EP featuring their debut single, "Drinkin' Problem", which charted on Billboard's Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay. The band wrote the song with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, the former of whom also produced it.[16] Duddy directed the song's music video.[17] Their debut album On the Rocks was released in September 22, 2017, produced by Dann Huff, Josh Osborne, Shane McAnally. Midland released "Make a Little" as the second single.[18] "Burn Out" as the third single and it was released in late 2018.[19]

Midland was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2018: Grammy Award for Best Country Song and Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, both for "Drinkin’ Problem".[20] Midland won at the 2018 ACM Awards for best New Vocal Group of the year. Midland released the single "Mr. Lonely" in February 2019 as the leadoff single to their second album.[21] Midland released "Cheatin' Songs" in August of 2019 as the second single to the album. The album, Let It Roll, was released on August 23, 2019.[22] The band began a tour in June in support of the album.[23] In 2019 Midland's album On the Rocks was certified Gold by the RIAA.[24] "Drinkin' Problem" is also certified 5x platinum.

In February 2020 Midland launched three expressions of their own tequila, called "insõlito".[25] In March 2021, Midland released an album titled The Sonic Ranch, which served as the soundtrack for the documentary film on their origin story, focusing on their first recording session at The Sonic Ranch in 2014.[26][27] On July 16, 2021, Midland released their latest EP, The Last Resort, which hit Number 47 on the Billboard Album Sales Chart.[28] The band followed the EP with their third studio album titled The Last Resort: Greetings From, released on May 6, 2022.[29] They released "Sunrise Tells the Story" as the first single, and the second single was released in late 2022 titled "Longneck Way to Go".

Midland released their fourth studio album on September 20, 2024 titled Barely Blue, the album consist of eight songs and was produced by nine-time Grammy Award winner Dave Cobb. Rolling Stone rated Barely Blue one of the top 30 best country and americana albums of 2024. Vulture.com listed the title track "Lucky Sometimes" as one of the best songs of 2024.

Band members

[edit]
  • Mark Wystrach – lead vocals, guitar
  • Jess Carson – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Cameron Duddy – bass guitar, vocals

Touring musicians

  • Luke Cutchen – lead guitar
  • Phillip Sterk – steel guitar, harmonica
  • Jeff Adamczyk – organ, piano
  • John Wood – drums

Past touring musicians

  • Robbie Crowell – drums

Style and influences

[edit]

Rolling Stone said that "the Texas-based band blend their voices to produce country music that recalls a mix of George Strait, Urban Cowboy and Seventies yacht rock."[30] Billboard describes the band's sound as "a definite George Strait '80s New Traditionalist feel to it, combined with the rich California harmonies that made The Eagles legendary."[31] Midland also is known for their unique dressing style, very similar to the original "Nudie suits" designed by Nudie Cohn.[32] Vogue called Midland both heartthrobs and fashion risk takers."[33]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
US
[34] 		US Country
[35] 		AUS
[36] 		CAN
[37][38] 		UK
[39] 		UK Country
On the Rocks 20 2 — 45 — 8
Let It Roll
  • Release date: August 23, 2019
  • Label: Big Machine
 16 1 72 37 75 1
The Last Resort: Greetings From[42]
  • Release date: May 6, 2022
  • Label: Big Machine
 — 37 — — — 1
Barely Blue
  • Release date: September 20, 2024[43]
  • Label: Big Machine
 — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

[edit]
Title Album details
Live from the Palomino[44]
  • Release date: February 28, 2020
  • Label: Big Machine

Soundtrack albums

[edit]
Title Album details
The Sonic Ranch
  • Release date: March 19, 2021[45]
  • Label: Big Machine

Extended plays

[edit]
Title EP details Peak chart positions Sales
US Country
[35] 		US
Heat
[46]
Midland
  • Release date: October 28, 2016
  • Label: Big Machine
 38 18
The Last Resort
  • Release date: July 16, 2021
  • Label: Big Machine
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

[edit]
Year Title Peak chart positions Sales Certifications Album
US
[48] 		US
Country
[49] 		US
Country
Airplay
[50] 		CAN
[51] 		CAN
Country
[52]
2017 "Drinkin' Problem" 45 4 3 98 1 On the Rocks
"Make a Little" —[A] 23 15 — 12
2018 "Burn Out" 63 11 3 — 29
2019 "Mr. Lonely" — 31 23 — 32 Let It Roll
2020 "Cheatin' Songs" — 41 26 — 48
2021 "Sunrise Tells the Story" — — 42 — — The Last Resort: Greetings From
2022 "Longneck Way to Go"
(with Jon Pardi) 		— — 52 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Notes

  1. ^ "Make a Little" did not enter the Hot 100, but peaked at number 21 on Bubbling Under Hot 100, which acts as a 25-song extension of the Hot 100.[55]

Music videos

[edit]
Year Video Director
2017 "Drinkin' Problem"[17] Cameron Duddy
"Make a Little"[59]
2018 "Burn Out"[60] TK McKamy
2019 "Mr. Lonely"[61] Cameron Duddy
2022 "Sunrise Tells the Story"[62] Cameron Duddy and Harper Duddy
"Longneck Way to Go" Harper Smith

Other appearances

[edit]
Year Song Artist Album
2019 "Boot Scootin' Boogie" Brooks & Dunn Reboot[63]
2020 "Redneck Girl" Tim McGraw McGraw Machine Hits: 2013–2019[64]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient/Work Result Ref
2017 CMT Music Awards Group Video of the Year "Drinkin’ Problem" Nominated [65][66]
2018 Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Midland Nominated [67]
Vocal Group of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year "Drinkin' Problem" Nominated
Grammy Awards Best Country Duo/Group Performance Nominated [20]
Best Country Song Nominated [20]
ACM Awards New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year Midland Won [68]
Vocal Group of the Year Midland Nominated
Single Record of the Year "Drinkin' Problem" Nominated
2019 CMT Music Awards Group Video of the Year "Burn Out" Nominated [69]
Country Music Association Awards New Artist of the Year Midland Nominated [67]
Vocal Group of the Year Nominated
2020 Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Midland: 5 Things to Know About the Texas Country Trio". PEOPLE.com. February 23, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Compton, Hannah (November 16, 2018). "Interview: Cameron Duddy of Midland discusses CMA award performance, other band names, the UK tour and more". Building Our Own Nashville.
  3. ^ a b Beckley, Nicole (March 2018). "The Right Time for a Good Time". Tribeza.
  4. ^ Kimble, Lindsay (February 23, 2017). "Meet Midland: Five Things to Know About the Texas Country Trio". People. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Meet Midland, a Country Trio to Watch from Taylor Swift's Record Label: Exclusive Video". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  6. ^ "Country trio Midland 'went all in' and came out on top with debut album 'On the Rocks'". Los Angeles Times. 2017-09-26. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  7. ^ Rotella, Carlo (July 15, 2020). "The Return of Cheatin' Songs". The Washington Post Magazine.
  8. ^ Hudak, Joseph (May 29, 2020). "Midland Strip Down 'Drinkin' Problem,' 'Fourteen Gears' for New Acoustic EP". Rolling Stone.
  9. ^ McClellan, Laura (28 June 2017). "Midland's Mark Wystrach Used to Be a Model". Taste of Country.
  10. ^ Alpert, Matt. "Band to Watch: Midland, A New Country Trio from Texas". Wide Open Country. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  11. ^ Alpert, Matt. "Band to Watch: Midland, A New Country Trio from Texas". Wide Open Country. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Who's New: Midland". Nash Country Daily. 2017-02-20. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  13. ^ Blumm, K.C. (September 5, 2013). "Cameron Duddy Marries Harper Smith". People. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  14. ^ アマルメンドアルタンホヤグ (2015-03-25), Midland – Fourteen Gears, retrieved 2018-01-18
  15. ^ "Q&A with MIDLAND – Coming To A Honky-Tonk Near You! | All Access Music". music.allaccess.com. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  16. ^ McKenna, Britney (October 26, 2016). "Song Premiere: Midland, "Drinkin' Problem"". American Songwriter. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  17. ^ a b Konicki, Lisa (February 24, 2017). "Country's Hippest New Trio, Midland, Reveals Lawbreaking New Video for "Drinkin' Problem"". Nash Country Daily. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Midland Taps into 80s Country Gold with 'Make A Little'". Wide Open country. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  19. ^ Houghton, Cillea. "Midland's 'Burn Out' is a Prequel to 'Drinkin' Problem'". Taste of Country.
  20. ^ a b c "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees". Billboard. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  21. ^ Moss, Marissa R. (March 29, 2019). "Midland Play the Lothario in Mischievous New Song 'Mr. Lonely'". Rolling Stone.
  22. ^ Liptak, Carena. "Midland's Sophomore Album Is Coming This Summer!". The Boot.
  23. ^ Carena Liptak (August 20, 2019). "Everything we know about Midland's new album, Let It Roll". The Boot. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
  24. ^ a b "American album certifications – Midland – On The Rocks". Recording Industry Association of America.
  25. ^ Lynn, Katie (June 2, 2020). "Midland Launches Tequila Brand INSÓLITO". Cowgirl Magazine.
  26. ^ Hudak, Joseph (March 19, 2021). "'Midland: The Sonic Ranch': Fate and Fights Tell Country Band's Origin Story". Rolling Stone.
  27. ^ Young, Casey (March 21, 2021). "Midland Release Origin Story Documentary Along With New Album, 'The Sonic Ranch'". Whiskey Riff.
  28. ^ Joseph Hudak (July 2, 2021). "Midland Preview 'The Last Resort' EP With Moody New Love Song 'Sunrise Tells the Story'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  29. ^ Hudak, Joseph (March 4, 2022). "Midland Go Full Jimmy Buffett on New Song 'The Last Resort'". Rolling Stone.
  30. ^ Hudak, Joseph (March 16, 2017). "See Smooth-Country Trio Midland Harmonize on 'Drinkin' Problem'". Rolling Stone.
  31. ^ Dauphin, Chuck (October 27, 2016). "Meet Midland, a Country Trio to Watch From Taylor Swift's Record Label: Exclusive Video". Billboard. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  32. ^ "CMT Awards 2017: 10 Best and Worst Moments". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  33. ^ Allaire, Christian (2018-01-28). "Midland Does High-Fashion Country at the Grammy Awards". Vogue.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  34. ^ "Midland > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard.
  35. ^ a b "Midland > Chart History > Top Country Albums". Billboard.
  36. ^ Auspop (August 31, 2019). "ARIA Chart Watch #540". auspOp. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  37. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. October 14, 2017.
  38. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums". Billboard. September 7, 2019.
  39. ^ "Midland | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  40. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 5, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums: March 5, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  41. ^ Bjorke, Matt (March 10, 2020). "Top 10 Country Albums Pure Sales Chart: March 9, 2020". RoughStock. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  42. ^ Lorie Hollabaugh (March 4, 2022). "Midland Finds Freedom In 'The Last Resort' On Upcoming Project". Music Row. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
  43. ^ "Summer 2024 Print Special by Country Aircheck". Country Aircheck. June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  44. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (29 February 2020). "Midland release Live from the Palomino album". Entertainment Focus.
  45. ^ "The Sonic Ranch by Midland". Apple Music. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  46. ^ "Midland – Chart history (Top Heatseekers)". Billboard.com.
  47. ^ Bjorke, Matt (August 29, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: August 28, 2017". Roughstock.com.
  48. ^ "Billboard Hot 100 results for Midland". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  49. ^ "Midland – Chart history (Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  50. ^ "Midland – Chart history (Country Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  51. ^ "Midland – Chart history Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  52. ^ "Canada Country results for Midland". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  53. ^ a b Bjorke, Matt (March 9, 2019). "Top 30 Digital Country Tracks: March 11, 2019". Roughstock. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  54. ^ "American single certifications – Midland – Drinkin' Problem". Recording Industry Association of America.
  55. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 peaks". Billboard. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  56. ^ "American single certifications – Midland – Make A Little". Recording Industry Association of America.
  57. ^ "American single certifications – Midland – Burn Out". Recording Industry Association of America.
  58. ^ "American single certifications – Midland – Cheatin' Songs". Recording Industry Association of America.
  59. ^ "'Make a Little' music video". CMT. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  60. ^ "Midland – 'Burn Out'". CMT. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  61. ^ "Dennis Quaid Plays 'Mr. Lonely' in Midland's New Music Video". Taste of Country. April 30, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  62. ^ "Midland Delivers Mini-Movie for 'Sunrise Tells the Story"". CMT. January 20, 2022. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  63. ^ "Reboot". AllMusic. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  64. ^ "Tim McGraw + Midland Get Rowdy on 'Redneck Girl' Cover". Taste of Country. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  65. ^ "CMT Music Awards 2017 Nominees Announced". Us Weekly. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  66. ^ "CMT Music Awards 2017: Complete list of winners". Global News. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  67. ^ a b "Past Winners And Nominees". CMA Awards.
  68. ^ "Lauren Alaina, Brett Young and Midland named early winners at the ACM Awards". Tennessean. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  69. ^ Freeman, Jon (6 June 2019). "2019 CMT Music Awards: The Complete Winners List". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
[edit]
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