Captain Midnight is the enigmatic, hard rock-soul guitarist / singer / songwriter / imagineer from Oxford Mississippi. Upon moving to New Orleans in 1999, Midnight immersed himself in several musical projects which have resulted in numerous performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, The Essence Music Festival, The French Quarter Festival, and several cross-country tours.
Although Midnight generally stays within the realm of his own original, Future-Rock sensibilities, he has crossed many a musical boundry with his unique approach. As a result, he has recorded and performed with various types of artists and acts ranging from Hard Rock to Hip-Hop, R n B, and even Psychedelic Jazz, all the while maintaining his undeniable voice and influence.
Captain Midnight takes cues from his diverse musical friends to incorporate shades of the above-mentioned genres into the context of New American Rock n Roll. The Captain Midnight Band currently resides in Nashville, TN
Latest News
Currently working on a new album of original material to be released this summer. Track listing so far is
Witch's Tit
Tickle Fight
Good Citizens
LaToya
Mainline
Far Beyond Fuckin'
Curtains
Bone Jumper
Press Highlights 1999-2006
Oxford Town #653 Feb. 2006
Captain Midnight approaches his music from all sides, inviting not only the blatantly racy humor like that from older Ween material but adds a funky flavor to the mix that would make both Prince and P-Funk blush with delight. - M. Morgan
The Daily Mississippian Arts and Life 10.25.05
For those looking for an authentic New Orleans Rock and Roll Band to bring down the house... - S. Essenpreis
Guitar Gunslingers Where Y’at New Orleans Feb 2005
On stage, he’s a flamboyant guitar god, strutting with confidence and leading his band through a futuristic funk and rock universe...songs that speak amusingly to the human weaknesses of romance and interpersonal relationships. - Thinnes
Honest Tune Magazine Vol 2 # 4
Captain Midnight supplies arena rock attitude, hard rock leads and a healthy dose of teenage sarcasm...Midnight can strut the funk with the best of ‘em...- Tom Speed, Editor
Jambase 1.29.01
Captain Midnight, the outrageous and flamboyant guitarist has a great stage presence that is only upstaged by his skillful playing.- B.T. Crescent City Correspondent
Gambit Weekly’s Hot 7 Best Bets of the Week Jan. 21- 27 2003
Captain Midnight is probably the most rabid upholder of 70’s rock radio on the local scene...the showboat guitarist celebrates the forthright style of classic American rock. - C. Deittenger
Radio Free New Orleans June 2000
Charismatic, enigmatic porn rocker, Captain Midnight, melds his own unique brand of teenage sex rock, southern fried guitar twangs, and some downright creepy (but a good creepy) sounds...- G. Dick
An Honest Tune Magazine
Road Warriors
...Captain Midnight supplies arena rock attitude, hard rock leads and a healthy dose of teenage sarcasm...Midnight can strut the funk with the best of ‘em...- Tom Speed, editor
Gambit Magazine's Hot Picks
GAMBIT WEEKLY’S HOT 7 BEST BETS OF THE WEEK JAN. 21- 27
CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT BAND
Captain Midnight is probably the most rabid upholder of 70’s rock radio on the local scene. Best known for his role in the recently disbanded funk/rock/hip-hop band CRONK, the showboat guitarist celebrates the forthright style of classic American rock.
Retaining his original onstage persona and getup, Captain Midnight now fronts his own band. The transition between CRONK and the Captain Midnight Band yeilded a wealth of recorded material, including the 2001 ep, You Really Get Me High! and the 2002 limited-edition full-length from the same sessions, Chamber of Thrills, The band plays an amusing live show, with onstage antics, plenty of banter, and covers ranging from Bob Dylan to Kris Kristofferson. Original songs about wild times and twentysomething courtship play out in freewheeling solos and lyrics of sexual satisfaction (or frustration, as the case may be).
Captain Midnight’s latest studio project, due out this spring, will include contributions from a host of local collaborators, including vocalist Sista Teedy and members of CRONK. Admission TBA.
-Diettinger
Guitar Gunslingers
Guitar Gunslingers
Billy Thinnes
The allure of the New Orleans music scene is the depth of dexterity and skill amongst the musicians here. Casually wandering into out-of-the-way bars can reveal artists bathed in the unfortunate cloak of obscurity cranking out mind-bending chops for a meager pay day, practically begging for money with a tip jar and having to smile and say “thank you” to unscrupulous club owners who consistently underpay those who help attract business to their establishments.
Out of the many deserving musicians who warrant greater attention, Where Y’at is pleased to pluck the following four guitar players from the city’s fertile swamp of axe-men, and single them out for greater attention, scrutiny and hopefully help them expand their fan base.
Captain Midnight
Favorite Axe: Parker Nitefly
Main gig: Boogie City
Album: Cronk Wegotchu, new release from
Boogie City expected this year
Captain Midnight is a true Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. On stage, he’s a flamboyant guitar god, strutting with confidence and leading his band Boogie City through a futuristic funk and rock universe dripping lyrically with sexual innuendo and songs that speak amusingly to the human weaknesses of romance and interpersonal relationships. Offstage, he’s laid back and insightful, a fellow who can speak with a professor’s clarity on the historical movements of rock music, often referencing KISS, Shalamar and Donnie Hathaway in the same conversation.
Midnight’s Sound: “I like guitars with great tonality and the ability to blend acoustic signals and electric signals which allows me to get a more percussive focused sound.”
Re: Boogie City: “The main thing is we have a huge arsenal of original music that is culled from a background of R&B that we put with the hard rock element of maybe a Journey or an AC/DC – great elements that haven’t been combined in terms of a multi- faceted band with multiple singers and writers.”
Re: guitar solos: “I look for someone who is playing something inspired that they like, whether it is a written out piece or something done on the fly, someone excited about playing what they are playing, either because they dig what they are playing or they are rolling on the spontaneity that can only be fueled by a well written song. Generally all of ours solos are planned out; I usually know exactly when I am going to solo in a song. While I’m doing it, I couldn’t tell you what my thought process is – I try to do stream of consciousness and feel. I just try to go from my gut and not really think about it. I don’t think in terms of modes and scales, like “This will be really hip to place this here.” I think, “Shit, this sounds good,” and if I see somebody, it might trigger something – I might insert a wiggle or a dive bomb. I play from the gut and not from the head.”
Re: rhythm guitar: “I think of the Kinks and Ray Davies like ‘You Really Got Me’ where the rhythm guitar is the song and it is just fantastic, and then guys like Bob Weir who are ‘rhythm players’ who are not playing the same pattern throughout the song but coloring it. I consider myself way more of a rhythm player than a soloist. I like playing rhythm better than lead – you can put a song together with chords rather than just a bunch of cool licks.”