Midlake Brought Trials to the Jackpot

Midlake

The Jackpot Music Hall

Review and Photos by Richard Gintowt

I can’t think of a recent album with a longer shelf like than Midlake’s The Trials of Van Occupanther. It’s been in my rotation for months, daring me to pull the plug. But every time I hear the opening chords to “Roscoe,” I’m hooked again, singing along with Tim Smith and his renaissance-festival fantasies about stonecutting and mountaineering.

I was lucky enough to catch Midlake in Los Angeles back in February. Before the show, a fan expressed to me that they’re “not that good live.” Well, he was wrong – they’re effing great. Van Occupanther’s pristine four-part harmonies translated seamlessly, and the five-piece band killed it without ever overplaying their instruments. Myself and fellow attendees Jason Lee (a big Midlake booster) and Giovanni Ribisi ate it up.

Last night’s show in Lawrence was a special one for Midlake because it was Smith’s 32nd birthday and it marked the end of Van Occupather’s 18-month touring cycle. Apparently they didn’t get sick of the album either, because they played the entirety of it with the vigor of a band debuting its masterpiece.