In the midst of their 2023 North American tour, The Midnight stopped by White Oak Music Hall to take Houston back to the days of thunder.
Returning to White Oak Music Hall for the first time since 2021, The Midnight sold out the downstairs of the venue. Sporting a unique musical style held up by a combination of retro drums, synthesizers, guitars, and even a saxophone, it should be no surprise that The Midnight was welcomed back to Houston with open arms, with their signature retro-laden performance generating no shortage of fanfare. Starting the show off was supporting act Flamingosis, best known for groovy, downtempo hits “Down for the Fifth Time” and “Football Head.” After mellowing out the eager audience, Flamingosis passed the stage to headliner The Midnight at around 10:15 p.m.
Playing tracks from various albums, The Midnight kicked off the show with fan favorites “Lonely City” and “Endless Summer,” lighting up the venue in a masterclass of neon-inspired lighting and drenching the crowd with lush, shimmering synth pads. Accompanied by live saxophonist Justin Klunk soloing over hits “Jason” and “Neon Medusa”, the crowd went about as crazy as you would expect. The bright brass of the saxophone echoed throughout the venue, almost outshining the already excellent guitar solos. Producer Tim McEwan was on drums for this show, with the drum kit tastefully accentuated by cassette-style crunch and a copious amount of old-school reverb. Leila Broussard brought the heat with incredible guitar and bass playing, as well as evocative vocals which harmonized perfectly with frontman Tyler Lyle. Royce Whittaker was on keys for the majority of the set, wielding two monstrous analog polysynths that enchanted the entire performance with authentic retro color.
Tying things off with “Lost Boy,” and “The Comeback Kid,” the crowd simply couldn’t get enough. The inevitable encore ensured, bringing “Los Angeles” and “Sunset” into the mix. Bringing this unforgettable night to a close, The Midnight signed off the show to thunderous applause, bringing the audience back to the present day. It’s rare to see this genre played live, let alone to such a large and enthusiastic audience, with many leaving the venue feeling they had experienced something truly special.
I'm a student, producer, and social media manager from Houston Texas, I'm currently studying Marketing at the University of Houston. I rediscovered my passion for all things music in early 2022 after challenging myself to learn an electronic instrument. I'm currently working on a solo project heavily inspired by the 80's. In my free time I enjoy walks around the city, dancing, live music, and trying new restaurants.
I'm a full-time music journalist/photographer from Houston, number one Paramore fan and Husky dog owner. I have a B.S in Radio-Television-Film from UT Austin and a M.A in Mass Communications from the University of Houston, which makes me smart! On top of being an avid concert-goer and movie fanatic, I love bonding with others over the power of local music and media.
