Midland revisits the Borderland.

I knew I was in for a treat upon pulling up to the venue when the line wrapped around the building as it did last Wednesday night here in El Paso Texas, because the one and only Midland was in town and being hosted by Speaking Rock Entertainment Center, a venue that’s second to none, top drawer all the way. I must confess, Country isn’t my thing, but when 20k show up for the show, people like me take notice and that certainly was the case last Wednesday, I did say Wednesday, right? 20 thousand on a Wednesday night? Well, there’s a good reason for that because these three gentlemen who met back in 14, formed the band in 16 and took off like a rocket in 17 and 18. Nominated 12 times in 3 years and won the ACM Award for New Vocal Group of the Year in 2018. They’ve got 4 releases in the past 7 years and have had 7 singles in the past 5, all but one, Make A Little was one tonight’s set list.

As stated, the band was formed in 14, legend has it, Mark Wystrach on Guitar, Jess Carson on Guitar as well and Cameron Duddy doing the honors on Bass got together and headed to Sonic Ranch Recording Studio, you may have heard of it, it’s just outside of El Paso, not far from where I’m sitting. After or during their first visit, the idea of this may work, maybe we got something special here, let’s really start a band, hence Midland was born. They came up with the name from a Dwight Yoakum song called Fair to Midland. The term Fair to Middling is actually how they graded bales of cotton and other goods back in the day, it means middle of the road, not that good or so so, just love those fun facts. As fate would have it all 3 and their family’s moved to Texas years ago to lovely Dripping Springs, so now they all hail from the Great State of Texas, as it should be.

9:30 sharp and this is what I love about Speaking Rock, always on time. The boys strolled onto the stage to a thunderous roar from this West Texas crowd, a crowd that has been waiting hours before doors and were ready to receive a dose of real country music. As I said 6 out of their 7 singles were on the set list, so songs like 14 Gears, Lonestar State of Mind and the crowd favorite Drinkin’ Problem had this sea of cowboy hats wound up tighter than dick’s hatband and for good measure let’s throw in a couple of covers like The Dance, Interstate Love Song and Like a Rock. 18 song set list eaten alive in 90 minutes, yeah, that was one hell of a show. This was for me the largest crowd yet a Speaking Rock, 20 thousand, Cypress Hill drew in 15k two years ago and I thought that was big, Midland takes the Gold. Great outdoor show, fantastic venue, all on a cool October Wednesday night, does it get any better?

Set List

Barely Blue

Mr. Lonely

Playboys

Lonestar State of Mind

Vegas

The Dance

Sunrise Tells the Story

Old Fashion Feeling

Boot Scootin Boogie

Cheatin Songs

Burn Out