Jonna smiles and sings
Kevin diddles the keys
Jason plays the drums
Josh attacked the guitar
Emily kept time on bass
Sean was a smokey
Theresa sang and giggled
Influences
We are influenced by: Knight Rider, Mrs. Pac-Man, Hobby Japan Magazine, ARLO (the man AND the band), Vance and Coy, Console Gaming, and Hobos.
"Opening a set with a cover tune can be a dodgy business, but when local new wavers Midway kick off with Styx’s legendary audio folly "Mr. Roboto," it makes for an appropriate calling card that betrays many of this quintet’s pre-existing passions: insistent, often unison melody; 1980s kitsch; ironic humor; Jetsons-jocular futurism. Though not without moments of discordant blunder, they deliver "Roboto" faithfully (Vocoder and all), and most of the Echo’s sizable crowd knows Midway well enough to take this flippant red herring as exactly that.
Then it’s off into their own Blondie/Devoesque, keyboard-candied material, including most of their ’03 Fist Full of Quarters EP: the bleak, semispoken Debbie Harry–isms, Elastica guitar stabs and Radio Shack synth of "Shadows"; the carny keys and brainwashed chanting of "Electricity"; the Berlin-for-beginners verses of "Space Station"; and the bizarre lost-in-translation alienation of "Tabe Tai."
But rather than the songs themselves, it’s the overwhelming euphoria of Midway’s performance that lingers. Beaming, always-about-to-giggle vocalist Theresa Espineli, a living anime heroine, is apparently permanently in the act of opening her favorite gift ever. Rarely was a band so action-figure ready: While the robotic-spasming Espineli’s the focal point, the brows-raised hamming of bald ’n’ bearded keysman Kevin Fischer (please tell me this bloke’s day job is children’s magician) is a cartoon-completing foil. Midway interact like long-lost best friends, and this authentic joy glosses up (or glosses over) material that, on disc, can become a rather rigid, Asteroids-era pastiche.
Midway’s collective charm could melt icecaps, and the twinkling Espineli’s a few vocal inflections away from being an absolute fucking star. If they can bottle their irresistible stage aura in the studio and personalize their stylistic template before America’s ’80s obsession sinks for a second time, Midway might yet grace lunch boxes everywhere.
-Paul Rogers, LA WEEKLY"
"Combining a radioactively catchy synth-pop/rock sound and a live show that could be marketed as a natural alternative to Prozac, Midway is more than a band: they are a happy place inside your mind. If you like video games, the '80s, watching 3-D movies, jumping around your room in your underwear, and/or eating jellybeans until you barf, get your hands on a copy of Midway's EP! "
-Jeff Penalty, Skratch Magazine
It's been kicking around for some time, but if you haven't seen it.. here's our self produced music video for the song Space Station. Special thanks to Chuck Wagon, The Lipstick Conspiracy, and Tosa & Theo from The Scene Bar.
I could've guessed that you like smileys... I met Joss a couple o' years ago through a friend when I was chillen down in LA... The first time we met was when my homey hit her up to see if we could crash at her spot 'cause we were broke ho's with no where else ta go and Joss, being the awesome individual that she is, allowed to crash at her pad... Since then we still keep in touch and yeah that's pretty much it...
I think ur the first *Quote/Un-Quote* Band to leave a picture comment so right on for you!! Moving on, I noticed that your website leads me back to your MySpace page so uhh kinda funny how you end up right back where you started (clever move there!)...
Hey, Shawn & Kevin from LA's Rock cover band 'Forever Vinyl' are hosting an Open Mike Night at Venice Bistro every Wednesday (except May 21 and 28) 5:30-10pm. It's right on the Venice boardwalk. Tons of foot traffic. Why don't you and anyone other musicians you know come on down and play a few songs? You can do originals or covers and each musician will get 2-3 songs, unless we have time for more. We have PA, mikes, electric piano, acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, and percussion. This is going to be a forum for musicians to play, promote shows, give away/sell cd's and to network with other local musicians. This will be lots of fun. No cover. ALso we have one in Santa Clarita every other Tuesday @ It's A Grind Coffee beginning May 6th 6-8:30 pm. Contact me if you have any questions.
Venice Bistro (Every Wednesday 5:30-10pm) 323 Ocean Front Walk Venice, Ca
