A Dance With Curly Jefferson is the curiously named first EP from Wollongong-based band The Midnight Tides.
The band have endured two lockdowns and mandated bans on live performance but have come out stronger, united and more passionate to play music.
A launch party for the new EP was held at Bulli’s Heritage Hotel last month.
Frontman Marley Fox says: “There has been over two years of patience, and with much anticipation, love, care, passion, friendship, musicianship and soul, we The Midnight Tides have put together our debut EP, A Dance with Curly Jefferson, encased with six different tracks hoping that at least one may resonate with someone.
“The time has arrived, and we made it. We are still together; we still love playing music and we want to share our pandemic project with everyone.”
The band consists of Marley Fox (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Jarrah Henderson-Jackson (drums), Tyanan Berman-Thornton (bass) and Harvey Jakubiw (lead guitar). Former band member Brandon Grainger features on lead guitar on two tracks.
Marley used the lockdowns to write music almost every day. “There is always a melody, lyric or something going around in my head. It might be weeks before I finally get the framework for a complete song. It is my job to keep working on it.”
When bans were lifted and the band were able to rehearse again, they heard Marley’s songs for the first time.
“Usually, a song or two gets added to the playlist every other month, we have the crowd’s reaction to gauge a song’s merit. With zero performances,
I had masses of songs shoved in my guitar case and I brought these songs to the band to work through, and they did not know what hit them. Together we got down to the six to create the EP.”
The EP has a mix of songs ranging from sentimental rock ballads, to indie heavy rock jams to groovy hard rock riffs that are guaranteed crowd pleasers and dance favourites. It was recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Peruch at Animal Audio Studios in Wollongong.
Standout tracks include T-Shirt, a soulful love ballad and the get-up-and-dance tune, Saddleback Sun.
Asked about the title of the EP, the band fesses up to being huge fans of British comedy The Mighty Boosh, in which Curly Jefferson is an obscure character, something that has become a running joke in the band. Says Marley: “Who doesn’t love the Boosh!”
To buy the EP or find out about new gigs follow @the.midnighttides on Instagram or Facebook. You can also listen on Spotify or watch the band on YouTube.
