from The Pitch on pitch.com

Besides Roy Orbison, Midlake might be the most buzzed-about musical export to have emerged from the sleepy college town of Denton, Texas. Singer-songwriter Tim Smith, guitarist Eric Pulido, drummer McKenzie Smith, bassist Paul Alexander and guitarist Eric Nichelson have lived in Denton for more than a decade. And, much as Orbison once did, the band specializes in dark, dreamy rock.

Midlake gained international prominence with 2006's The Trials of Van Occupanther. The album was favorably compared to Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young (during his less rocking-in-the-free-world moments). After a four-year gestation period, Midlake released a follow-up earlier this year, The Courage of Others. We chatted with Eric Pulido in anticipation of Midlake's show in Lawrence.

The Pitch: Is Lawrence your first stop on this leg of the tour?

Eric Pulido: Yes, it is. We had to cancel the last scheduled show in Lawrence earlier this year, so we're looking forward to getting back there and making it up to you guys.

Would you describe The Courage of Others as darker than The Trials of Van Occupanther?

The British folk era of the late '60s and early '70s was influencing the record, so it kind of inherently had a darker and more melancholy feel. [There are] a lot of minor-key progressions, and [it's] a little bit slower-paced.

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