Posted in Whathaveyou on July 15th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
When last we left Kansan power blues three-piece The Midnight Ghost Train, they were wrapping up a West Coast tour, getting ready for guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss to undergo surgery for two — count ’em, two — rock hernias, and preparing to his the road thereafter in Europe. That European run included stops at Hellfest and Stoned from the Underground and has now come to an end, Moss having busted his picking hand in the meantime, but if The Midnight Ghost Train could be stopped, they would’ve been stopped long ago. A series of dates up and down the East Coast and in the Midwest have been announced for next month and Sept.
They continue to support their third album and Napalm Records debut, Cold was the Ground (review here), and that album continues to be a cause worthy of support. Here’s a post-tour update from the band and those dates from the PR wire:
“Well the tour has come to an end. Stoned From The Underground Festival was an excellent way to put an end to the tour. We are ready to go home. Many of you don’t know this but Steve has been playing this entire tour with a broken right hand (his picking hand), our families miss us, and we really need to shower, so it’s time to go home for now. But we will return. Thank you to all the fans who came out and rocked with us, thank you to all the venues and promoters who put things together, thank you to Kat, Matte and Beth at Sound of Liberation for getting the ball in play for this tour. We did EXACTLY what we came here to do… Play Rock and Roll. I know damn well we made our presence known.”
TMGT 8/14: Kansas City, MO @ Fuzz and Fire Festival 8/20: Lexington, KY @ Green Lantern 8/21: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery 8/22: Dale City, VA @ L&Bs Sports Bar 8/27: TBA 8/28: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 8/29: Brooklyn, NY @ Lucky 13 Saloon 8/30: Greenfield, MA @ RPM Fest 9/1: Portland, ME @ Genos Rock Club 9/4: Detroit, MI @ The Rockery 9/5: Indianapolis, IN @ 5th Quarter
A moment of respite this time around as The Midnight Ghost Train guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss checks in from the road in the latest installment of his US tour diary. The trio — Moss, bassist Mike Boyne and drummer Brandon Burghart — have a day off in Albuquerque, New Mexico and use it to check out filming locations for the show Breaking Bad, and Moss also gives some thoughts on B.B. King, who was revealed last week to be in home-hospice care.
Eight shows left on the tour. Here’s Moss:
Mea Culpa 3
Had a fun and interesting week. Played Albuquerque, Midland, Austin, and Lafayette. On our way to Pensacola right now.
Had the day off after our Albuquerque show so we used it to check out the different spots that Breaking Bad was filmed in. We are huge fans of that show so it was cool to find the actual filming locations, Including a candy store owned by an old lady that not only made all the meth for the first two years of Breaking Bad (made it out of rock candy) but also makes porn candy, like chocolate dicks and vaginas. Yum. It was probably the most fun we have had in Albuquerque. Last time we were there, a gigantic protest was going on against the police or something. We went over to check it out, hoping to see some crazy shit, but we ended up getting too close and we got the backlash of a bunch of tear gas. Did not feel very good.
One of my biggest heroes and inspirations in music is B.B. King, I learned this week that he is at home in hospice care preparing to die. This breaks my heart. Without him there would be no TMGT. I’ve seen him live a countless amount of times, he is the reason I decided to play music. I wanted what he had. That soul and passion he has on stage is unlike anything else. My wife and I actually saw his last-ever performance. The day after we saw him he collapsed and canceled the rest of the tour. I can’t begin to explain what his music and his soul has done for me. I grew up with his music, going to his concerts with my dad and just being completely in awe of the experience. Some of the best moments in my life. My favorite live album of all time is B.B. King, Live at the Regal. If you haven’t heard it, buy it. Nothing out there comes close to the magic on that album. I just hope he is comfortable and safe and well, and goes in peace. He is a true bluesman and a true performer. I strive at every show to have just a fraction of the soul he has.
I appreciate all the kind get well words and wishes for me for my upcoming surgery. I’m a tough son of a bitch so I’ll be okay and ready to rock soon after the surgery. But first thing’s first, we got a tour to finish and nine more shows to blow the roof off the fuckin’ place.
The Midnight Ghost Train, Cold was the Ground (2015)
Posted in Features on April 28th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
When last we left them, Kansas heavy blues rockers were deep into the Pacific Northwest on their current US tour. This past week has taken them further south, through California and into the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. Last night they played in Albuquerque, and today, guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss — joined in the band by bassist Mike Boyne and drummer Brandon Burghart — continues his “Mea Culpa” tour diary for The Obelisk.
The Midnight Ghost Train‘s third album, Cold was the Ground is out now as their debut on Napalm Records. Their tour runs until May 16, at which point apparently Moss will undergo surgery. More in the diary:
Mea Culpa 2
Driving through the desert right now towards Albuquerque, NM. The past few nights have been excellent shows and good times. Like I said in the last post we went to the Giants and Dodgers game on our day off. That was a lot of fun and relaxing. But relaxing never lasts long. I like it that way. I don’t like to stand still for long. If you have seen us on stage I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.
The other night in San Diego we had a great show. It was a last-minute add but it was a blast. I think they put something in the drinks in there though ’cause everyone was insanely wasted. Made for an interesting night. I don’t drink so it’s always quite amusing to see the insanely drunk ones at the shows. But it can also get a bit annoying especially at the merch table. One guy wanted to buy all three of our vinyls, a hoodie, two shirts, a tote bag, a hat, a poster and two bottles of our TMGT hot sauce. I get everything out, all ready for him. The price is somewhere around $150 and he opened his wallet and only had $20. Then he actually tried to see if I would let him go with all that stuff only paying $20. No way in hell. He would not let it go, started yelling, “Why can’t I just pay $20, this is bullshit I thought you guys were cool. I promise if you let me go with all this stuff for $20 I’ll tell everyone I know about your band.” Absolutely not. We need to make our money.
For those of you that are unaware, this is how we make our living. This is our job. So we don’t give anything out for free, ever, and don’t make deals. I don’t care how cute of a girl you are, I don’t care how uncool it makes me, you pay full price. If you really like a band enough that you want to buy their merch, than you should respect them enough to pay for it, and pay the price that they ask. We go through that every night. But this guy just for some reason got under my skin. Maybe because he held up the merch line for 10 minutes while he was bitching and arguing. “Sorry you gotta go, there are people with money behind you trying to buy stuff.” I guess some people just don’t get it. I’m sure other bands out there feel that frustration.
So I’ve got some bad news. I’ve been battling with some pain the past few months that has made life very uncomfortable. I went to the doctor and found out I have two hernias that have to be surgically repaired immediately. So as soon as this tour is over I’m going in for surgery. Not excited about that. After this tour, we have one month off before we go back over to Europe. So I just hope that during that month off I can fully recover from the surgery, and there are no complications so I can be rip-roaring and ready to go for our European tour. In the meantime, I’m not able to lift anything. Doctors said I can’t lift anything over five pounds during this tour. Now that’s just crazy. But I have been staying away from lifting amps and really heavy stuff.
The guys have been a huge help moving stuff around for me. It sucks. I feel worthless and helpless. But I was warned that my hernias are at risk of becoming strangled, which can kill me, so I’m taking it as easy as possible. What really sucks is the uncomfortable pain that I’m in the entire time on stage. But I’m a fighter and I get through it night after night. Just hope that after this surgery I recover quick and well enough for our European tour. I’m so thankful I got good band members to help and pick up the slack for me. We still get off stage in less than two minutes, and we still get everything done quick and on time. It’s just tough to have to adjust to not carrying anything. Hope this surgery is as easy and as quick with recovery time as they say. ‘Cause there is much more rocking left to do.
The Midnight Ghost Train, Cold was the Ground (2015)
Posted in Features on April 22nd, 2015 by JJ Koczan
If you want to count their time in Europe, The Midnight Ghost Train have been on tour since February supporting their third album and Napalm Records debut, Cold was the Ground (review here). Their current US tour began on April 10 in Indianapolis and will continue through May 16. Guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss — joined in the band by drummer Brandon Burghart and bassist Mike Boyne — has started a tour diary that will run here through the end of this stint and who knows for how long after. If the last several years have shown anything, it’s that The Midnight Ghost Train never veer too far from the road they’ve taken as their home.
Not sure how often updates are going to come in, but I’ll post them when they show. Enjoy:
Mea Culpa 1
Hey it’s Steve from The Midnight Ghost Train. So we were told to write about our time on this tour. Keep a sort of journal accounting for what we are doing during these long days/months while we are on the road. Here it goes. I’ll call these entries “Mea Culpa,” which is Latin for “through my fault,” which means if you don’t like these entries, well then it’s my fault.
So far this album release tour has been excellent for promoting our new album. The European part of the tour was very successful and now we are currently on the USA portion. We are about a little over a week into it. Tackled a couple cities in the Midwest and in the north and making our way down the West Coast now. Last night we played Portland. Not a very good turnout at all. Apparently it was supposed to be a sold out show but two bands dropped off and they had to scramble to get two other bands on the bill at the last minute. We don’t have a huge following in Portland so we were counting on these other bands to bring a big crowd. But they didn’t, big bummer. You can’t win them all.
Had to get one of our bass rigs fixed in Portland. Our buddies at Arcane Amplification are masters when it comes to fixing amps. But unfortunately they didn’t have all the right parts and had to order them. So they kept the power amp and are gonna ship it to us somewhere during this tour once it’s fixed. Something is ALWAYS breaking. Whether it be amps, the van, guitars, or our hearts, haha. It’s always something. Money never stays in the bank account very long when you play music as a full-time gig. We are used to the constant guff.
We stayed in crack central last night in Portland. 3AM, crackheads banging on doors, walking around half naked screaming at each other and trying to score. This morning was ridiculous when we took our guitars out from the hotel room and put them in the back of the van. The crackies surrounded us, “Are you in a band?” “No we are not, get the fuck outta here.” There’s a tip for bands on the road. NEVER tell people you’re in a band, you will either get into a 20-minute conversation, them trying to find out everything in god’s name about your band, or tell you about their shitty band they tried starting 15 years ago, or they will just try to rip you off. So it’s better to just be an asshole and scare them away so they don’t try something. ‘Cause it will happen.
We are headed down to San Francisco right now. Tomorrow we have a day off so we are going to a Giants and Dodger game in San Fran. I’m a gigantic baseball fan so I love dragging the dudes to baseball games on our days off. Not into any other sports just baseball. It’s the only thing that helps me relax and take my mind off of this insane life that we chose for us. We suck at everything else so we knew we had to be musicians. Burned all of our bridges so we could never retreat and didn’t allow ourselves to have a backup plan. ‘Cause trust me, if I had a backup plan I would’ve taken it along time ago. So bring on the guff… We got nothing else.
The Midnight Ghost Train, Cold was the Ground (2015)
Posted in Reviews on February 26th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
Before we get to all the stuff about how The Midnight Ghost Train are a blues rock steamroller, or about how their third album and Napalm Records debut, Cold was the Ground, is an unforgiving rush of heavy fuzz with pacing that makes a joke of most heavy rock bands’ ideas of “uptempo,” it’s worth pointing out that the Kansas-based trio haven’t gained an inch of ground over the last seven-or-so years that they haven’t clawed their way across. Creatively and in terms of profile, there’s the easy way and there’s the hard way, and The Midnight Ghost Train have chosen the hard way. Signing to a label with the reach of Napalm seems like payoff, but it comes after years of near-constant touring in the US and Europe, promoting first 2008’s The Johnny Boy EP (review here), then 2009’s self-titled full-length debut (review here), then 2012’s raging Buffalo (review here) while being largely ignored by those outside the sphere of having witnessed them play live and seen the sincerity and heart that serves as the driving force behind guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss‘ blues-madman stage persona or the frenetic energy with which The Midnight Ghost Train deliver their performances. They have worked for everything they’ve gotten — and then some — and if Cold was the Ground signals anything to their built-one-at-a-time following, it’s that the trio aren’t at all ready to sit back and rest on their laurels. Moss, drummer Brandon Burghart and bassist Mike Boyne (who makes his recorded debut here), unleash a rolling stomp that dares the listener to try to keep up, a guttural burl of vocals distinct as the band’s own barking out lines across a maddening thrust that seems to relent only so it can renew its fury to greater impact.
At the time, Buffalo was the best thing The Midnight Ghost Train had done, and Cold was the Ground is better. It’s a tighter record, more assured, not only more controlled, but more purposeful. Tonally, its fuzz is warm and natural, and Moss‘ voice is almost a growl at times, but somehow perfectly suits the momentum they build as the 11 songs and 39 minutes play out. There are geared down stretches in songs like “One Last Shelter,” “Twin Souls” and the tense, brooding manifesto “The Little Sparrow,” which boasts a spoken testimonial from Moss about the kind of regret only a true love of music can bring, but for the most part, once the intro “Along the Chasm” launches from its build-up of feedback into the first of many bouncing riffs to come — about 30 seconds into the album — The Midnight Ghost Train don’t look back. Songs like “Gladstone,” “BC Trucker,” “No. 227” and the closer “Mantis” slam home their bluesy riffs, and while Moss is a definite frontman presence, Burghart puts on a clinic in swing on “BC Trucker,” the tom-propelled “The Canfield,” and the album highlight “Straight to the North,” which caps in dangerously exacting starts and stops before riding home a groove that’s righteous enough not to care if you call it stoner rock or anything else. You’d have to catch up to it first. Hooks abound throughout in head-spinning rhythmic turns, and by the time “One Last Shelter” swaps out its laid back opening section for the white-knuckled riffery of its second minute, it’s less about the speed at which The Midnight Ghost Train are executing their material than the precision with which they’re doing it and the dynamic between Burghart, Boyne and Moss that, like everything else they’ve done, has been built from the ground up. The contributions of each are utterly essential to Cold was the Ground hitting as hard as it does, and whether it’s Boyne‘s bassline starting “Arvonia” or underscoring Moss‘ sleepless rant in “The Little Sparrow” — the question, “How can music feel so free and still take all that you have?” feels particularly poignant — or Burghart railing on his crash in “Gladstone,” the cohesion between the three of them is undeniable.
More over, that cohesion is brought to the album with a purpose beyond teasing the live show or trying to offer the same kind of experience. Cold was the Ground is a beast, to be sure, and it has vitality front to back no matter the pace the band happen to be working in at the time, but it also establishes a flow, expands the band’s sound, shows not only the chemistry that’s developed but how their songwriting has progressed since Buffalo and where they’re at now in their delivery of lethal groove. It is, in other words, more than a gig poster, and as much as it might signal the electricity The Midnight Ghost Train create in a live setting, there’s also more to it than just that. Some bands are “live bands,” and The Midnight Ghost Train have worked hard for more than half a decade to become one, and succeeded, but for those new to their sound or already well familiar, their latest offers much more than a reminder of that time Moss headbanged really hard. Closing duo “Twin Souls” and “Mantis” sum up the album well, shifting seamlessly between creeper-riffing and the unmitigated shuffle that’s become their calling card, and especially after the quiet shift of “The Little Sparrow,” the two songs round out by not only affirming the evolution of the band stylistically, but by assuring the listener that they haven’t forgotten what’s always made them such and exciting listen. Boyne tosses in a bass fill to the closer’s first half that seems to hint at there being more to say, and Moss tears into a wah-soaked solo to set up a last verse before the final rush, which recalls “Gladstone”‘s about-to-fly-off-the-rails sprint. A solid book-end, yes, but further evidence that The Midnight Ghost Train are thinking about Cold was the Ground as more than a collection of tracks, and of those tracks as more than a collection of parts, and that’s exactly what they wind up being. They might be a live band, but it’s time to start considering The Midnight Ghost Train as songwriters too.
The Midnight Ghost Train, “Gladstone” official video
Posted in Bootleg Theater on December 15th, 2014 by JJ Koczan
If you’ve ever had the chance to see The Midnight Ghost Train live, then you don’t need me to tell you tales of their on-stage fury. The hard-touring Topeka, Kansas, heavy blues trio are kinetic, a broiling chaos of riffs, headbanging and stomp. They’ve been at it for years at this point, back and forth across the country as well as in Europe, and in March, they’ll make their debut on Napalm Records with their third album, Cold was the Ground, for which preorders are now available. Of course, if you haven’t seen the band before, I’d be happy to tell you those tales, but probably the best thing to do would be wait 15 minutes or so for them to announce another round of shows that includes wherever it is you happen to live. They’ll get there sooner or later.
Cold was the Ground contains 11 tracks championing the three-piece’s thick-toned, high-energy cause. It’s a record that deals out quick blows and doesn’t stick around too long to watch the damage before starting the next bombardment. Guitarist/vocalist Steve Moss, drummer Brandon Burghart and bassist Mike Boyne have a road-honed dynamic, and one can hear the progression from where The Midnight Ghost Train were just a couple years ago on their 2012 second album, Buffalo (review here). They’ve never wanted for confidence or push, but Cold was the Ground puts them in new territory in both how hard it slams its point home and in the range of its songwriting. Fuzz tones meet head on with Moss gruff-bordering-on-growl vocals, and the raging shuffle that ensues throughout is a demonstration of the kind of madness only a band at the top of their game can produce. It’s the kind of record that dares you not to headbang.
Of course, The Midnight Ghost Train will hit the road (and hard) to support it. In fact, they’re already doing shows this week. The international release dates for the album and their current tour plans — lucky dogs are touring with Greenleaf — are underneath the player below, on which you’ll find the debut of their new video for “Gladstone,” an early kick in the ass from Cold was the Ground that’s just one of the many on hand.
Please enjoy:
The Midnight Ghost Train, “Gladstone” official video
Cold was the Ground Release Dates: 2.28.2015 – GSA / Europe / AUS 3.2.2015 – UK / NO / FR / DK / IT 3.04.2015 – SE / ESP 3.10.2015 – USA / CAN
The Midnight Ghost Train on Tour: Dec 17 Launchpad Albuquerque, NM Dec 18 The Blue Max Midland, TX Dec 19 The Lost Well Austin, TX w/ Sabbath Crow Dec 20 Vino’s Brew Pub Little Rock, AR Dec 21 Lizard’s Lounge Wichita, KS w/ Bridegeist Feb 24 Alte Malzerei Regensburg, Germany w/ Greenleaf Feb 25 Arena Vienna, Austria w/ Greenleaf Feb 26 Immerhin Wurzburg, Germany w/ Greenleaf Feb 27 Vortex Siegen, Germany w/ Greenleaf Feb 28 Gaswerk Winterthur, Switzerland w/ Greenleaf Mar 01 Lo-Fi Milano, Italy w/ Greenleaf Mar 03 White Rabbit Freiburg, Germany w/ Greenleaf Mar 05 Feierwerk Munich, Germany w/ Greenleaf Mar 06 Stahlfest Leipzig, Germany w/ Greenleaf Mar 07 Treibsand Lübeck, Germany w/ Greenleaf Mar 09 Hafenklang Hamburg, Germany Mar 11 DAS BETT Frankfurt, Germany Mar 12 Marlein Leuwaarden, Netherlands Mar 13 Hell Over Esslingen Esslingen, Germany Mar 14 Borom PomPom Oberentfelden, Switzerland Mar 15 Il Principe In Bicicletta Treviso, Italy Mar 16 No Cage Prato, Italy Mar 18 PMK Innsbruck, Austria Mar 19 kulturbahnhof Jena, Germany Mar 20 Le Brin De Zinc Chambery, France Mar 21 Mudd Club Strasbourg, France Mar 22 Glazart Paris, France w/ Black Rainbows Mar 24 Ostpol Dresden, Germany Mar 25 Paunchy Cats Lichtenfels, Germany Mar 26 Dustown Festival Berlin, Germany Mar 27 7er Club Mannheim, Germany Mar 29 dB’s Utrecht, Netherlands Jun 19 Hellfest Clisson, France
Posted in Bootleg Theater on November 25th, 2014 by JJ Koczan
Seems unfair to call the video put out today by Topeka blues bashers The Midnight Ghost Train a “teaser,” since it’s longer and less promo-speaky than a lot of album teasers wind up being — plus it has a plot and production value — despite its function being roughly the same in giving fans of the trio a glimpse at the new record’s sound and atmosphere. Their slammed-home boogie seems to be in good standing, and as for atmosphere, well, all you really have to do is look at the big sky country and the expanses of land featured in the clip to see where The Midnight Ghost Train are coming from on Cold was the Ground, their new album, which is out March 2015 on Napalm Records.
I’m looking forward to hearing what they’ve come up with this time out, so even just a sneak peak at some of the riffing here is welcome as far as I’m concerned. The story of the video seems to center around the overall-clad guy who resists and then finally succumbs to the band’s riffy wiles after pretty much the whole world around him has already done the same. The last holdout. That same gentleman also features on the album cover for Cold was the Ground, which presumably was put together around the same time as this short film, and does well in the form of silent expression. No doubt his experience in the clip mirrors that of many who’ve discovered The Midnight Ghost Train these last couple years, so much awareness of them having come from word of mouth from those who’ve caught them killing it live on stages throughout the US and Europe.
They’ll likely keep doing that as well, unhindered by blizzards or barbecue sauce on the face or whatever it might be. Preorders for the album reportedly start Dec. 2. Enjoy the video:
The Midnight Ghost Train, Cold was the Ground short film
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you… The Midnight Ghost Train’s very own short film for the new album “Cold Was The Ground”. We created this film to give you a listen, (and a look) at the new record. A bit of a tease. This is for the fans. Enjoy.
Posted in Whathaveyou on November 18th, 2014 by JJ Koczan
The steady ascent of bombastic blues rockers The Midnight Ghost Train looks set to continue into the New Year. Come late February/early March, the Topeka, Kansas, three-piece will issue their third album, Cold was the Ground, in 2015 as their debut on Napalm Records. It follows 2012’s hog-wild Buffalo (review here), and seems to have at least some commonality of artwork with that album, a lone figure standing against a single-color backdrop of rural America, complete with overgrown field. Only difference is that where Buffalo had a topless woman in sepia that seemed to convey a sentimentality for a time that never was, Cold was the Ground brings a black and white scowl of a man (fully dressed to a near-Baptist degree) standing in front of a house in squalor. If that’s some promise of how the two records might compare to each other sound-wise, the ground may be cold indeed when the new one arrives.
Already veterans of Roadburn, the Desertfests, Freak Valley (where the above photo was taken) and many others on extensive US and European tours over the last few years, The Midnight Ghost Train were announced this week as taking part in the 2015 Hellfest in Clisson, France, next June. This week, however, they’re kicking around the Midwest, presumably just because it hurts them to sit still for too long. Dates are included with the release info and tracklisting for the new record below:
HERE IT IS. The Cover, Tracklist and Release Dates of our new album “Cold Was The Ground”
Release Dates: 2.28.2015 – GSA / Europe / AUS 3.2.2015 – UK / NO / FR / DK / IT 3.04.2015 – SE / ESP 3.10.2015 – USA / CAN
Tracklist: 1. Along The Chasm 2. Gladstone 3. BC Trucker 4. Arvonia 5. One Last Shelter 6. The Canfield 7. Straight To The North 8. No. 227 9. The Little Sparrow 10. Twin Souls 11. Mantis
The Midnight Ghost Train live: 11.19.14 The Rockery, Detroit, MI 11.20.14 The Avenue Cafe, Lansing, MI 11.21.14 Crunchy Frog, Green Bay, WI 11.22.14 Eronel, Dubuque, IA 06.19.15 Hellfest, Clisson, France
