With Comparisons to JOAN JETT AND THE RUNAWAYS, Rock Band, MIDNIGHT MOB Discusses Their Upcoming EP “Honest Brutal Glorious”, Their Biggest Inspirations and Much More!

The New York based powerhouse rockers in Midnight Mob have staked their claim at the intersection of punk, metal, blues, and soul.

Vocalist Blackey Deathproof, guitarist Mickey Squeeze, bassist Carly Quinn, and drummer Beatz flawlessly blend classic rock influences with modern day inspirations to create something beautifully reckless.

Having already impressed the likes of Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan with bewitching live performances at the CBGB Music Festival and songs featured on WWE Smackdown, Midnight Mob is set to rock the world one riff at a time.

To date, the Mob has released two EPs – 2011’s self-titled debut and 2013’s Black Moon Rising – in addition to 2014’s full-length album These Days. Stay tuned for the band’s Honest Brutal Glorious EP, set to drop in 2016.

Midnight Mob Online:

instagram.com/MidnightMob101
Soundcloud.com/MidnightMob
Youtube.com/TheMidnightMob
Facebook.com/MidnightMob
twitter.com/MidnightMob101

Here’s the video to their newest single, “Swing On”:

Learn more about Midnight Mob in the following All Access interview here:

Thanks for your time today! So, how’s 2016 been treating the band so far? What were some of the highlights of 2015?

Anytime! We love talking about music. This year has been really amazing. All of our hard work over the past 2 years is finally coming to fruition. The first single, “Swing On”, was released on 1/21, the video for the single was filmed and will be released on 2/26, the new EP, Honest Brutal Glorious, will be released late March plus we have a bunch of festivals in the works and it is all supported by a killer team!

The biggest highlight of 2015 was finishing recording our new ep and exceeding our PledgeMusic goal, which was at 121%. Our PledgeMusic campaign funded our recordings and was supported from fans all over the US and in Europe. It was an achievement that makes everything worthwhile.

How do you think your sound has changed since you first formed in 2009? What has stayed the same?

In the beginning we weren’t really sure what our focus was. The band originally bonded over more classic style rock n roll, which our first and second ep’s had more of. Overtime we found more influence introducing different styles of rock n roll and push our musical boundaries a bit more. One of the new tracks is a punk track with a reggae bridge if you can picture that, but it works seamlessly. Another track has a punk rock vibe then transitions into dance beats which is followed by Sabbath style outro. After all is said in done the first single is a disco metal track that can cross many genres even into heavier country. Even though we branched out and experimented a bit, we still have the same high energy, big vocals, guitars, bass, drums, same attitude towards quality and most importantly it comes off real and genuine.

How did you all first come together and form Midnight Mob? How did you come up with the band name? What other names were you considering?

This is a long story full of crazy coincidences and side stories, but here it is in a nutshell. Squeeze was giving guitar lessons at a local music store, which unfortunately bit the dust. I was his guitar student. Catastrophe, our original drummer, gave drumming lessons at the same place. They bonded over Mötley Crüe and started jamming. Catastrophe and I had some mutual school friends. I was dating one of these mutual school friends who fronted a band. I did backing vocals for this band from time to time. Catastrophe noticed me and asked if I was interested in joining a project he was doing. During this project is where I found my voice. Squeeze was part of that project originally but split because it was really cheesy. Not long after I graduated from backing vocals to lead vocals. At the same time Catastrophe named the project, Midnight Mob, after a lyric that was in one of the producer’s songs, whom was heading this project. The project soon fell through, but the name, Midnight Mob, stuck.

Catastrophe & Squeeze reunited this time with me as the singer. Catastrophe found Carly (bassist) through a fan of his former band. There was a day where we tried to come up with other band names, but we really didn’t and Midnight mob was official. Chris Beatz filled the drummer seat years later.

You’ve been compared to Joan Jett and The Runaways. Would you agree with that comparison?

I can definitely see the physical resemblance and that’s always extremely flattering comparison. She was a very big part of flying the flag that women can hold their own in a male dominated arena so she gets a serious rock salute. But I think the comparison doesn’t really go any further than the physical. I tried playing guitar but totally failed at that. Vocally I have been also compared to Brody Dalle, Janis Joplin and Pink, which I think is more me.

On a side note Joan Jett is really sweet. We played with Cherie Currie (Runaways) & Joan came to the show. We talked with both of them for a while, really cool.

What was the inspiration for your newest single, “Swing On”?

Each song tells a piece of a story of being “buried alive” overcoming your almost expected demise then realizing it’s not all over so you fight, never giving up and punching your way to the surface grasping that glorious high of beating the odds. Growing up I had my vices with substances to deal with some dark issues. Like everyone else’s story, it was a band aid that wasn’t coming close to holding me together. Eventually I realized all the pain I was in and all the lies I was putting out there until emotionally one day I couldn’t get up. This was it, this was my fight, live or die.  So I swung harder than I have ever swung and didn’t stop until I was sure it was over and I could move on. “Swing On” was about the final two years of that journey.

When do you plan on releasing your forthcoming EP, “Honest Brutal Glorious”?

The plan is to release Honest Brutal Glorious on all platforms March 25, 2016. For all those hardcore old school souls out there interested in a physical cd you can purchase that from our store at www.MidnightMobFans.com/Shop on the same day. Who knows we may even put a promo code out there for those on the mailing list?!

You’ve been performing a lot this month! What’s been a favorite show? Where are you excited to play at next?

That would definitely be our show NYC show at Gramercy Theatre supporting the Dirty Pearls. That same night for one night only people could buy a physical copy of Honest Brutal Glorious. It was a sold out Saturday night filled with so much love for us. It was truly incredible. Fans came from NJ, PA, CT and upstate NY for the event. on 2/26, we celebrated the release of the video for “Swing On” at Drom in NYC.

What bands have continued to inspire you and the group’s music? Who would you love to work with one day?

We’re inspired by: The Clash, Social Distortion, Iggy Pop, Motorhead, Johnny Cash, The Distillers, Cheap Trick, The Wildhearts, Pink Floyd, NY Dolls, Iggy Pop, The Supersuckers, Clutch, The Dead Boys

We would have loved to work with Motörhead. Motörhead really embodied the stick to your guns do what you love mentality. They made timeless rock n roll that combined punk, metal, blues and a whole lot of soul. Over the years we have encountered countless people namedropping artists that they have worked with looking to change us into what’s “popular” and make us the next biggest thing.  Motörhead & Lemmy’s philosophy has kept it real for us and is a true testament to put your head down and keep pushing forward. If it’s from the heart and what you bleed for, you’ll succeed. In the words of Lemmy, “Stand- you can make it, Stand- you can take it, Stand- realize that nobody can break you, Stand- Like You’re Made of Stone”.

Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan has been vocal about being impressed with your live show. What did that feel like?

Amazing! We had no idea Duff was around until we finished our set, which was NYC Times Square opening for Jane’s Addiction as part of the CBGB Music Festival. He was even on the stage right before we played in the background and we had no idea. You can see him in the back of some of our photos. Afterwards I approached him and we took a picture. He basically gave me a ton of positive feedback about our set. Months later a friend of mine was at his book signing and she asked if he remembered us. He totally did our set time and everything and said we were great.  It feels really good to have that assurance, that proof we are good enough.

What do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

To not be afraid and they’re not alone. I hope it inspires people to take a deeper look at themselves and the world and believe they can make changes.  I believe the truth sets people free and no matter how dark the subject matter I’m speaking about in a song, I always want there to be hope in it. I don’t want to sing a song about being victorious without conveying that it takes sacrifice, pain, and letting go of what makes you comfortable. Gotta leave something behind to get further, yah know? I get stronger every time even on the rough days when I want to give up and have a hard time feeling it. …it always pulls the truth out. You can never move forward without the truth and forcing yourself to be honest and getting out of your comfortable dark bubble…It will be brutal and at times you’ll feel like your gonna want to die and its not worth the sacrifice to get there. Some times it means letting go of what we love most…..But in the end, it’s Glorious.