The Magic of The Midnight - Live in Raleigh, NC

If there's one thing that makes us human, it's how fascinated we are by the unexplainable. Whether it's crazy science beyond our comprehension, odd coincidences, or even a man in a suit pulling a rabbit out of a hat, magic activates a part of our brains that nothing else can. If I had to describe what truly encapsulates that feeling of magic for me, it would be music, without a doubt. From its simple, soft melodies to relatable, soul-crushing lyrics, it’s a genuine miracle that mere vibrations in the air can make us feel a swell of emotions that nothing else compares to. That feeling of bliss as your favorite song plays, or those goosebumps you get when a new tune strikes that perfect resonance in your soul, is a rush of warmth unlike any other. And the best part is, there's a practically endless amount of it out there across hundreds of genres. For anyone who seeks a band that encapsulates this supernatural energy in every track, look no further than The Midnight.

With 14 years of history rooted in the City of Angels, Tyler Lyle and Tim McEwan have been one of the world’s dominant synthwave acts, with six studio albums and even a successful graphic novel. They produce their music with their motto in mind: the Japanese phrase “mono no aware” (物の哀れ), which loosely translates to “the sad beauty of seeing time pass—the aching awareness of impermanence.” Drawing inspiration from the Outrun aesthetic and the 2011 film Drive and its score, Lyle and McEwan have transformed their mutual love for 80s synths into what fans around the world now know as The Midnight.

After a few sold-out LA shows in 2017, the duo began touring in 2018 and later tripled their touring group's size to include a saxophonist, two more guitarists, and a synth player. McEwan stepped away from touring in 2024 to focus on music production and his personal life but is still heavily involved with the project! Sadly, he won’t be on stage for the foreseeable future, though. With the band’s ninth tour in progress, they stopped in Raleigh for the fourth time this past Friday night to bring their magic back to The Ritz!

After Bonnie McKee’s stellar opening set, The Midnight slowly walked onto the stage as the instrumental of “Sanctuary” played, and as Tyler Lyle grabbed his microphone, the lights lit up the room to introduce the band’s very own magic show. With the first three tracks coming straight from their new album, Syndicate, which celebrated its first anniversary on the 3rd, fans, both old and new, were welcomed into the performance. “Gloria” was played next, from their first EP back in 2014. Seeing how lively and excited the crowd was during every song, Tyler gave a short speech before playing “The Comeback Kid,” admiring what he called the crowd’s “collective effervescence,” and talked about how the meaning of this next song has changed for him over time. Through tragedy, loss, and hardship, Tyler’s definition is now completely different from what he originally wrote it about, and that’s okay with him. He asked the audience to pull their loved ones close and join in for the song, and with several teary eyes, they did. And it was beautiful.

As the night drew on, opener Bonnie McKee took the stage to join The Midnight in a spectacular performance of “Runaways” and “Jason” in a sparkly new outfit, despite her injured leg, and blew the audience away! Somehow, the show’s mysticism continued to grow, and before performing the band’s most popular song, “Los Angeles,” Tyler talked for a bit about the very magic we were all feeling that night and how, just like music helped him throughout his life, he hopes it’s done the same for us. Everyone in attendance was invited to scream out the name of their favorite songs and albums, which flooded the venue as over a thousand people cried out in unison to praise the music they held so dearly to them. Unsurprisingly, the main act received the most praise, but so many artists were named that I’d be here all night if I tried to list the ones I heard! Throughout the song, the audience swung their hands from side to side during the chorus and sent literal waves across the crowd.

The show eased into its final few songs with classics such as “Days of Thunder," “Sunset,” and "Vampires," with its killer sax solo performed by Justin Klunk as he hopped off stage and walked directly through the eager crowd. And somehow, almost as soon as it began, the lights dimmed for the final time that night as the twinkling outro of “Sunset” faded from every speaker in the room, only to be replaced by thunderous applause as the band exited the stage. Some fans went home, hand in hand; others stuck around to socialize for a bit, and more went back to the merch stand to pick up a shirt, vinyl, or cassette, but every soul that came to see the show left happier and with a smile on their face and warmth in their heart.

The “Time Machines” tour concludes in Mexico in about two weeks, with upcoming dates in New England and the Midwest, so if you’re nearby and have been itching to see them live, you’ve still got time! It’s definitely not a show you want to miss, and it’s been one of my favorite concerts I’ve attended this year—just as good as when I saw them at the same venue around this time in 2023. Their latest album is absolutely worth a listen if you haven’t listened yet, and the band has hinted that after this tour they’ll get to work on new music!