Midland is back and better than ever with some brand new tunes, announcing that their next album titled Barely Blue — described as “an eight-song exploration of loneliness, masculinity and resilience in the face of heartache” — will hit streaming services on September 20, with its opening track titled “Lucky Sometimes” out today (June 26).
The trio began teasing “Lucky Sometimes” earlier this month, instantaneously garnering an excited reaction from country music lovers all across the globe:
“Yes boys 😍😍😍 Bring on those sweet sweet tunes 🙌”
“The boyyyzzzz 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Already feeling lucky 😍”
After weeks and weeks of teasers — as well as a performance of the brand new tune at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, Texas — the studio version of “Lucky Sometimes” is finally available on all music streaming services, along with a music video directed by Harper Smith.
Said music video captures the classic country sound and overall simplicity Midland is known for, with Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cameron Duddy singing “Lucky Sometimes” in a single shot, with no cuts whatsoever. As raw as can be, it feels like the viewer is actually in the room with the talented singer/songwriters, allowing country music lovers to connect with the song on an even deeper level.
Wystrach himself said it best: ‘Lucky Sometimes’ is a get up and go, hot streak, feel good anthem for when it feels like you just can’t lose. The arrangement is sparse with a high and lonesome groove that crests with soaring harmonies on the hook. It’s the first song on the album and an introduction to the new sonic landscape that Midland found with Dave Cobb at the helm.”
As far as the album goes, Barely Blue was recorded alongside nine time GRAMMY Award winner Dave Cobb at Georgia Mae Studios in Savannah, Georgia. Set to hit streaming services via Big Machine Records on September 20, it is unclear what the rest of the record has in store, but if it’s anything like “Lucky Sometimes,” it’s sure to be nothing short of spectacular.
“We knew we wanted to go somewhere else,” Cameron Duddy teased about the forthcoming album. “We are all big believers in a certain time and place, a sense of classic country that comes from roadhouses and bad coffee, miles and miles and miles on the road – and the idea that, even though we’re all happy, love and life falls apart, but that doesn’t mean you have to, too. When we were writing these songs, it was a trip into all the things in country music we love. You don’t hear much of this kind of unfiltered, hard stuff that comes with the great guitar sounds, the deep harmonies and shuffles you can tuck into. But that’s the essence of what Midland is – and Dave Cobb brought a new altitude to our sound.”
Naturally, Wystrach chimed into the conversation: “Dave Cobb had been a producer we wanted to work with since we first heard Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. Dave’s eclectic musical background and the way he approaches recording as an experience and not a task made him the perfect match for us. On Barely Blue, we feel like Dave helped us find the sound we’ve been searching for for a long time.”
With all of Midland’s new music aside, the trio is also hitting the road for The Get Lucky Tour — alongside Tanya Tucker, Colin Stough, Colby Acuff, Elvie Shane, Jackson Dean and The Wilder Blue — announcing this run of shows today as well. Kicking off in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 19 and concluding in Austin, Texas on December 20, the tour is certain to showcase some of the tunes that Barely Blue has in store, as well as some more country classics from the “Drinkin’ Problem” singers.
To see if they are coming to a city near you, you can view all of Midland’s stops on The Get Lucky Tour below. Until then, it’s safe to say that we will be anxiously awaiting Barely Blue.
TOUR DATES:
9/19 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center $
9/20 – Chicago, IL – The Riviera Theatre $
9/21 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s Stir Cove $
9/27 – Anderson, SC – Wendell’s Outdoor ^
9/28 – St. Augustine, FL – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre ^
10/3 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company *
10/4 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
10/5 – Cherokee, NC – Cherokee Tribal Fair *
10/9 – El Paso, TX – Speaking Rock Entertainment Center
10/11 – Grand Junction, CO – Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park ^
10/12 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre #^
10/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center !
10/26 – Kennewick, WA – Toyota Center !
11/2 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port !
11/29 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall !
11/30 – Dallas, TX – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory !
12/6 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels @
12/7 – Albuquerque, NM – Rio Rancho Events Center @
12/20 – Austin, TX – ACL Live Moody Theater !
@ – Support from Tanya Tucker
$ – Support from Colin Stough
^ – Support from Colby Acuff
* – Support from Elvie Shane
# – Support from Jackson Dean
! – Support from The Wilder Blue
Watch the music video for “Lucky Sometimes” here: