The Trial Of Van Midlake

In college, we had this MTV channel, mtvU, that actually played music videos. Weird, right? You could turn it on and expect to see a full-length, non-TRL shortened version of (at the time) some My Chemical Romance, Phoenix or Snow Patrol video. I know, how embarrassing, I'm showing my old...

By Patrick Williams

September 11, 2006

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18855504",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17105533",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105532",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18349797",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17105535",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

In college, we had this MTV channel, mtvU, that actually played music videos. Weird, right? You could turn it on and expect to see a full-length, non-TRL shortened version of (at the time) some My Chemical Romance, Phoenix or Snow Patrol video. I know, how embarrassing, I'm showing my old age here.

Love 'em or hate 'em, MCR were SXSW darlings last year and Phoenix are blowing up at ACL this weekend (though I'll see 'em at Gypsy on Friday night.) Snow Patrol's crotch-rocking your mom on Vh1 these days. So the more love you can convince mtvU to give local boys Midlake on The Freshmen--the show that decides what makes major rotation on the channel--the better. It's time we got a, you know, not sucky band from Dallas on the national radar, no? It's not like things are looking so great for us just now.

So do a good thing: vote for Midlake's video for "Roscoe," off the new album The Trials of Van Occupanther here. When I started writing this blog entry, they were ranked No. 1; now they're down at No. 2, which means it is time for you, friend, to do your musical civic duty. --Andrea Grimes

KEEP THE OBSERVER FREE... Since we started the Dallas Observer, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Dallas, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Patrick Williams is editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer. Before joining the staff in July 1997, Patrick worked for the Southern Illinoisan, Amarillo Globe News and San Antonio Express-News. As editor-in-chief, he oversees the newsroom and guides the coverage of both the Dallas Observer’s printed publication and online website.

Contact: Patrick Williams