Local Band Profile Midnight Pharmacy It’s been really nice, a privilege, to watch and document this band from their inception to their current point in their journey. Although I’ve known lead guitarist, Luke Horne, for years, my first contact with the rest of the band was when I went to photograph them rehearsing at the Rooftop Studios on Feeder Road. They only had a few original songs and were supplementing their set with Arctic Monkeys covers. Their first gig was in a Battle of the Bands competition. They came second and won a set on stage at the Keynsham Festival in 2009. Frontman Tom Sydenham feels this casual start all helped them make them the act they have become; “Not starting off in intimidating venues, playing to real musos and unfamiliar faces like many bands have to put up with was good for us. We played to our friends and people that may not necessarily go out to see a band. I think that influenced our song writing; it made us want it to be accessible. We wanted big choruses to drop. We wanted singing. Dancing.” Midnight Pharmacy seem a different kettle of fish to your average wannabe indie band: Much more progressive and willing to take a chance; a strong rhythm section with banging drums and funky bass,
After their first summer together, things went a little quiet. Tom went off to Art School, Luke went off to India and original bassist, Hotdog, almost died falling off a bridge. All these experiences and events helped bring a new philosophy to the band; a less impatient desire to hit the big time. With new bassist, Lewis ‘Wiss Toghill, there came a more improvisational element to the live gigs where the band have a jamming session halfway through sets. In August 2010, Midnight Pharmacy launched their first EP, Treasure Beyond Measure, with a gig at The Croft. They are continuing to write new material and Luke will sometimes take the frontman role, They are adding a little bit of electronica to their sound with vocorders and synth pedals. They want to increase the visual impact of the band and have started introducing a projector to their gigs. As Tom told me; “At the moment it’s all about progression with no limitation. We have no intention on staying in the same place for too long. We wouldn’t want to overstay our welcome.” www.myspace.com/midnightpharmacyuk Mike Clarke
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