Today we’re pleased to bring you a western-tinged track from Michael Sackler-Berner.
It’s “Midnight Crisis” the b-side of the first release in a series of digital 45s (with both a- and b-sides), which will culminate in Michael Sackler-Berner’s double EP release due out February 11th, 2015.
This song perfectly expresses that feeling of desperate realization that things just are not gonna go as planned.
Sackler-Berner’s haunting, intense vocal coupled with a driving rhythm guitar and shaker backbone and some twangy intertwined lead lines easily echo the feel of the lyric. As Sackler-Berner so eloquently shares, “The future ain’t what it used to be.”
But don’t get me wrong, this toe tapper somehow comes across with a certain optimism, and if you don’t dig too deep into this sad affair, it’ll leave you feeling ready for more.
Sackler-Berner shares some background on the song, “I was scheduled for a daytime writing session with producer Leo Sidran at my studio here in Brooklyn. Leo lives about fifteen minutes away, and I was familiar with his credits, but I had never met him. About ten minutes before he buzzed upstairs I was futzing around on my old Silvertone and found that descending guitar lick.
“After a quick ‘nice to meet you,’ I played him the lick. He thought it was good enough to write a song around. He picked up my old (1955) Gibson J-160E, which has been on all my records, and we scratched out the lyrics and structure in about a half an hour. Then we cut a basic track together with guitar and drums. I overdubbed the slide guitar solo and then vocals. The shaker you hear on the track is actually a string of dried out cocoons I shook around.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
“I think whatever vibe a song is suited for, should be fully committed to. We landed on a swampy, dark, bayou road trip feel — probably because I was watching True Detective at the time! I have a not-so-closet fantasy that this tune will show up in some sort of Southern Gothic movie or TV program one day.
“I like the title a lot because even if you aren't an insomniac, or unable to sleep because of a scary TV show like True Detective, you can relate to a midnight crisis. Who hasn't been unable to fall asleep when the wheels keep spinning?”
Laura B. Whitmore is a music industry marketing veteran, music journalist and editor, writing for Parade.com,Guitar World, and others. She has interviewed hundreds of musicians and hosts the She Rocks Podcast. As the founder of the Women’s International Music Network, she advocates for women in the music industry and produces the annual She Rocks Awards. She is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Positive Grid, making the world safe for guitar exploration everywhere! A guitarist and singer/songwriter, Laura is currently co-writing an album of pop songs that empower and energize girls.
