"We wanted to make a record that would capture everything we've become as musicians and a band. The last year has been full of creative combustion, conflict and contention but never complacency. The process has been a beautiful experience, and if we never get the chance to record in this caliber of focus and freedom again, there will be solace in our musical journey together as we left it."
Midnight Satellites - Sal Spinelli -Vocals/Guitar, Brennan Kilpatrick - Vocals/Guitar, Ryan Kilpatrick - Bass, Nick Seiwert - Drums, is a band full of creative construct in every sense, and a free roaming musical unit operating like a fine tuned motor. It's difficult to describe their sound as anything but their own considering the material on the current self released full length, Past Presence Future. One would pin them as a modern rock outfit, with songs like Almost Famous and Long Lost ready to anchor any adrenaline junkies soundtrack. Others would sink into a blue mood with the 6/8 eerie sway of Thorn In My Side. Before long, the acoustic tracks supported with soothing stand up orchestral bass, Memories and Awaiting inspirebit of introspective thought. Rounding out the 13 tracks are anthemic mid tempo songs, Standing and Wake Up which are eager to be sung along to.
"There was an opportunity that allowed us to really write songs that could say what we always wanted to as writers. The arena to use instrumentation we had never be able to use and take the time to make it how we wanted was really paramount in getting this to turn out the way it did."
Not only did Midnight Satellites draw all musical influences and outlets to write and record, but sought to assemble a handpicked team, bringing their vision to reality. Percussion added by legendary session and live player, Jackie Bertone (Beach Boys, Tower of Power) and featured vocals by Lindsey Carrier. Produced and engineered by John Lowson (Roger Waters, Brian Wilson), mixed by Will Brierre (Imagine Dragons, The Killers) and mastered by Reuben Cohen (Foo Fighters, Pharrell Williams), the combined experience helped make "Past Presence Future" a record that not only takes the listener on a journey, but also pleases the ear with sonic precision and color.
Midnight Satellites Cd Credits
PAST.PRESENCE.FUTURE
Sal Spinelli - Vocals, Guitars, Piano
Brennan Kilpatrick - Vocals, Guitars
Ryan Kilpatrick - Bass Guitars
Nick Seiwert - Drums
*Jackie Bertone - Perucssion
Lindsey Carrier - Addition Vocals on Heart Feeling Dead
Recorded At
SonikWire Studios Irvine, California
JL Productions Temecula, California
3Ravens Studios Temecula, California
Produced & Engineered by John Lowson
Assistant Engineer - Andy Guerrero
Mixed by Will Brierre at The Ballroom Studio, Los Angeles, Ca
Mastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Hollywood, Ca
All Songs Written and Arranged by Midnight Satellites
Copyright 2015 MSATSMUSIC ASCAP
Art Direction - David Carrillo // Magnetic Creative
Live & Studio Photography - Cory Tichenor
CD Design Layout - Lauren Spinelli // Magnetic Creative
*Jackie Bertone is endorsed by and exlusively plays: LP Music Group
*Percussion Recorded at Barkwood Studios Winchester, California
Vater Percussion - Vater.com, Sabian Cymbals - sabian.com
link: http://www.echoandbuzz.com/album-reviews
MIDNIGHT SATELLITES
PAST. PRESENCE. FUTURE
by Chris Whelton
The new Midnight Satellites CD, Past, Presence, Future marks the bands leap from being the best local band to becoming a legitimate independent artist worthy of a national tour, opening for an established act. Hopefully the band’s performance of the cd at the House of Blues was videotaped. It was the best live show I’ve seen in 5 years.
The single, Almost Famous, is a blueprint for a radio hit with a bouncy bass-line and raucous Queens Of The Stone Age guitars. Heart Feeling Dead has a surprising Johnny Lang vibe to it. On Long Lost the band returns to their metal influences and I was pleasantly reminded of Radiohead. Track #8, Get Low, is also fun pop punk that easily could have been penned by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In fact the entire cd is a testament to the band’s growth as songwriters and as a viable commercial project.
Individually each of the musicians have also grown up. Brennan’s Kilpatrick’s vocals add a great second voice to the band, and Sal Spinelli’s lead guitar is immaculate and spot on. Nick Seiwert is perfectly in time on drums. The album also features Jackie Bertone on percussion, and Lindsey Carter on backup vocals. I’m most impressed however, both live and on the cd, with bassist Ryan Kilpatrick. He’s explosive on stage carrying many of the songs, and his bow work on standup bass for the final track, Awaiting, is brilliant.
My only suggestions are, less is more when it comes to vocal effects, and I’d ask for one extended burn-the-house-down guitar solo. The band rocked the paint off the stage at the San Diego House of Blues CD release show. I’d like to hear that on the CD.
Past, Presence, Future is more than just another CD in the glovebox. It’s the Midnight Satellites ticket out of town.
link: http://www.lasfmagazine.com/#!midnight-satellites-at-house-of-blues-/c1u3l
Midnight Satellites
House of Blues San Diego
August 15, 2015
Photos and review by Martin Santacruz Jr.
It was quite possibly the hottest day on record in Southern California but inside the legendary House of Blues in San Diego, the stage was on fire with the fist-pumping sounds of Midnight Satellites. The rockers from Temecula, CA, were promoting the release of their latest release, Past Presence Future, which had the fans drooling over the high-octane energy in the room. The venue, located in the heart of Downtown, was already swarming with the beautiful people looking for action in the gorgeous city.
The band is headed by lead vocalist and guitarist Sal Spinelli, brothers Brennan (vocals/guitar) and Ryan (bass) Kilpatrick and Nick Seiwert on drums. The gang of four create unique rock songs that take influences from heavy metal, pop, jazz and funk. Songs like “Drug Me” play like an homage to Soundgarden while “Travel On” (with a YouTube video that has the song playing over timelapse footage of the International Space Station’s on-board cameras) features subtle rock melodies like something out of the 90s. The boys of Midnight Satellites came to the House of Blues to show off their immense talent and kicked ass in the process.
The show kicked with openers Mad Traffic, Belmont Lights, Restoration One, Dante’s Boneyard and Broken Stems. The crowd was sufficiently warmed by these bands and ready for Midnight Satellites. The four-piece came to the stage wasted no time with introductions and drove the hard-hitting sounds of their epic song “Drug Me” right into the sweaty eardrums of the crowd. The intensity of this band shook the foundation of the room as the fans reveled in the screeching solos by Brennan’s wild finger play on his guitar. The band maneuvered through their set list and included songs like, “Almost Famous,” “Travel On,” and a surprise guest, Lindsey Carrier, on the song “Heart Feeling Dead.”
The music of Midnight Satellites plays to a wide audience because of their originality and versatility as a collective. Dual vocals and harmonic melodies are balanced by the well-oiled rock riffs that explode from the start of their latest venture, Past Presence Future. The band has roots in San Diego but with a recent tour of Hollywood, it is only a matter of time before they conquer the west and continue towards global domination. Midnight Satellites are currently touring in support of their album and sure to make headlines in the coming months. This is one show not to be missed.
Link:http://www.pe.com/articles/kilpatrick-776289-band-album.html?page=2
When Midnight Satellites released their debut EP in 2013, the grunge-inspired collection of songs launched the band far beyond its origin as a fun-filled side project of “Guitar Hero” covers.
Now, the Temecula-based group’s debut full-length, “Past Presence Future,” which lifts off on Saturday, Aug. 8, has Midnight Satellites exploring new sonic territories.
“With the EP we were kind of getting our feet wet as a band,” guitarist and singer Brennan Kilpatrick said.
“Past Presence Future” strays from the alternative rock of the band’s debut and paints a canvas speckled with pop rock, blues and introspective acoustic works as well as more straightforward rock and flashes of heavy metal guitar solos, all with top-notch production. Midnight Satellites will celebrate the release of the album at the House of Blues San Diego on Aug. 15.
The group started with Kilpatrick; his brother, bassist Ryan Kilpatrick; and guitarist and singer Sal Spinelli under the moniker Master Splinter and the Shredders – an homage to the ’80s and ’90s cover songs they played throughout Southern California with their original drummer – and started making original music.
Shortly after releasing the EP, drummer Nick Seiwert joined the band when their previous drummer left to join another touring band.
In addition to the diversity of musical styles on the new release, the band and its players’ roles have also evolved.
“On this particular album, we ended up evolving into a duo lead vocal/lead guitar kind of band,” guitarist and singer Spinelli said.
He and Brennan Kilpatrick often perform around the Temecula Valley as an acoustic duo, Sal & Brennan. Playing three to four hours at a time at area wineries, restaurants and bars, they decided to split up the vocals to keep from blowing out their voices.
“We ended up getting really comfortable harmonizing with each other,” Spinelli said.
Previously, Spinelli had been the lead singer for the group, but Brennan Kilpatrick had written some songs and had some ideas for the vocals.
In a creative industry known for giant egos, he only found support from his band mates. Likewise, Spinelli picks up some of the lead guitar duties.
“This time around the songwriting was a little more spontaneous,” Brennan Kilpatrick said.
Themes running through the album are letting go of the past, taking charge of the present and embracing the future.
The harmonies the pair have perfected in their acoustic shows get the big anthem treatment on “Wake Up,” and their twin lead guitar approach shines on the hooky “Almost Famous.”
Throughout the record, the rhythm section of Ryan Kilpatrick and Seiwert deftly shifts through the moods, providing the backbone for the radio-ready mix.
“There’s an energetic part of the album and an introspective part of the album,” Spinelli said.
Ryan Kilpatrick used an upright bass to add a different feel to the album’s acoustic tracks. Guest turns from percussionist Jackie Bertone and singer Lindsey Carrier are integral to the whole.
Every spin of “Past Presence and Future” leads to another surprise on a finely crafted record.
8 p.m. Aug. 15, House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego. Free if reserved in advance via midnightsatellites
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KELLY McGARRY PRESENTS:
VITALOGY, DIRTY MACHINE, MIDNIGHT SATELLITES, CONVEY