“In music, repetition leads to freedom,” explains Raul Midón during his stop at Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live. If what the two-time Grammy nominee says is true, he must be the most free person, and his live show proves that. Midón is prepping the release of Lost & Found on April 26, a bluesy folk-inspired LP with pop tendencies and uplifting songwriting. On a cold, cloudy day in Philadelphia (April 18), the veteran guitarist and songwriter brought his unmatched live performance to the city. To say it was a spiritual experience would do a disservice to the showmanship of Midón. He redefines one-man-band by playing guitar with one hand, the bongos with the other, and belting out an impressive horn impersonation. A lone polyrhythm machine, Midón’s recordings are impressive enough, but another world opens when you see these songs live.
“The road has been good this year; I was just in Switzerland last week,” explains Midón as he graciously gave Glide a few moments before soundcheck to ask him some questions. “Every show is different, the crowd is different, the venue is different.” the artist has been all around the globe this year to promote Lost & Found. “I have a house and a studio now; I can work on stuff anytime I want; to some extent, I’m established now. I can just get up and go downstairs and work on something, and I’m more self-sufficient in that sense”. This home studio is where Midón recorded the upcoming LP. When asked how this new set-up affected his creative process, he said, “A lot of times you’re working alone, and sometimes the collaboration has to be remote. The good thing is you can experiment, which I value highly. You can record something and not worry about if it fits into your brand, whatever the hell that is. It’s a lot more freeing.”
Whatever his brand, that freedom to experiment is a big part. Fans of Midón will notice Lost & Found is a change of pace compared to his collaborative 2022 LP Eclectic Adventurist. When asked about the change in sound, he responded, “I made the instrumental album, and thoughts were ‘Let’s make some songs.’ There wasn’t anything in particular; it was just time to put out another album”. Comparatively, Lost & Found is a pure solo effort, but the artist has an evolved sense of collaboration, “I feel more comfortable; the secret of collaboration is to be open to someone taking it someplace you didn’t think of.”
If you haven’t seen Raul Midón live, you’re missing out. His show last night has to be one of the most impressive performances to come through World Cafe in recent history. The setlist bounced around his colorful discography as the one-man band intertwined his career with anecdotes about the history of classics like “Sunshine (I Can Fly).” “I try to pace [the show], try to make sure things aren’t in the same key from one song to the next,” explains Midón about his process of creating a setlist, “I have to memorize the setlist. I can’t just look down on a piece of paper. I use this trick where I create sentences out of the titles of the songs. It’s really important to have a plan”.
Midón executed that plan in a stunning display of veteran musicianship. While implementing unreleased tracks from Lost & Found, Midón pulled out classics like “Pedal to the Metal” and “Invisible Chains.” He doesn’t simply strum his guitar; the complexity of Midón’s guitar prowess requires a microscope to understand his nuanced playing style. Not only is he finger-plucking at break-neck speeds, but he is singing and telling stories with vivid imagery. Midón does more than perform; he creates an environment filled with nimble melodies and vocal octaves that reach soaring falsettos as quickly as they arrive at a deep baritone. This is a pure musician doing what they do best, a masterclass of technique accented by sentimental writing.
“To be honest with you, I am contemplating not making any more albums because it’s become almost pointless. People don’t listen to albums anymore. Making an album is a process. One wonders how relevant it is these days.” Raul Midón has been writing and playing for years now. He is a veteran with the talents to prove it and a success with the recognition to back it up. Lost & Found will mark his 13th major release with some of the most potent songwriting of his career. “I love the title track, a song inspired by Bob Dylan. I like the way ‘Ocean of Doubt’ is going. It’s not the happiest song ever, but people are getting it,” the artist responds. When asked about which song off Lost & Found, he’s excited for people to hear. Whether your favorites from the album lineup with the man himself or not, don’t miss the release of Lost & Found on April 26. You can catch Raul Midón on the road for the next few months; check out his schedule below, and if he is in your area, don’t miss out on seeing a living legend perform with all their heart.
