The Midwestern Charm

Green Bay Band Reviews
The Midwestern Charm live at IQ's Bar in Green Bay, WI

By TJ
January 3, 2010
It was nice to get out the night after Christmas and catch a new band. Sometimes holidays leave me feeling a little claustrophobic and what better way to shake it off than with some live music. Tonight my eyes and ears were focused on the band The Midwestern Charm, a four piece original rock band from Green Bay and Oshkosh. Lead by singer/writer and acoustic guitar player Connor Sands La Mue. No stranger to our local music scene, I first met Connor and bass player Jesse of Midwestern Charm in May of 09 when their band the time "Connor Sands and The Way Out" was opening for "The Hollands" at the Cup of Joy on Broadway. Connor was an obvious talent and we somewhat kept in touch over the summer months, but our paths didn't cross very often because he is a college student trying to make the grade and rock out at the same time. Connor Sands and The Way Out disbanded shortly after their debut CD "Fireworks at Dawn" release show at the Eagles club, read my review from July. Ironically The Midwestern Charm were on their way in at that show and played four songs to get things started. The Midwestern Charm's shows can somewhat appear at the drop of a hat.

Running a band and attending college at the same time is almost a feat that never works simultaneously and usually one gives way to the other, but these guys have managed to gain enough playing experience to develop into a really great rock band. They even managed to record their first CD at Oshkosh University and they are in the process of mixing it down. You can expect a release in early 2010, but in the meantime check their myspace page. Currently playing off the album in the works is the demo track, "Keep Me Warm." The Midwestern Charm is decidedly more mature than any of Connor's previous projects. It is more upbeat but still packed with all the emotion and energy that Connor is known for. So after a little over half a year The Midwestern Charm has gone from side project band to a full force rock act that is preparing to take the Wisconsin music scene by storm this summer. Anyone who has seen or heard The Midwestern Charm knows exactly what I'm talking about and the potential they have. Tonight they are the headlining act at IQ's Food Music and Art, right and ready for a three hour set. Normally The Midwestern Charm's set is a wee bit under an hour. Along with the place being relatively packed, a few of my friends rolled in with the same mind set as mine. The music got underway, the good times got rolling, and so did the pitchers of Guinness on tap! The Midwestern Charm would be best described as alternative indie rock and roll. Their sound has an edge with a little bit of radio friendliness; Connor's vocals are earnest, emotional, and stitched together with his artistic narrative lyrics and acoustic guitar rhythms. He has a great sense of his volume range, which he keeps in check and that's good because he can go from very loud to quiet in less than a measure. Ryan McCrary's over-driven Les Paul electric guitar leads and accents the band greatly; a musician friend of mine noted that Ryan's accents are tastefully done and I would have to agree. I think Ryan's passe approach to adding a little grit and edge to this sound is perfect. Jesse VanDenElzen on bass is really into the rhythm, while his lines blend seamlessly with Connor's guitar and Ryan Gracyalny's bass drum. Ryan has a lot of room for fills, and he is solid like a perfect bass player should be. Ryan Gracyalny runs a pretty tight-ship when it comes to the drums. He plays on a four piece kit and you can tell he is waiting for all the breaks and the stops to mute cymbals and cut fills. Ryan defiantly adds tightness to the sound and his use and awareness of space show off his talent for control and accuracy.

The Midwestern Charm played the first set really upbeat and rocking with a lot of fun energy and knocking stuff over. After over an hour the band took a break and Connor came up and did a solo acoustic set of the urban folk songs he has written. Then the band came back and rocked it out till the nights end filling the set with some tributes to Tom Petty, Ryan Adams, and many other greats. To cap off the night the evenings patrons would not willingly let The Midwestern Charm escape so easily. Called back on to the stage the Midwestern Charm shocked us with a rendition of Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name". I would recommend you catch one of the Midewestern Charm's shows in the new year.