After Midnight Project

For those that think old-fashioned in-your-face rock ’n’ roll has gone the way of the dinosaurs, or for those who align their understanding of non-subcultured rock with the mainstream rock radio douchebaggery, After Midnight Project is the band for you. Er … because they, y’know, prove you wrong and whatnot, not because they reaffirm your clichés. Without having to ascribe to any narrow scene restrictions for what their music sounds like, how they dress or who they hang out with, the local L.A. natives never fail to bring an intense and engaging live show. Though, to be fair, they are pretty impeccably styled more often than not. But that’s beside the point, which is that these dudes revive the nearly forgotten art of giving audiences a real performance without having to employ gimmicks. Frontman Jason Evigan is a master of audience involvement when he sings, and likewise his band mates are all seasoned pros when it comes to creating an infectious, suck-you-in dynamic musically. Equally gritty and melodic within their sound, the approach carries into their stage ability, which is both effortlessly emotive and aggressive at the same time. What that means is that, without having to pander to genre clichés, these guys bring something for rock fans on all ends of the spectrum. - Brien Overly