Hillbilly Vegas, Paul Rodgers Partner For Performance Of ‘Mr. Midnight’

By: Philip Sayblack

​Hillbilly Vegas has joined forces with Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers for a performance of ‘Mr. Midnight.’
The band is set to release its performance of Rodgers’ song soon. The group premiered the song’s companion video Thursday. The video was shot on a sound stage meant to represent the band in a live setting.
Hillbilly Vegas’ performance of the song, written by Rodgers, is an infectious blues-rock composition.
Rodgers talked about the song and about working with Hillbilly Vegas on the song in a prepared statement.
“I wrote “Mr. Midnight” a few years ago when I was writing songs – that to my surprise  – became an album ‘Midnight Rose’. I had no idea that the songs would become an album.  But when Sun Records said that they would be interested in releasing a Paul Rodgers album you would have to be mad not to accept.  I actually forgot that I had the song and that is why it was not included on the ‘Midnight Rose’ album. Bassist Todd Ronning from my solo band – who later joined Bad Company – played on the demo track for the song and was familiar with it”.
Rodgers added, “The song started with the guitar riff. I had it floating around in my mind, and I built the song around that. When I was looking for lyrics I was inspired by a feline.  Cynthia, my wife, has a number of rescued cats, and there was one black cat in particular named Jasper. His coat was so sleek and black that I nicknamed him Mr. Midnight. You can let your imagination take it from there.  When I heard Hillbilly Vegas’ recording of ‘Mr. Midnight’ – Steve (Harris) did such a great job, I felt they had it well covered.  I did not want to disturb the flow created in their recording, but I had made a promise to the boys in the band – so I sang some lines, and it turned out very well.”
Band member Steve Harris, in his own comments, said the band was excited to work with Rodgers on the song.
“Being part of something like this with Paul, who’s had such an impact on how we all hear rock and roll, was an incredible experience that we still can’t quite believe happened,” said Harris. “His voice, his phrasing and the way he approaches a song…that’s the blueprint.  It raises the bar, but it also reminds you why you started doing this in the first place, because you realize you’re not just making a record, you’re stepping into a lineage that guys like Paul built.”
‘Mr. Midnight’ is the second single from Hillbilly Vega’s forthcoming sophomore album, A La Mode, which is scheduled for release May 8 through Quarto Records. The band premiered the album’s lead single, ‘I Hope You Know‘ and the song’s companion video in February.
More information on Hillbilly Vegas’ new single is available along with all of the band’s latest news at https://facebook.com/hillbillyvegasmusic.

​