Conversations with Evan Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Hill.

Hi Evan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The Midnight Horrors materialized during a cold Colorado winter. The initial lineup was me (Evan) on vocals and guitar, Steven on drums, and Chris on bass. This iteration of the band was responsible for the first single ever released (“Teenage Creature”, 2017). When Steven left for scholarly pursuits, Chris shifted to the drums, and we brought in Austin on bass.

About the time we recorded our first EP (“Guitars, Grease, and Shallow Graves”, 2020), we added Corben on lead guitar. But the lineup wasn’t done mutating. During the EP’s production, Austin decided to step aside, and we welcomed Trevor into the fold. “…And the Devil Makes Three” (2021) was the first record Trevor played on, and he’s been a part of every record since.

It’s strange to think that the band has been active for eight and a half years (it certainly doesn’t feel like it), but I suppose time doesn’t lie.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I feel like most bands encounter similar challenges. Every time a member leaves, there’s a breaking in period for the new musician. It takes some time to adjust. To get used to the progressions and structures.

Overall, we’ve been lucky. The local scene is generally supportive, and, because we’re 100% DIY, we’ve never had to deal with shady labels or managers.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At the end of the day, we classify ourselves as melodic horror punk, but we draw inspiration from a range of bands and artists. If you listen through our discography (available virtually everywhere, thanks to the magic of the World Wide Web), I think you can identify a mishmash of fingerprints–Social Distortion, Alkaline Trio, AFI, Red City Radio, Tiger Army, and Blitzkid, to name a few.

What separates us from most other horror punk bands is our lyrical content. We’re not just crooning about horror movies (not that there’s a problem with that; some of the most kick-ass tunes in the genre are about horror movies). We try to use horror as a metaphor, and make statements about everyday life. And maybe about what happens after.

I’m personally proud of our discography, to date. Our sound has definitely matured (thanks in part to our longtime producer and unofficial Fifth Horror, Taylor Hahn), but I wouldn’t change a track. It’s fun to listen to our older material and see how little things have shifted.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
While I can’t occupy the other guys’ mind space (yet), I think we all get a kick out of recording, performing, and releasing new material. It’s fun to see how our audience reacts at our live shows–there’s an energy there that can’t really be described or replicated–but it’s also a thrill to hear a mix coming together in the studio.

Here’s a free tip for you aspiring musicians: when you’re in the studio and your producer says “Do it again, but this time, don’t suck,” it’s a good idea to follow their advice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themidnighthorrors.bandcamp.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midnighthorrorsrock/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midnighthorrorsrock/
• Twitter: https://x.com/mdnghthorrors
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themidnighthorrorsrock
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-midnight-horrors/1447386436

Image Credits
Erika Maricle. Mellisa Rasor.