Scott Herold’s Redemption in 3/4 Time
Back in the old days, I mean the real old day, when Soul music first came upon the scene, the real question was, “Are you psychedelic or are you soul?” Although this was not a racial divide in the-all-white schools, it was a schism: The soul kids were athletes. The psychedelics were hippies. Soul was into school spirit. Psychedelics were into anti-war marches. Soul listened to AM radio. Psychedelic listened to FM radio. The “soul” kids went to the monthly dances, where the bands always played “Hold On, I’m Comin’” and ended with “Midnight Hour.” The psychedelics boycotted the dances, and instead hung out listening to some dip shit hero play acoustic guitar (“Cowgirl in the Sand” or “Uncle John’s Band.”) Scott Herold was the kid who lived comfortably in both worlds. It wasn’t as if he was torn in any way as he did it. He genuinely loved and needed it all so moving between them was easy. Today, years later, he is CEO to two enterprises. The first is the burgeoning 501c3 Rock the Cause and the second is the pretty damn good soul band he’s named affectionately Midnight Mo Experience.
That he has persuaded Producer Eric Lovold to work with his hobby band and help transform it into the loud, aesthetic soul machine that it has become is no small feat. So rather than talk charity and non-profit, we asked him instead to talk Soul.
Facebook is as an important invention; in time it will prove to be just as significant as the printing press or even Morse code. With every advancing technology, however, we also take a few steps backwards. I had a picture posted to my profile this morning from someone I had not seen in over 20 years. It is me in 1987 playing in a bar is South East Nebraska called Willy’s. Yes, it was named after Willy Nelson. I think I was performing U2’s “Running To Stand Still” solo. It was a song of prophetic importance to me as I tried desperately to escape a landscape that seemed to always reject my very being.
The photo called forth a “spook”, the kind of hell hound that spooked Howlin Wolf, my own personal “Smoke Stack Lightnin”.
I spend a great deal of time working with young artists helping them to develop their careers. My advice to all my fine, young Rock and Roll friends is to remember that somehow the years will catch up to you, that the Peter Pan part of rock n roll is it’s essential bullshit. You need to keep your minds sharp and your skill set up if you want to be Rocking and Rolling 20 years from today. Copious amounts of attention from the opposite gender is a great perk to be sure but if you find a good woman, wise up and keep her around. Or else you might be doomed to starting a Rock and Roll nonprofit while going through a midlife crisis, a fate I would not wish on anyone.
Oh well… Howlin Wolf was 42 when he joined Chess records.
All of my life I wanted one thing and one thing only, to be able to create music and be surrounded by it constantly. My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Appleton, routinely let me stand of front of the class, with broom air guitar, performing Delaney and Bonnie’s “Never Ending Song of Love”. I sang at the top of my lungs. The other kids thought I was crazy. Mrs. Appleton knew it was the only way to get me settled down to learn. I was blessed because I know now that today that same kid is often times groomed for ritalin.
In High School I was kicked out of a band because I could not sing like Sammy Hagar. Who the hell gets kicked out of some shitty band cause they can’t sing like Sammy Hagar? What I was good at, however, was the Blues. I drifted in and out different music and theater projects for a while. For a ten year period I was obsessed with Nick Drake and Roy Harper. Try telling your friends that’s not weird.
I then tried my hand at an ambitious folk project. I remember a friend describing the record as “From Nebraska to Nirvana, a Cornhuskers view of the Metaphysical.” I ultimately came to my senses and went to work in the corporate world. I had all the promise of a bright future. My concerts now were in the front seat of my Jeep. I got up each morning at the crack of dawn and sang Curtis Mayfield to the rush hour traffic.
Then my life took a real change. Rock and Roll was not about to leave me alone. I had been jamming with some friends at parties and was becoming convinced that I really was good enough. An acquaintance named Peter Berge called me up one day and said “Scott, our singer left the band, we have a gig in three days, can you please sit in with us?”
I showed up at Peter’s. I took a look at the set list. They were doing stuff like Lucinda Williams “Passionate Kisses”. I knew this was not going to work. I said “Guys, I don’t want to tell you how to run the band, do you know any Bill Withers?” The Midnight Mo Experience was born. Playing in this band has simply been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Peter Berge worships at the throne of Steve Cropper, the guitar great who defined sound of Stax Records, and Muscle Shoals. He is a fabulous player, a successful legal pro by day, and Guitar God by night and he has an irresistible Wine Cellar that he lures the band to practice with each week.
The Rhythm section of Midnight Mo is freight train heading to Memphis. Bob and Justin are the engine pulling a load of sweet Soul Music. When we play Buddy Miles “Memphis Train” you can actually feel like the Train pulling out of the station.
Larry McDonough and Steven Giles are the bands secret sauce. Larry in his own right is considered one of the most accomplished Jazz and R&B pianists in the Upper Midwest. He has charted in the Jazz charts, and his music is played on over 100 stations around the world. Steve toured the East Coast in the Jam Band scene, opening for Phil Lesh, Dave Mathews and a slew of other Grateful Dead refugees. Larry and Steve layer sound. They understand exactly how a song should sound. There musical instincts are astounding.
Amy Ault is the newest recruit. She is a splendid classically trained vocalist, who did a stint in the world renowned “Plymouth Music” series. It is rumored that iconic director Phillip Brunelle is a huge fan of Amy’s voice. Amy would be shocked to know of the deep joy I feel while watching her shed her Buttercup image to become a Soul Diva!
The Midnight Mo Experience is drawn to Soul Music like moths to a flame. We are “old school”; we don’t put on funny costumes, and play tired out Donna Summer hits. We love taking songs by Otis Redding, Mavis Staples, Booker T, The Temptations, and putting our own stamp of Blue Eyed soul on them. We keep the music simple. This way you can feel what Soul is all about, either running from the Devil, or running from the Lord. There is no in-between. It is where choices are made.
We ultimately determined that we had to finally make sure the world knew we were here. We made the decision to go into the studio with Indie Rock Genius Eric Lovold (The Alarmists) to cut a record to help us get more bookings. We are a starting to understand that The Midnight Mo Experience has something very special going on. We are helping to keep Soul music alive. We are inspiring young artists to discover greats like Otis Rush, Wilson Picket, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and the Isley Brothers.
Truth be told, in spite of every day challenges, I have a charmed life. I get to run an amazing nonprofit and I get to front a Soul band with some the warmest, most gifted people I have ever known. It was Edward James “Son” House who once said “There is only one kind of Blues, and that’s between a man and woman”
