Buffalo, NY-based band Witty Tarbox excel with a timeless-sounding rock allure throughout their new album, Midnight Sun. Recorded live to 16-track reels at the historic Dreamland Studios in Woodstock, the project embraces a sense of raw, retro authenticity — blending surf-rock rhythms with soaring guitars, soulful saxophone, and heartfelt storytelling. Cody Tarbox and company craft a dynamic rock sound — sometimes swampy, sometimes soulful — that feels both nostalgically classic and urgently fresh.
“Whippoorwill” opens the album in riveting form, exemplary of the band’s knack for stirring tonal dynamics and melodic momentum. A meditative, deep vocal-like resonance rings out initially, then evolving into a brighter realm entirely as playful whistling, plucky acoustics, and clap-laden rhythms assemble with colorful charisma. Impassioned, hooky vocals emerge thereafter, the bouncy effects and sporadic whistles pair with the soaring vocals for a replay-inducing charm. “The Hill” comes next, achieving a more hypnotic glow as warm brass and chilly woodwinds combine with throwback-friendly guitars and vocals — exuding a classic-rock revival charm, reminiscent of Foxygen.
Another album standout, “Last Call” unleashes a fervent rock personality — maneuvering across brisk guitar work and blaring, sporadic brass. Its infectious energy is palpable. Meanwhile, album finale “The Nowhere” succeeds in the more midtempo range, its memorable vocal pushes meshing with twangy guitars and enjoyable distortion alike — aesthetically resembling a cross between The Tallest Man On Earth and My Morning Jacket. Midnight Sun is a rousingly melodic success of an album from Witty Tarbox.
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