Hillbilly Vegas just landed one of the more remarkable collaborations in recent rock memory. The Oklahoma rockers have dropped “Mr. Midnight,” the second single from their upcoming album ‘A La Mode,’ and it features Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Paul Rodgers on vocals. The track hits hard: heavy electric blues-rock with slinky guitar riffs that evoke late-night Beale Street energy, anchored by Rodgers’ unmistakable voice and the swagger that defined classic 1970s rock.
The song has a story behind it. Rodgers wrote “Mr. Midnight” during a prolific period that produced his ‘Midnight Rose’ album for Sun Records, but the track didn’t make the final cut. Inspired by a sleek black rescue cat named Jasper, belonging to his wife Cynthia, the riff came first and the song built around it. When Hillbilly Vegas recorded it, Rodgers was impressed enough to step in and deliver. His words cut to it: “Steve did such a great job, I felt they had it well covered. I did not want to disturb the flow, but I had made a promise to the boys in the band, so I sang some lines, and it turned out very well.”
Hillbilly Vegas frontman Steve Harris doesn’t understate what the collaboration means: “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. His voice, his phrasing and the way he approaches a song, that’s the blueprint.” The video, filmed in the band’s Oklahoma warehouse and directed by Jon Wright, features Rodgers on screen as well, adding another dimension to an already significant release.
The band’s lineup carries serious pedigree. Guitarist Geraldo Dominelli is a Loverboy and Paul Rodgers alumnus, while bassist Todd Ronning comes out of Rodgers’ solo band and Bad Company. That history gives ‘A La Mode’ a connective tissue to classic rock’s lineage that goes beyond a single guest appearance. The band is managed by David Spero, who has handled Joe Walsh, Cat Stevens, and Bad Company.
‘A La Mode’ arrives May 8 via Quarto Valley Records across digital, CD, and vinyl formats, featuring 11 tracks. Pre-orders are live now. Tour dates in support of the album kick off in August. With their first single “I Hope You Know” sitting at #20 on the Rock Radio charts and still climbing, and “Mr. Midnight” adding Paul Rodgers to the story, Hillbilly Vegas are building serious momentum heading into this release.