Show Some Love For iPod G5 On The Drums!

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 18, 2006 3:20PM

If only they’d had iPods in Spinal Tap’s heyday.

Last November, the Chicago avant-rock band Midstates was in a bind: they were invited to tour with Long Island rock band Wheatus but three of their members (drummer Angel Ledezma, guitarist Dahlman and keyboardist Sasha) had family commitments due to the holiday season. Rather than pass up the opportunity, Midstates Paul Heintz decided to put his new video iPod to work.

Heintz and Midstates keyboardist Steve Munoz recorded Sasha and Dahlman’s parts in the studio then videotaped Ledezema’s drum performances. After converting the files to iPod-friendly tracks, they ran it through a video projector and faster than you can say C+C Music Factory, they were performing as a quintet again.

The remaining members of Styx, Journey,and Queen were unavailable for comment.

At this point, it’s common to see an iPod giving a professional DJ a much-needed break to grab a beer or chat up the hot girl who just requested that Replacements b-side. But we never thought we’d see an iPod taking the place of actual musicians. Perhaps now an iPod substitution will be the consequence for any band member who misses practice or does a number two in the back of the tour bus.

Midstates will be playing some dates in California and New York at the beginning of next month before coming home for a record release party at Empty Bottle on February 23rd. Highlights from their upcoming album Boxing Twilight are available on their website in advance of the album's February 21st release date.