Beautiful Soulful Moments with Patrick Davis and his Midnight Choir

We were treated to a full choir performance, stand-up, and story-telling at its finest

It was another wonderful night in the Queen City to look at the map of venues, close your eyes and choose one to see. Tonight I was amped to see a special performance by Patrick Davis and his Midnight Choir as every show I’ve ever seen in two decades with PD is completely different than before, but you get to see real musicians beam on stage, bleed their souls on strings, sticks, and chords. The vast array of instruments, talented vocalists, with the precision of perfectionism in lyrical content, and the intricate progression of songs throughout the show that spans careers, and decades give not just a performance but a journey.

How I was introduced to the music family:

Let me introduce you to PD like I was. Every venue in the South in July is as hot as the entrance of hell. You walk through swamp-like air, clothes stick to areas you forgot exited, and this night I came upon a guy and his guitar banter/laughing with an older gentleman that had the younger man’s eyes. I saw something in the back-and-forth, both guitars in hand.

It was way too early for the show but they were there perfecting what was coming that night. I introduced myself shyly. It was my first round of shows at The Evening Muse and I sat a few rows back while they sound-checked and messed around back-and-forth speaking through strings and sly smiles. I quickly realized this was a family affair and I was drawn in.

Patrick Davis and his father@ Evening Muse June 4th, 2005

Pops Rusty Davis and Patrick Davis – this day.

Then I heard a first note fall from PD’s lips and I knew this night was going to be something special. More people funneled in and I saw he had a full band and by nights end, a full gospel. I tend to link the words church, gospel, raw talent, epic story-telling, and mesmerizing to his shows. I see hundreds of shows a year in my profession and his show is at the top of my memories, one I’ll always check out when he’s around, and one I’ll tell anyone that will listen to please experience it at least one time.

Who is Patrick Davis: American boy, one cup down

Tune into the interview we just did with him:

Born in Murfreesboro, TN, and raised in Camden, SC with a population back then of some 3,500-4000 people, Davis is a small-town boy who was rooted in music at an early age being raised by a skillful musician and teacher, Pops, Rusty Davis. He’s one of those wholesome downhome family types. He didn’t start the journey of music until about the age of 15. On tour, his Pops, Rusty Davis is usually in tow if you’re within three or so hours of SC.

His sister has also been his backup vocalist, and you will find his mom and family in the crowd, as well as his best friends and all the Gamecocks bros. He’s a huge fan and proudly boasts this and even has an album The Gamecock EP, and is not one to shy away from hilarious wordplay on this.

You have undoubtedly heard a song of his already. When he signed his first deal he was headed to Tennessee to share his spritely twang and stellar song-writing skills. He then penned songs for the likes of Guy Clark (Wrong Side of the Tracks), Jimmy Buffett (Something Bout a Boat), Morgan Wallen (Outlaw), Robert Randolph featuring Darius Rucker (Do What It Do), Darius Rucker(Be Wary of a Woman), Lady A (Love I’ve Found in You), Pat Green (Dixie Lullaby), Shawn Colvin (All She Wants is You), Alabama (No Bad Days) and Maggie Rose (Change the Whole Thing), Jewell (Sweet Dreams and wrote 15 of the 18 songs on her debut children’s album, The Merry Goes Round), among many others.

His 15 years as a staff writer for Warner Chappell music publishing helped grow his gift of telling stories colorfully and hilariously, and boy can he. It gave him time to get to helping other musicians only – out of his system and came back around to focus on his own career again with all that golden experience. Throughout his set, he is known to pause during a song to tell stories about certain lyrics, or how the whole song came to be born. It must drive his band nuts but it draws you into his show that much more. It’s raw, unscripted, a flowing of words and stories from his brain, and the A.D.D. of it all is absolutely perfect. Each show feels like he’s sitting on your couch saying “OH! Listen to this song I’m working on,” which he did during the pandemic. The Couch sessions were some of my favorite things to tune into.

During the pandemic, he found a unique way to stay in touch with fans and keep his creative juices flowing, by creating the Couch Covers series. The project started a nightly live stream of Davis playing a cover song he learned that morning. After an incredibly strong social media response it went from couch to studio. The Couch Covers was released on December 4, 2021. The album includes covers of “Pink Moon” by Nick Drake, “Rocket Man” by Elton John, and “Imagine” by John Lennon.

Fun Fact: Beyond musical endeavors, Patrick is co-founder of Whiskey Jam Whiskey with South Carolina’s world-renowned Firefly Distillery.

Philanthropic heartstrings:

If you research PD in any way what pops up first is he raises money for communities and causes dear to him. One is Songwriters in Paradise (SIP), a music festival touching base in locations such as Napa, California; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and Hope Town in the Bahamas.

“There are two more this year, one in Healdsburg in Sonoma California July 18th-22nd, then Cabo in December. It’s an intimate setting of 150 people a night and 4 of them a year. SIP is for profit though we always auction off guitars or signed lyrics – donate a pretty healthy chunk and about 2 million dollars over the past few years so it’s a pretty great thing to do! It’s very important and basic on guitar and on stage having to prove your worth.”

The one closest to his heart is RJDMF, though. His younger brother Roger J. Davis was killed in a single-vehicle alcohol-related accident on June 29, 2008. This birthed the Roger J. Davis Memorial Fund. The RJDMF hosts fundraising events intended to raise awareness about driving safety and prevent alcohol-related driving deaths with the tagline, Rogers Rules “Don’t Speed, Always Wear Your Seatbelt & Never Ever Drink & Drive.” They also provide an annual college scholarship to be awarded each year to a deserving high school senior.

The foundation expanded in 2019 to Hope 4 Hopetown and raised over a million dollars to help the cleanup and rebuilding efforts of the area affected by Hurricane Dorian which absolutely devastated the area of Hope Town and the island of Abaco that Davis frequented with his other outings.

Performance: The VIP experience

Walking into the Visulite I keenly asked the door gal if this was a comedy show as I heard talking and roaring laughter. I knew I was coming a little early but didn’t know if I was walking into an “early show” before Patrick Davis and the Midnight Choir. Oh no, indeed it was PD, the American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer in rare storytelling form telling us of woes and wrongs righted in the dead of Summer nights with his Gamecocks forefront and center, a good Southern boy teaching the Southern ways, and a true fan and lover of where he is from. He introduced himself to some of the crowd who had never been to his show and also pointed out two 15 years-young attendees Annie and her sister.

He lent apologies to the two siblings when he interjected his colorful cussing storms and just said welcome to adulthood in a slight nod to shit happens and you can’t avoid it. He was going to be him, no matter what but made sure to be respectful about it which is endearing. The crowd work was on point. Then spoke to the Jersey crowd that seemed to have swarmed the venue and I too while from NJ was not with this group but somehow I am sure they know a cousin or two from up home. The rest of the crowd was split between the SC hardcore fans and the amazing Charloteeans that came to enjoy the set.

He stood in plain clothes, jeans and a hoodie, and strummed away. The acoustic performance was filled with fan requests and he played “Rocket Man” even if some of the choruses escaped us. We heard stories of his younger years, his college triumphs, and how his Pops was going to be performing if he needed an extra guitar or not, tongue in cheek of course.

One of his favorite things to do is share the stage with his family. A man and his guitar – the storyteller-series wrapped-up after a while and before he disappeared backstage he came down to the floor and met with fans and caught up with long-time friends. I even joined in on the fun, gave him a solid attaboy, and snapped a selfie.

Fun Fact: When asked what his first musical memory was, “First thing that transfixed me on guitar – Led Zeppelin “Tangerine” and recognizing on the guitar and thinking not too hard to play. He had his dad sit down and teach him, he learned it’s actually pretty hard if done right. He leaned easily into A minor. About the same time driving around he told his dad he heard this great song – ‘Laylo’ and his dad was like Layla? While his dad just laughed for a long time, then told him to sit down, we are going to listen to Eric Clapton. The rest is history.”

The show:

Let’s go to the church of music, the soul comes out in the duration of the night.

I sat next to a nice music-head gentleman between the VIP set and the actual performance and found he was a PD virgin. I explained how amazing this set was about to be and let him know he was about to see a lifelong musician made for the spotlight and to wait to see all the talented artists he brought along. The Midnight Choir is an evolving merry-go-round of different talents that go on the road. At each show, you are bound to meet a new person/performer. Tonight the lineup was lined with some SC musicians and even a Charlotte-based performer:

The Midnight Choir:

Guitar – Pops – Rusty Davis

Guitar – Slim Gambill

Bass – Paul Russo

Drums – Gary Greene

Keys – Moses Andrews

Trumpet – Gabriel Bethel

Sax – Sebastian Strevens

Trombone – Gavin Smith

BGVs – Xan Dubose & Emily Curtis

The whole band changed into their Sunday finest on a chill Saturday night and descended upon the stage. When they hit the stage sharply dressed and primed for a show, the group enveloped the entire stage. It’s quite a sight to see such a large amount of performers. As they touched each square foot of the stage, the main show was about to start. We were introduced to his newest guitar baby, a beautiful Cherrywood red 1940 Gibson Kalamazoo he went on about, then one by one he introduced The Midnight Choir. The conglomerate of musicians was well-greased. Depending on the performance, the Midnight Choir can be 10 to 13 members, all varied in instrument stylings. The show consisted of country twang, Southern Rock, indie-singer songwriter specialties, gospel intricacies, and soft folk remnants all laced within sometimes one song at once. They smartly timed stories of the lyrics, how albums were born, how family friends were there that were at a wedding he actually played in this very venue. He rarely does this but the stars aligned for that one.

This night I watched as the stage opened up to a full-blown experience. Each song is one level up to the next. The group opened up more and more, the hips started to sway, and the guitars held high in the air. Legs were kicking all over. Hands were clapping, the crowd was dancing and I could not stop smiling.

The set included:

National Championship Blues
Carolina When I Die
My Carolina
Six String Dreams (new single out now!)
L-O-V-E
Million Miles Away… and more

This concert is a full experience with well-greased musicians. Even if some of the members to the sides are younger they are all super talented and I for one cannot wait to see them again. One night is NEVER enough.

The Midnight Afterglow:

Patrick and his Midnight Choir are set to be back this way in the Fall. Please do not miss this opportunity. I mean if you aren’t a fan of some of the music I’m sure you will hear something you know and if anything you can laugh your ass off. I think his umpteenth talent and marketing shtick needs to be comedian, we need more wholesome true story-tellers. And while I may have to fight which of the Carolinas is superior, we all KNOW it’s NC. (please let me back to a show anyway!)

See the full gallery of the night here!