As much as I hope this isn’t the case, it might be Kings of Leon.

Debut album went gold, toured with PJ, and they are able to route though Cincy via their tour schedule.

Silversun Pickups sold more than 500,000 copies of their first album. Not sure about the PJ connection.

That would be a huge name to keep “secret”, though.

@kenny: while KoL happens to have an open date on their tour schedule for the 24th, I’m gonna go on record that NO WAY they will be the secret show. For one, it would probably cause a riot. The Cincinnati Club holds 450 people. KoL played Riverbend 10 days ago for about 15,000 people…

Band of Horses???

The Black Keys? They sing in English at least I think.

Spacehog

Gomez?

Death Cab for Cutie

Kings of Leon, Band of Horses, Gomez and Death Cab are all too big and expensive for MidPoint, not to mention, aren’t what MidPoint is about. They’re about (first) booking far too many bands (250+) that features nearly every original band in town (no need for that seeing that the majority play in town week after week); secondly, booking too many of the same bands year after year; third, booking bands who they claim are the next big thing in indie music (honestly, out of the 250, there’s really only a handful who actually are or do go on to great things and creating a lot of buzz in the indie scene); fourth, Cincy’s not a music city and is not designed as such – how many of these small businesses (or venues) will be non-existent next year? Lastly, MidPoint organizers are showing their age by booking all these washed up acts year after year that aren’t relevant and no one cares about anymore, which is exactly the type of band you’re getting for the Secret Show. Spacehog is basically a one hit wonder, had a hit in 1996 with “In the Meantime.” Haven’t done shit since. Extremely disappointing for a Secret Show. I think people need to know about who is playing it, so they can take a look at the several other better options at that particular time slot. But my guess is that, once this band does take the stage and people figure it out, you’re gonna have a noticeable amount of people walking away to check out other bands.

The Secret Show is at the same time as Caribou, so if it’s some washed band, forget about it.

Wolfmother.

Agree w/@Amy: Spacehog!

It’s Spacehog. I bet the majority of young 20-somethings who attend MidPoint have never even heard of them.

What about Gomez?

Nate – We’re with you man! MPMF is lame and the people who run it are unrealistic and fail to work in ways to promote it better. Someone else should start a festival and eat MPMF u for lunch. AMEN!

Interpol

Ah crap, looks like Interpol is in Europe right now…
Then I’m going to say The Futureheads

I thought the 2008 secret show was Radio 4.

My Morning Jacket?

#5 The band formed in New York City.
#6 The band has been partial to makeup over the years.

So that eliminates…
Spacehog
Futureheads
Wolfmother
Gomez
Band of Horses
My Morning Jacket
Death Cab for Cutie

argh, you’re right joe. i stand corrected.

Spacehog.
Spacehog?
Spacehog!

Spacehog final answer.

US Tour Dates:
9/22 – Maxwell’s – Hoboken, NJ
9/23 – Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
9/25 – Cubby Bear – Chicago, IL
9/26 – The Basement – Columbus, OH

It’s Spacehog

I would think Vampire Weekend but….

Gomez, The Futureheads and Spacehog formed in England, Band of Horses in Seattle, Death Cab in Washington, My Morning Jacket in Louisville, KOL in Tennessee, Sonic Youth has 5 members… this is tough!

Unfortunately, I agree with the Spacehog consensus. Yeah, they’re all Brits, but per Wikipedia they formed in NYC and everything else matches up.

maybe Gaslight anthem? no show listed on their tour schedule on the 24th…

The only answer is Sonic Youth. They have four core members and always have — Mark Ibold is a late addition to the band, the four core members have always been Kim, Thurston, Steve and Lee. Everything fits. Sonic Youth, no questions asked.

Or, of course, it could be SPACEHOG (which is the correct answer)

Spacehog

It’s gotta be Spacehog (orig from England, formed in NYC, toured for PJ)– but yeah, it’d be a poor choice for Midpoint because I don’t think many people will know who they are.

ditto Spacehog

Of course… Sonic Youth toured with PJ too. Hmm. The question is, which was partial to makeup? Haha. That’d be crazy if Sonic Youth came to midpoint!

spacehog

spacehog

Spacehog

Here’s why I agree with others that it’s Spacehog:

The date is wide open in their tour.

Secret Show Hint #1: The band sings in English.
CHECK
Secret Show Hint #2: The band’s first album sold more than 500,000 copies
CHECK
Secret Show Hint #3: The band has toured in support of Pearl Jam
CHECK- they opened in the ’90s
Secret Show: Clue #4: There are always four people in the band.
CHECK
Secret Show: Clue #5: The band formed in New York City.
CHECK- formed there, but members from Leeds, England
Secret Show: Clue #6 The band has been partial to makeup over the years.
CHECK(maybe?) They’ve broken up but now ‘made up’ and got back together
Secret Show: Clue #7 The band had a song land on seven different charts.
POSSIBLE CHECK- I have found at least 5 charts
Secret Show: Clue #8 Some might describe them as aliens.
CHECK- the name of the band
Secret Show: Clue #9 The band has something in common with Tom Tom Club, The Flaming Groovies, and k.d. Lang.
CHECK- all (at one time) on The Sire Records label

I don’t think that Sonic Youth has sold 500,000 copies of their debut. Even so, they are probably ‘too big’ to play the secret show.

Spacehog

Given the Pearl Jam, Bowie, English, aliens clues, I’m going with Spacehog. Their first alien was Resident Alien. i recall my younger brother buying the cassette single for “In the Meantime”. He would have been a sophomore in high school or so at the time…