By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa
Live Review: The Midnight Devils at Cage Brewing, St. Petersburg, Florida – March 4, 2026
Rock At Night headed over to Cage Brewing in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Wednesday, March 4th, for a much-anticipated dose of pure rock ‘n’ roll chaos with The Midnight Devils. We’ve been staunch supporters of this Omaha-based power trio since the summer of 2021—after interviewing lead singer/bassist Sam ‘Spade’ Morris for our podcast and featuring them in our Glam Rock print issue. The band has been relentlessly touring the U.S., U.K./EU, Japan, and even Australia, and they’re gearing up to unleash their Shock & Awe 2026 European Tour in France and Spain this April, followed by the UK in May. Get ready, Europe—the Devils are coming!
The Midnight Devils—Sam ‘Spade’ Morris on vocals and bass, Chris ‘Sniper’ Hineline on guitar, and Jimmy Mess on drums—describe their sound as “slam boogie rock & roll,” but we call it straight-up balls-to-the-wall party rock. With raw energy, glammy theatrical makeup, and cheeky, titillating lyrics, their live shows deliver an unforgettable experience. They’re the consummate party band, and their latest single, “Left Leanin’” (released February 20, 2026—a sly nod to lighting up), keeps that high-octane vibe rolling fresh off their album So Hard It Hurts.
I was psyched to catch them again and showed up rocking my black-and-pink concert tee, which sports their mascot, The Pink Bastard. Cage Brewing, with its excellent craft beers and oak-fired pizzas, was buzzing with a solid crowd of Gen X patrons enjoying slices while waiting for the 8 p.m. kickoff.
The band stormed the stage in full glam/sleaze glory: Morris with teased blond locks, tribal face makeup, shirtless to flaunt his tattoos and trim physique, paired with black leather pants;Mess in white face paint, midriff mesh sleeves, and pink-and-black-striped leotards; and Hineline repping his Van Halen fandom in a sleeveless “Van Fucking Halen” tee.
Despite it being a mid-week gig, the crowd was smaller than ideal, but the Devils turned it into an intimate party. They urged everyone to crowd the stage, and their showmanship was electric—Hineline and Morris leaping in unison with instruments, spinning circles, and dancing wildly. Props flew: fake paper money, tons of pink balloons, devil-horned headbands, and Sam even switched into a purple glittery robe, pink feather boa, and a military cap emblazoned with “69.” He climbed atop an amp, then hopped into the audience on a chair for epic call-and-response moments.
The set was packed with high-energy anthems like “Highway 69,” “Get Laid,” “Shock the World,” and the fresh “Left Leanin’.” Their uplifting cover of “Working For the Weekend” had the whole room singing along, and during “Panama,” Sniper unleashed serious Eddie Van Halen-style tapping flair.
Morris shared a road story: the night before in the Atlanta area, followed by an 8-hour drive south where they got pulled over by a Georgia state trooper. It’s no secret that some bands skip Florida due to notorious police stops and the state’s sheer length, but we’re always grateful when acts make the trek—especially this time of year when many are routing through after blues or classic rock cruises.
The hour flew by in a sweaty, euphoric blur of one of the best party bands on the circuit. I left feeling fully recharged with the perfect weekly escapism amid all the current political noise in America—cranking So Hard It Hurts the whole way home.
Our UK friends: brace yourselves for May. The Midnight Devils are heading your way and taking no prisoners. Party on!
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I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
