NYS Music 20​17

Tag: strange machines

  • Hearing Aide: Strange Machines ‘Voice of Color’

    On the week of their seventh year anniversary, New England quartet Strange Machines released their first ever full length album, Voice of Color. While some of these tracks can be found on the previously released live compilation, Cause and Effect, the crowd funded sessions created the safe space for the band to hone in on the production value at 9B Studio. Voice of Color is an album with an identity crisis, fusing together a plethora of genres and switching focus during each song in an almost schizophrenic manner. Longtime producer and sound engineer, Toft Willingham, utilized every square inch of the disc capacity, capping the album at a whopping 77 minutes and providing space for the extended jams the die-hard fans have come to appreciate.

    “Motion Picture” kicks off the album with the original progressive rock/reggae sound that revved up Strange Machines back in 2011.  Veteran keyboardist, Christian Perron, provides a mellow and jazzy foundation throughout the track that blends well with the 311-esque chorus sung by founding member Mike MacDonald.  Where tracks like “Motion Picture” and “Little Monster” will bring fans back to the band’s youth in terms of influence, “Golden Rule” displays the evolution of their sound and brings the listener to a whole different place.  The intro of the second track sounds like the outro of a Dr. Dre produced beat which dives into a catchy electronic composition highlighted by Craig Holland on bass and drummer Issac Civtello.  “Golden Rule” has been used as an improvisational launch pad at live shows for years, and at the 7-minute mark of the studio release, the band showcases some of that on-stage energy by giving MacDonald room to spread his wings on lead guitar.

    Perron wastes no time jumping into a gritty funk groove during the title track, “Voice of Color.”  As the second of three songs in a row that clock in over nine minutes, Strange Machines have already produced a longer album than most bands and we still have a long way to go.  The wordy first half of the track is overshadowed by the prog-rock breakdown in the second half, returning once again to the sound that described the band during their conception.  “Enter the Interceptor” has a Primus-like value and while it is the shortest track on the album, it has the heaviest feel.  The chilling rocker is reminiscent of the type of music Rob Zombie may add to one of his demented movies during the bloody peak of a chainsaw massacre.  Acting as the halfway point on the album, “Enter the Inceptor” is one more example of a band that is traveling many sonic dimensions at the same time.

    “Squid” is another recognizable staple that has legs, or tentacles, when seeing the band in a live setting.  Certain species of squid have the ability to fly out of the water for short distances and Strange Machines have found a way to express this phenomenon in the studio.  The approachable lyrics and hints of tribal percussion creates a smooth island sound that finishes with an unexpected tidal wave guitar solo by MacDonald.  “Armorphous” serves as the final track of the uber-eclectic Voice of Color and begins with a tight and haunting graveyard vibe before transforming into a powerhouse of danceable energy.  Stacked with trippy effects in all the right places, this soaring jamtronic piece finds the foursome momentarily channeling Pink Floyd before blasting off into the exclamation point of the 77-minute debut.

    So welcome to the Machines!  In their rookie album, Strange Machines packed six years of concepts into one piece of art.  While the track placement and flow have some maturing to do, there is no doubt that this multitalented quartet has endless room to grow.

    Key Tracks: Voice of Color, Squid, Amorphous

  • Disc Jam Presents: Halloween Horror Camp 3

    On October 28, Disc Jam is presenting Halloween Horror Camp 3! Celebrate Halloween weekend listening to lespecial, Strange Machines, Formula 5 and more as they pay tribute to some of their favorite artists like Primus, Rage Against the Machine, The Doors, Phish, Daft Punk and more. Concert-goers should be prepared to be in Western Massachusetts’ 413 area code, but the catch is that the exact location for the event won’t be released to ticket holders until 2 days before the show.

    Show gates will open at 10:00 am, and music will go from 1:00 pm to 3:00 am. There are two camping options: on-site cabins and car side camping. Guests 21+ can enjoy complimentary beer from the Lagunitas beer garden. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased here.

    Warm up for the show with these previews!

    Strange Machines (The Doors)

    Mammal Dap (Daft Punk)

    Formula 5 (Phish)

    Cosmic Dust Bunnies (The 80s)

    Kerry Quirk (Madonna)

  • Strange Machines Ready to Drop New Studio Album

    The long awaited first full-length studio album from Strange Machines, Voice of Color, will be released on Oct. 6. After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the electro-funk quartet is ready to deliver a beautifully mastered LP. With some older tracks their fans will recognize, and some new tracks, this will become a staple in anyone’s catalog. This album has it all, from power ballads to reggae, some psychedelic rock and a lot of funky jams. Catch them at their album release party being held at Jewel in Manchester, NH on Oct. 7.

    The album will be available through iTunes, Spotify, Bandcamp and all other major music streaming outlets. You can check out their brand new single, “Motion Potion,” below.

  • Sit-Ins, Covers and Heavy Improv Highlight Adirondack Independence Music Festival

    It doesn’t seem like the easiest feat to get a small music festival up, running and successful, but that’s just what the organizers of the Adirondack Independence Music Festival did this past weekend, September 2-3.

    In its second year and hosted in Lake George at the Charles R. Wood Commons, the two-day festival brought a stacked lineup to eager fans, and may have solidified itself moving forward as an Upstate New York gem. Ticket prices were beyond reasonable, the atmosphere was relaxed and omnipotent and every person who graced the stage brought something unique and memorable.

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  • Countdown To Wild Woods Music And Arts Festival

    Greenvibe Entertainment cannot seem to contain themselves for the upcoming Wild Woods Festival in Croyden, NH, and who can blame them? This year is set to be the best yet, and on Aug. 11 – 13, Page Farm will host this small festival that packs a lot of heart.

    The team has been hard at work, adding an entire new building for the beautiful art that will be on display all weekend. They’ve also welcomed back The Reliquarium to add their incredible works of art to each stage. Their intricately designed stage setups are custom made and add much to each set. Because of the Lotus will have one of their mind-melting visual art installations on site, and you can be sure there will be plenty of performance artists dancing, hooping, and fire-spinning, as The What Collective will be in attendance.

    Wild Woods has added heavy hitters Emancipator and Papadosio as the headliners this year. There are many familiar faces with Kung Fu, Lespecial, Strange Machines, Of The Trees, and Harsh Armadillo returning for another year at the farm. This festival has become a staple in a lot of these band’s summer tours and you can be sure they’re going to add a little extra energy to their sets. The list of musical talent continues with Cabinet, Roots of Creation, Govinda, and Broccoli Samurai being just a few of the other notable mentions.

    Wild Woods has a very special vibe going down on the little farm in New Hampshire. You can tell the thing they care about most is the fans. Between the live art, visual displays, amazing stage setups, and a lineup that just won’t quit, what else could you ask for? Well, how about a whole extra night to set up and relax with your friends? This year (for a fee) you’ll be allowed early entry into the festival on Thursday, Aug. 10 to claim the best spot for you and yours. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the Wild Woods website. Get them before Aug. 10 to save yourself $20.

  • Strange Machines To Host Inaugural Festival At The Stone Church In NH

    June 2 & 3, Strange Machines will host the very first Strange Days Festival at The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH. The guys are bringing a jam-heavy lineup to one of their favorite venues. An intimate Friday night includes an opening set from Litz and the first of many from the Strange Train. Saturday is an all day affair that ends with a double dose from the hosts, including a Doors tribute set. Single-day passes are available and a two-day pass is only $20 and worth every penny. Check out the event on Facebook and catch the band as they head south this week on a short tour before playing at Domefest this weekend.

  • Update: Chillfam All-Stars Pay Tribute to Michael Jackson at Phish After-Party

    The Chillfam All-Stars will play a tribute to Michael Jackson on Aug. 5 at the Gramercy Theatre for an afterparty during the Phish Baker’s Dozen run. The band is a supergroup of familiar faces and includes Elise Testone, Jen Hartswick and Natalie Cressman of the Trey Anastasio Band, Alex Petropulos of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Danny Mayer of the Eric Krasno Band, Eric Gould and Richard James of Pink Talking Fish, Adrian Tramontano of Kung Fu, Matt Wayne of the Bobby Deitch Band and Rob Volo of Deep Banana Blackout. Tickets go on sale this Friday at noon.

    Update 5/23/2017:

    Turkuaz is the latest act to announce a Phish afterparty during the Baker’s Dozen run. They play Irving plaza on Tuesday, July 25. Tickets for their show go on sale this Thursday, May 25, at noon.

    Update 5/4/2017:

    Matisyahu, Atlas Road Crew and Strange Machines will all play afterparties following Phish’s Baker’s Dozen shows.

    Strange Machines plays Wednesday, July 26 at Drom. Eggy opens the show. Atlas Road Crew hits up American Beauty on Friday, Aug. 4. Tickets for both shows are on sale now.

    The Cutting Room sees Matisyahu on Wednesday, Aug. 2. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Friday, May 5 at noon.

    Update 4/26/2017:

    Pink Talking Fish, Holly Bowling and the Motet will all play shows around Phish’s Baker’s Dozen run at Madison Square Garden. Following Phish on Tuesday, Aug. 1, Pink Talking Fish plays as Pink Talking Fish Are Dead at the Cutting Room. They also play an after-party on Friday, Aug. 4 at the Gramercy Theatre. They board The Jewel for a pre-party booze cruise the next day, Saturday, Aug. 5. The cruise is at 2 p.m.

    Holly Bowling brings her solo piano renditions of Phish and Grateful Dead songs to the Cutting Room on Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23 and Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5 and 6. All her shows start at 4 p.m.

    The Motet plays an afterparty on the first night of the run, Friday, July 21 at B.B. Kings.

    Original Post:

    When Phish comes to New York City, the party tends to start well before the shows and it always ends long after they leave the stage. As with every Phish run at Madison Square Garden, a slew of pre-parties and afterparties are planned for their 13 night Baker’s Dozen run at the storied arena.

    Phish is set to play their historic 13 night run at Madison Square Garden beginning July 21 and ending on Aug. 6. CEG Presents has pre-parties and afterparties planned for just about every night of the Baker’s Dozen. Their run of shows kicks off a day early on Thursday, July 20 with Twiddle and Madaila. Twiddle finishes out a three-night run with a pair of Phish afterparties on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22. All three shows are at Irving Plaza. Particle also plays an afterparty on July 21 at the Cutting Room. The DeadPhish Orchestra plays a 2 p.m. concert cruise on July 22 before the show.

    John Kadlecik brings Jay Lane of Ratdog to join his band for a pair of afterparties on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 25 and 26. Both shows are at American Beauty.

    The second weekend of the run has Dopapod playing two nights at the Gramercy Theatre on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29. Also on July 29 are Bonerama at Iridium and Torus and the Mushroom Cloud at Drom.

    The final stretch of Phish shows see fewer afterparties. Zach Deputy hits up American Beauty after Phish on Wednesday, Aug. 2. Saturday, Aug. 5 has a pair of shows with Formula 5 at Lucille’s at B.B. King’s and Particle back at the Cutting Room for their “Director’s Cut.”

    Tickets for all of these shows, except Dopapod, are on sale now. The Dopapod shows go on sale on Friday, April 14 at noon.

  • Tumble Down 2017 Lineup Includes Fruition, Aqueous

    Twiddle has announced the 2017 lineup for their second annual Tumble Down music festival, held on the Burlington, Vermont waterfront, will include Fruition, Madaila, Aqueous and more.

    Tumble Down, Twiddle’s music festival returning to Waterfront Park in their hometown of Burlington, Vermont July 28 and 29, features four sets from Twiddle along with sets from Americana/bluegrass act Fruition, Burlington psych pop band Madaila, Buffalo jammers Aqueous, and San Francisco-based Midnight North. The festival also features daytime sets from New York based acts Lucid and Teddy Midnight, along with Strange Machines, Holly Bowling and Vermonters Navytrain and The Mangroves.

    In addition to the waterfront festival, Tumble Down features late night performances each night. July 28 will see the Everyone Orchestra, conducted by Matt Butler and featuring Holly Bowling along with members of Twiddle, Fruition and Midnight North, at Higher Ground, while lespecial and the Pitchblak Brass Band play Club Metronome. On July 29, Mihali and Friends play Higher Ground, and Gang of Thieves with Backup Planet are at Club Metronome. All the late night shows start at 11 p.m. The Higher Ground shows are all ages and are $18 in advance or $23 at the door, while you must be 21 or over to attend the Club Metronome shows, which are $10.

    Tickets for Tumble Down 2017 and all the late night shows are on sale now. A two day pass for Tumble Down costs $63.

  • Strange Machines Launch Kickstarter Campaign for First Full Length Album “Voice of Color”

    Strange Machines is hitting 9b Studio in Milford, MA this winter to record Voice of Color, the band’s first full length album. Working with producer Toft Willingham (Spiritual Rez) who also worked with the band on 2014’s Turn the Tide, the group has launched a Kickstarter campaign with a great deal of rewards for fans new and old.

    Guitarist/singer Mike MacDonald talked to NYS Music about the campaign and shed some light on the project. Catch them on the road this spring at April 8 at Putnam Den with Lord Electro and April 20 at The Haunt in Ithaca supporting TAUK.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/strangemachines/strange-machines-first-full-length-album

    Pete Mason: The video is hilarious and gets the message across for purpose of the Kickstarter in a unique way. How did you guys come up with the concept and how long did it take to shoot?

    Mike MacDonald: Haha the video was a blast to make, we were in tears laughing the whole time. The concept came from myself and Toft one night in the studio tossing around concept idea’s and that one stuck. We shot it the next day over the course of several hours, Toft has a great eye for film.

    PM: You are recording at 9b Studios in Milford, Mass. How did you come across the studio for your first album and what brings you back for the second time, with producer Toft Willingham?

    MM: We came across 9b back in 2013 when our previous bass player recommended the studio for our first music video shoot. We did our Steal Away video there with Toft and clicked immediately with him on both a creative and personal level. The chemistry was right so we decided to do our whole EP there and we couldn’t have made a better choice. Toft is an incredible producer, he brings a wealth of technical knowledge to the table as well as creative input and is just down right fun to work with. He’s become a great friend over the years. 9b has almost become like a second home to us, we feel completely relaxed and at ease there which is essential when creating any form of art. It’s for all these same reasons that we decided to return for our new album.

    PM: How does the upcoming album “Voice of Color” compare to 2014’s “Turn the Tide”?

    MM: You’re going to see a whole new side of SM on this record. Some new songs as well as some we’ve been playing out for awhile but with a new twist. We also have two new members since the last one which brings a very different feel. It’s already starting to sound incredible, we couldn’t be more excited to share it with everyone. Turn the Tide was a very reggae-oriented album; and while Voice of Color touches on some reggae at points, there is much more diversity. A lot of rock and a lot of funk with hints of livetronica, hip hop and other things all  while keeping to our roots. I think there is something for everyone on this album.

    PM: How has Strange Machines grown and evolved over the past 5 years, and where does 2017 find the band headed, both directionally and on tour?

    MM: The band has evolved a great deal since it’s incarnation back in 2012. We’ve had several lineup changes but we’ve finally found the perfect fit. Isaac and Craig are both incredible musicians and we’re lucky to have found them. We all have very diverse musical backgrounds which has been the cornerstone for our eclectic sound which is constantly developing and changing. We’re dreaming big for 2017; we plan to release the album in May and we will be releasing our spring tour soon with some big surprises in the mix. We also plan to hit more festivals than ever before this summer, which ones we can’t say just yet but there’s some good ones on deck. We’ve even discussed doing our first tour to Colorado in the fall but that’s still a little ways away. Keep an eye out for spring dates coming soon.