Machines Are People Too | The Deli Magazine

"Let's Have a Show With No Phones" Show at The High Watt 9.10

This Wednesday is going to be dedicated to anyone that's looked through a tangle of upraised arms holding glowing screens aloft and thought to themselves, "The end of the world is going to be Instagrammed..."

Of course East Nashville Underground would be the ones to put together a completely analog remedy to this epidemic. "Let's Have a Show With No Phones Show" is going to be 100% phone-free, save for two 20-minute "phone breaks" (bless their hearts.) The night starts at 8pm, and the cover is seven fully-refundable dollars should a guest make it to the other side without checking his or her device. While no one is going to be slapping a phone from your hand, consider this an opportunity to reconnect with the way things were done long before you were a twinkle in your daddy's eye. Your pop's might have said that music was better in his day, but there's a good possibility that he was just paying more attention.

At the very least, this is a risk-free way to have three amazing bands in front of you for your complete and unadulterated listening pleasure: Machines are People Too, Penicillin Baby, and Diamond Carter. While we just raved about Penicillin Baby, we are one of many, and Diamond Carter has been receiving love on all sides, especially from our No Country for New Nashville brothers. However, we're tickled pink by this recent development from the Machines are People Too camp. MAPT have remixed "Middle of the Night," a song by their friends Vinyl Thief that might be recognized from our current album of the month. That sort of synth4synth love, along with with this event's entire concept, are perfect examples of the deep appreciation of music that makes this scene so great. -Terra James-Jura

September 07, 2014

Show Review: Machines are People Too, Vinyl Thief, and Joy of Painting at 3rd and Linsdley

Remember the stormy weather on Friday, August 16th? Yeah, that was Machines are People Too, Vinyl Thief and Joy of Painting makin' it rain. Read the show review HERE. - Terra James-Jura

August 26, 2013

Show Review: Machines are People Too, Vinyl Thief, and Joy of Painting at 3rd and Linsdley

Machines are People Too, Vinyl Thief, Joy of Painting Show Review
- by Terra James-Jura

Last Friday the lineup at 3^rd and Lindsley read like a Best-of Deli Nashville list: Joy of Painting, Vinyl Thief, and Machines are People Too (one of the bands in our “Artist of the Month” poll!). It was a Music City synth-pop showcase; an evening of bright young musicians wailing on keyboards and looking damned good doing it.

Joy of Painting, fresh off the high of the May release of their EP “Tender Age,” was the first in the lineup. They did an excellent job easing the ample crowd into party mode (especially any jazz aficionados held over from the early show.) Their set was tight and bouncy, and their energy was enough to get each head at each table bobbing.

Vinyl Thief was next, and might have won the “Best-Dressed’ award of the night (how often does one see a drummer with a pocket square?) They set out a snare stage left, and proceeded to beat the living salt out of it for the next 45 minutes. Grayson Proctor of Vinyl Thief has the same industrial grade of pipes as Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids, punctuated here and there by a Freddie Mercury yip or yap. The band gleefully screwed with the audience’s expectations with every unpredicted bridge or key change, like playing their new single, “Smooth” with a marching band rhythm.

Machines are People Too closed the night. Fueled by the exuberance of youth (translation: hormones and Skittles), they wove a soundscape of rollicking drums, ocean-y keys and feel-good sing-along choruses. I’m torn between which was the standout song of the night: their recent single “Do What You Love,” where they managed to dial it up one more notch when it seemed there were no more available, or “What is Love” which came completely out of left field, and overwhelmed me with delight once I realized what was happening. (Are they even old enough to recall Jim Carey hosting that particular SNL? It doesn't matter. Well played, Machines are People Too. Well played.

It was a great night of entertainment, and drove home the fact that Nashville has a potent concentration of incredible talent. Each band just is one well-placed song in a Nissan commercial away from exploding. It would be attention well-warranted consiidering the drive and dedication involved. Check out each band’s respective website, as they are all hard at work on new and exciting things.

https://www.facebook.com/MachinesArePeopleToo

http://site.vinylthief.com/

https://www.facebook.com/joyofpainting

Vinyl Thief

Joy of Painting

August 26, 2013

Comments

Machines Are People Too Album Release Show Tonight at The Basement

Anyone with their night suddenly open is strongly urged to go to the Basement to catch Machines are People too. They’ve been touring hard and heavy this summer, and are bringing their ecstatic synth-pop to Nashville between Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza. Their sophomore album, “Nickels and Dimes” was released July 23rd and “Do What You Love” is the first official video, which nails the ultimate summer fantasy of flipping off The Man and starting a bike gang (and the secondary fantasy of having an adorable indie rocker pay for every food truck taco a heart desires.) – Terra James-Jura

July 27, 2013

Review: East Nashville Underground, Winter 2013

If you somehow missed all of the hype surrounding one of Nashville's biggest indie events, you may need to check your hearing and keep your ear a little closer to the ground so you aren't missing the coolest part about living your best life in Nashville, Tennessee. East Nashville Underground brought their A-game and a seemingly endless supply of free booze to The East Room on Friday and Saturday nights, selling out their weekend event for the first time in ENU history.

Though we could make it to only the Friday night show at the Underground (as we had a date with the mainstream over at The Ryman on Saturday night), East Nashville Underground's place in the Nashville indie community is undeniable. Highlighting independent bands just as heavily as the independent music community itself, Kristyn and Jared Corder have created an event that defines the romance of being involved in the local music scene in Music City. From new fans to OG Undergrounders to industry folk, it's safe to say that no venue in town housed as many sweaty hugs and eyeball kisses as The East Room did over the weekend.

On Friday, doors opened at 9 and the stage featured the likes of Cult Logic, Vinyl Thief, All Them Witches, Alanna Royale, Machines Are People Too, and Magnolia Sons. All of the bands were predictably stellar, and it was especially thrilling to finally catch Machines Are People Too live. Each set made trying to plan a bathroom break feel like the ultimate music fan's predicament, the easiest solution being just resolving to hold it and concentrating on dancing.

Though we all try our best to broaden the scope of this tight-knit music community that is on the precipice of incredible things at an amazing time, the Corders have created something that is simultaneously intimate and all-inclusive. From their understanding of how to run a solid music event as business owners to their clear love of music as fans themselves, the payoff is something we all benefit from with each passing season of East Nashville Underground. We attempted to live tweet the vibe from The East Room on Friday night, but it's difficult to capture that kind of energy in just 140 characters. But if you missed out on the chance to make it inside or didn't catch a hug from the guy who was giving them to, seriously, just everybody, mark your calendar; East Nashville Underground's doors will re-open on May 10th-11th, and we intend to see you there.

February 20, 2013