I was down at the Philadelphia waterfront this past Sunday for "Jam on the River" and in addition to getting to meet the lovely and amazing Grace Potter, and catching a set by the always fun Dirty Dozen Brass Band, I got to sit down for a chat with the guys from the Secret Machines.



On a hot day with a large number of attractive girls roaming around, it was quickly apparent that the last thing these guys wanted to do was sit through yet another interview. The Machines are one of those bands who say they are in this just for the music and don't think about "commercial success." They seem to mean it, so I've decided not to type up our interview. These guys are right - their music will find its audience all on its on.

The band has a deserved reputation for putting on a terrific live show and are touring in support of their self-produced Ten Silver Drops, their second full length record, that hit stores about a month or so ago. Additionally, the band recently collaborated with Bono, who had heard and liked the group's music early on, for a song from the upcoming film Across the Universe (co-starring Evan Rachel Wood) that is due out later this year.

After a brief US stint ending with a killer set at the Jam on the River, the band is now in Europe - a place they feel quite comfortable. Drummer Josh Garza, one of those affable guys you who strikes you as instantly friendly, talked about a gig they did with Sonic Youth in Greece. The gig was on the side of a mountain not far from the Aegean Sea. Josh says the scenery was so beautiful and the food was so great they had such a good time that it didn't matter how many people in the audience knew who they were. The guys also note how live music is more "integrated into the culture" in England and Europe. The people consistently come out for large and small live shows, and the "event" gigs at places like Wembley are near commonplace. It's no wonder the band has performed there so much.

In addition to being first rate musicians, the guys seemed genuinely genuine. Not an easy task when you're a band that has already played stadium gigs with U2 (by U2's request!) in Mexico and counts David Bowie among its early fans. What I like about these guys is their quiet confidence. Rock and roll bravado is fun, but only in small doses. The Secret Machines get it that longevity only comes from good songs. I think longevity is certainly in the cards for these guys who may be the only American bred band to eventually garner a Radiohead-like respect among the world wide musician community. They are already well on their way.

The Secret Machines play the Abart Music Club tonight in Zurich, and along with several gigs across Europe, hit the Download Festival in Donnington on June 10th. Stateside, the band plays the legendary 9:30 Club in DC on July 21st and will play Lollapalooza in August before doing their own tour this fall.

Labels: The Secret Machines