Well in addition to one of our highlight’s of last year we are also proud to announce Middle of the Map Fest is coming back! The dates will be April 5th – 7th. Which will include an extra date of bands and more.
Also we are allowing the first 250 people to get a ticket at last year’s price! So act now and get one as a Holiday Gift.
It really was one of the most amazing things that happened last year. The Record Machine was able to invite a lot of really great bands and musicians to play a festival here in Kansas City. Well a ton of them said yes to us. Among those bands were hero’s of ours like Daniel Johnston, Cursive, Appleseed Cast, Casket Lottery and so many more. We have a ton to live up to but we are excited for that opportunity!
“Late Night Bikes” sounds expansive and warm; it is catchy and, in places, perfect. It’s road music for a generation of kids who have done nothing but move, sliding in long, languid figure-eights under a street light in a parking lot, down a lonely highway and through a few weird decades.
Two Record Machine artists coming together on one wonderful piece of wax to show off new songs.
Soft Reeds
Born of a twelve-year labor of heartache and love, Soft Reeds is the brainchild of Ben Grimes (formerly of Astralwerks’ The Golden Republic), a Chicago native whose roots grip firmly in the ’77 Berlin sounds of Brian Eno, David Bowie and Iggy Pop, while embracing the richness of American indie rock. Originally started in 2007 as Grimes’ post-TGR solo project, Soft Reeds became a full band in 2009, and released the critically acclaimed ‘Soft Reeds are Bastards’ in 2010.Soft Reeds will be releasing their follow up to Soft Reeds Are Bastards in 2012.
Minden
After spending several years on the road singer/songwriter Casey Burge retreated from music to work on farms in the east and west of the country. He returned to his hometown of Kansas City at the end of 2010 to pursue his new band Minden. He recruited longtime friends and musical veterans Ryan Johnson (drums), Evan Houston (bass), and James Taylor (guitar) to help him realize his swollen catalog of songs. Minden quickly worked out a set and began booking performances immediately. Existing outside of fresh and cleverly-named genres, Minden plays pop music, the classic art of creating songs that are interesting and relatable.
Both bands are onto exciting new things and great to get a snap shot of both of their progress.
Just a few months ago Max Justus released his full length Mercy. On his new ep entitled Signs & Wonders Max keeps moving farther and farther away from the original beat making and to continue darker sound. The light peaking through at the end of the tunnel though is the addition of Max’s vocals on all the songs. Tracks like Flesh and Doa are the stand out’s and engage the listener with thoughtful lyrics.
Late in the summer before the release of their fabulous 4 song 12” we recorded a living room session with our band Ad Astra Arkestra. It was an intimate session and night of fun with a few of them in their living room. They played a few different songs including the previous posted cover of Don’t Let Me Down. This song however is the final song on their 12” and its humdinger. It shows off how things can get a little rowdy and the unknown finds a way of happening.
