Below is an update from Shannon, the first in a series. Read on.....

There's something about California. I think it's something cinematic and inspiring, yet polluted and jaded all the same: an eternal juxtaposition.  However, Monster in the Machine did get to experience one of our most vibrant and memorable performances yet in that very state. There's a town in Yucca Valley on the way to Palm Springs called Pioneer Town, and it was built as a movie set town for old Westerns. It still bears the smell of gun smoke and the crushed dreams of a filmic and real frontier. But, there's a great spot for live music there called Pappy and Harriet's. We played after Rock Four that night, and there were only about 20 people in the club, but our set was electrifying. So electrifying that about 15 of those 20 people bought CDs. The owners of the club loved the show, and they fed us some of the best steak dinners we'd ever had. Now I know how it feels to conquer the Old West!

Another Southern California show that stood out happened on the Sunset Strip at The Roxy. We went on a little late, but the show could not have gone better. It was the best response that I've ever gotten from a crowd in LA. Everyone was transfixed on the music the entire set, and the energy was extremely tangible.  Every song from "Under Your Shadow" to "Savior" sent a surge of energy through the crowd, and once again the audience felt it. I had some friends in the crowd commend me on my voice. However, I think it's of the utmost importance to hit all of those notes dead on the way they are in the record. That's my job, I take it very seriously, and I plan on making each show better and better.  LA was electric that night, and the Sunset Strip didn't feel so desolate for once. I actually can't wait for the next LA show with Team Sleep in December. That's the real tour I'm looking forward too, and I hope to see all of you there.

One more unique California experience occurred in San Francisco. We almost didn't get to play our show up there, but I compromised by agreeing to play a full acoustic set by myself. After the set, a lone girl who had tears in her eyes the entire time came up to me. She began telling me that she was a diehard Korn fan, and she just came to see what was on Munk's label. She told me she was moved by the set and had instantly become a fan. It meant the world to me, because we don't really sound like Korn, but the fact that this music can cross barriers and appeal to both young and old means everything.

Maybe California isn't so bad after all, but I still want to move to New York City….

Until next time. 

Sincerely,

Shannon

Below you will find the first of many tour blogs of Monster in the Machine's John. Check it out, and leave some comments!

TOUR BLOG INSTALLMENT 1

After the show, we did an interview with Rachael from Pitch Perfect Reviews(http://www.pitchperfectreviews.com), which was fun(which is unusual for interviews). Later on, one of the people who came up with a CD for us to sign was a guy named Cory. We hung out for a while and he seemed cool. Although, I guess most people who ask you for your autograph probably seem pretty cool to you, right? We all checked out the strip, and when things were winding down, Cory mentioned he's a chef at a restaurant in the Parisian, and that we should come by the next day for lunch.  Though he seemed genuine, people talk a lot of shit on tours, (ehhh…people just talk a bunch of shit generally, right?), but the next day we headed over there, and, after winding through another labyrinth of slot machines, found the restaurant. Cory proved himself to be a man of his word, and treated us to an excellent lunch! The food was great, the place was great, and it couldn't have been a better ending to our trip to Vegas.

In the end, it's great to get the "first show" thing over with, and we're really excited about the tour and the adventures ahead.

 Monster In The Machine is hitting the road starting September 26 to spread the word about their ethereal debut album, BUTTERFLY PINNED, which was released August 21 on Emotional Syphon Recordings (ADA Distribution), the independent label owned by Ko?n guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer.  It was mixed and recorded at the home studio of band mastermind and former Cellophane singer Shannon Crawford (vocals/keyboards/guitars) and at Henson Studios (formerly A&M Studios) in Los Angeles, CA.

The band will be performing three acoustic shows with Riders On The Storm (featuring Robbie Krieger and Ray Manzerek of The Doors) before heading out with Israeli band Rock Four on a three-week tour sponsored by KCRW-FM (the prestigious and groundbreaking Los Angeles radio station) starting October 6.

Accompanying Crawford on the jaunt will be Lats (bass, formerly with Memento), John Chase (guitar) and Jay Curry (drums).   Doug Ardito (bass, who performed with Crawford in Cellophane) and Josh Freese (drums) appear on BUTTERFLY PINNED, but will not be part of the touring line-up due to prior commitments with other musical projects.

"Savior" is the album's first single, which is currently heating up radio airwaves across the country.  A video for the track was recently filmed in Los Angeles and will be ready to invade TV and the internet in the coming weeks.

Crawford has crafted a record that entrances the listener with swirling acoustic melodies and haunting, hypnotic electronics.  From the infectiously incendiary chorus of "Under Your Shadow" to the sonic dreamscape of "Helicopter," the music remains memorable.  Pristine melodies soar over brooding beats, and tracks like "Savior" convey a message of disenchantment and call for change.  Underneath the beauty of the music lies an honest mirror reflecting social ills.  Yet, hope for a solution exists.  Issues faced include the death of our environment, religion's contradictions and the perilous existence of an artist under the thumb of a corporation.  These are some of the darker themes that Crawford delves into on BUTTERFLY PINNED.

Once Crawford was finished with the recording, he played the demos for longtime friend James "Munky" Shaffer, who he grew up with in Bakersfield, CA.  "James has been my biggest cheerleader for years.  He'd been on the fence about starting a label, and when I played him my first songs, he said, 'That's it. I'm starting it.'"  Shaffer loved the music so much that he lent his guitar talents to the tense album closer "Don't."  Imani Coppola also makes a guest appearance playing violin on "Shut the Door." 

Since its release, BUTTERFLY PINNED has been racking up rave reviews.  To wit:

"…a slow, atmospheric album that recalls the glam shimmers of David Bowie ('Under Your Shadow'), the whispers, falsettos and mellotron-induced psychedelia of Sparklehorse ('Perfect'), a nervous Interpol keyboard dance groove ('Savior'), and a trip-out on the early Cure ('Dot On My Soul')…best sort of surprise."

                                                                        --Rob O'Connor, Revolver

"…an inspiring, incredible debut that must not be missed."
                                                                        --Rick Florino, Chord

"…BUTTERFLY PINNED is a stellar blend of pop, glam and classic rock filled with toe-tapping melodies, catchy hooks and enough attitude to maintain the band's indie street cred."

                                                        --Jeffrey Sisk, Daily News (McKeesport, PA)

"(Shannon) Crawford is simply amazing.  As producer he gives this album a grand sound, while his guitar and keyboards as versatile as his vocals. Behind him, drummer John Freese and Crawford's former Cellophane cohort, bassist Douglas Ardito, prove themselves the masters of rhythms from any age or genre. All told a stellar album, held together by its thoughtful lyrics, strong melodies, infectious choruses, and sheer creativity."

                                                                        --Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide

Check out Monster In The Machine at any of the following stops:

DATE                           CITY                             VENUE

With Riders On The Storm:

Wed 9/26                      Las Vegas, NV              House of Blues

Fri 9/28                         Anaheim, CA                 House of Blues

Sat 9/29                        San Diego, CA              4^th & B Theatre

With Rock Four:

Sat 10/6                        Monterey, CA                Monterey Live

Sun 10/7                       San Francisco, CA        Café du Nord

Tue 10/9                        Los Angeles, CA           The Roxy

Wed 10/10                    Costa Mesa, CA            Detroit Bar

Thu 10/11                      Pioneertown, CA           Pappy and Harriet's

Fri 10/19                       Philadelphia, PA            World Café Live

Wed 10/24                    Cambridge, MA             The Middle East (upstairs)

www.monsterinthemachine.com

www.myspace.com/monsterinthemachine

www.myspace.com/emotionalsyphonrecordings

Hey everyone,
 
It's Munky, I wanted to write a little blog on here for a change.  I always wanted to start a record label, but I'd been waiting for the right artists to inspire me, cuz it's so much work and time! That's exactly what happened with Emotional Syphon though, and I was lucky enough to find two bands that totally made me want to do this: Droid and Monster in the Machine.
 
Monster in the Machine main man Shannon Crawford has been a friend of mine since high school.  He's always been one of the most inspiring people that I've ever met. He's painted and composed music since we were kids. Everyone that sees his artwork's been touched by it, too.  Seriously, check out some of the paintings in the blog on here, and you'll see how dope this art is!  Celebrities have bought his paintings, and Norma Jean even used one painting as an album cover. I have some of his work at home, Producer Ross Robinson's got a painting and even the Slipknot dudes have his artwork.
 
Shannon and I have been through a lot together. He was in a band called Cellophane back in the day that did a tour with Korn in '96. That band was so good. Shannon left the music industry for awhile after Cellophane, but he always kept creating in some way. Last year though, Shannon played me the Monster in the Machine demos he made all by himself, and I wanted to get behind him instantly.  I wanted to see him impact everyone else the way he affected me.  He helped inspire my label with this amazing music. He even challenged me to step outside and play something new on the last song on "Butterfly Pinned" "Don't."  I love that song, and I love the whole record. I think you will too.
 
Check it out on Tuesday and to really get into it, peep some of his paintings while you're spinning "Butterfly Pinned" you'll really get to see an amazing artist up close and personal.
 
Rock on,
Munky

Be sure to check out the exclusive behind the scenes footage of the making of the "Savior" music video on this page!  Drop us a comment!

Don't forget to pick up Monster in the Machine's "Butterfly Pinned" this Tuesday August 21st! 

Don't forget to pick up Monster in the Machine's "Butterfly Pinned" out everywhere on August 21st 2007! See the cover art below!