NEW NEWS
Blinding gig at the Steampacket last night, all the hard work has paid off, great sound, great performance, appreciative audience, and plenty of enthusiasm for the originals as well as the covers which we love to see. We had songs to spare despite playing for almost 2 hours so we really have caught up with things since we became a 3 piece back along. Really looking forward to the next gig now and hoping to get lots more booked soon.
Rock & Roll.
OLD NEWS
19.01.24. - First rehearsal of the year last night and considering it's over two months since we played as Māchine we were very happy with what we did, as always we recorded it and had a quick listen afterwards: not too bad. Bryn 's thumb erupted at 22.00 hrs [he had trapped it in a car door] Tobes power pack shorted out and caused mayhem with his amps and Co Co the daft dog really likes 'We can Swing Together' the Lindisfarne song, she also appears in a video created by our friend Mr James Hawken featuring Tobe on vocals singing a song that Jim wrote back in the 70's, here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ME90ju-0aA
Another link here to Jims blog about the creation of the present day version of the song and some history from his and Tobes lives for those of you who are terminally bored:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35UF0aFUgX0
Rock&Roll
Brilliant gig at the Steampacket Strood on New Years Eve, 'Machine' and 'Bates Motel' put together just for one night, we played over 40 songs and finished at ten past one. This from the Bates motel blog: 2023....What a great year we had!! New songs, new venues, new followers and our busiest year to date with gigs and rehearsals, all capped off with an epic New Years Eve combining forces with MĀCHINE at our favourite The Steam Packet, Strood. Thanks to Mark and Fliss for booking us again.. Hope to see you later in the year, along with all the other venues that have supported us and live music in general.
Rock&Roll
02.12.23. Many thanks to all who came to see us at the Steampacket for Lins birthday, what a night! This was the gig that we auctioned for charity to raise money for little Maisie back along. We did have a few technical problems which we got over of course but 'twas somewhat frustrating at the time especially when the snare drum broke [perhaps he shouldn't hit it so hard!] So we had Bryn with all 4 speakers connected this time, Tobe with his 2 amps, and the full P.A. setup, nobody moaned about not hearing the vocals in the corner this time! The sound was fantastic and that £10 black guitar was off the planet. Cheers to all you nutters for showing your appreciation and thanks for the grub, see you all on NYE when you get the Mega Band: Machine + Bates Motel otherwise known as 'The Steampacket House Band' it's about the size of yer average house but it's much more fun.
Rock&Roll
03.11.23. Great gig in the shed at Detling tonight the first as a 3 piece, brilliant sound in the tin shed, Bryn using all 4 speakers for a change, Tobe with 2 amps instead of one and Guy throwing bits of wood all over the place, really enjoyed it, thanks for inviting us and putting up with our songs looking forward to the next one now.
Rock&Roll
12.10.23. Very productive rehearsal last night, the band is still getting used to the new format but it's starting to work. Especially pleased with new end piece for Blues Forever, very powerful. Looking forward to the next gig now. Rock&Roll.
Rock&Roll
07.10.23. It is with sadness that we say goodbye to our longstanding guitarist Mr Steven Banks [otherwise known as Slick or Mr Angry], he has made the decision to take a break from music in order to concentrate on other things. We wish him luck in all that he does and appreciate his vast input, not least his amazing work on the forthcoming 'Mr Dooly the Truth' album. The band will carry on as a 3 piece from now on so at least we will all get a comfy seat in the gig van.
Rock&Roll
02.07.23. Had a brilliant time at the Steampacket this afternoon, thanks to the management for booking us yet again it must be over 20 years since we first played the Packet. Lovely audience, and nice to see our special fans Lindsey and Anne who have been listening since some time in the 90's. Special thanks to John [this song is for you John!] and Barbara who didn't mind me taking the mickey [well I'm still walking right now], here's hoping for many more of these.
Rock&Roll
18.06.23. What a shame about the Northfleet Carnival, we are gutted. All preparations were made as usual, van emptied of engineering gear, the clamps etc for bolting down the drumkit and other gear found, everybody ready to go and then the wanker who was to drive us lets us down at the last minute. Of course we tried to find someone else who could do it but had no luck on that score, it'd not like one of yer mates can step in and drive a Unimog towing a fuckin' low loader at a moments notice. Deepest apologies to all the people who attended expecting us to pass by giving of our best. Not many things make me blisteringly angry but this one has so if you read this Joe I hope you choke on yer fuckin' McDonalds.
Rock&Roll.
30.04.23. Brilliant gig at the Con Club Strood last night raising money for little Maisie we had a few technical problems but nothing we couldn't find our way out of. We had a brilliant [if small] audience who appreciated the original material as well as the covers and everyone had a great time. Special thanks to the young lady who performed Magic for us and brought us lots of food.
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Vocals finished for 'Smile' - Guy excelled himself with the backing vocs harmonising with himself, just the guitar parts left to do on this one now.
Rock&Roll
23.04.23 - Much progress in the studio, Bryn has put down the bass for all but 1 of the tracks for the new album now and we will be back in there as soon as we can getting the rest of it done.
Rock&Roll
16.04.23. Made a demo of 'Blues Forever' for reference using the raw tracks from the studio and mixing them on the office computer using Cakewalk which I have tried a few times but never managed to get a decent sound from. Played it to Hayley, she was very impressed and as everyone who knows her knows she doesn't impress easily. Looking forward to some more serious mixing later this week.
Rock&Roll
14.04.23. Much progress with the Mr Dooly album, in 2 days Guy and myself have managed to record the drum tracks for all the rest of the songs so his job is mostly over now. We are especially pleased with our efforts with 'The Chavs' which was being a bit of a trial in the rehearsal studio but Guy has found just the right beat for it and it really works now. Of course we may bring him back in to overdub the snare on one or 2 tracks and he can always do some backing vocals while he's at it. Bryn is under the weather right now with the cold from hell so it will be up to me to get some lead vocals down until he is well enough to lay down some bass - Tobe.
Rock&Roll
10.04.23. Very good recording session despite Mr Bryn being unable to attend due to the lurgy. Guy kindly stepped in and had a go at the backing vocals for 'Blues Forever' and did a fine job. We got 2 tracks of main vocs down and then recorded a separate snare track having tuned the 'Black Dawg' way down low, tightened the snare wire to breaking point, covering it with a tea towel and miking from about 4 feet away we got this fantastic sound. Guy nailed it the second take! Only got to mix it now and it's finished. That'll be one down, nine to go. Next session tomorrow evening.
Rock&Roll
10.04.23. we are recording later today, hoping to get the vocals finished on 'Blues Forever' so we can get on mixing it. This is a song which Tobe wrote in 1993 which has been a staple of the various bands sets ever since but there has never been a decent recording of it so we are putting that right. Also on the list for finishing in the studio are all the rest of the songs to go on the forthcoming album 'Mr Dooly - The Truth' - more about that later.
Rock&Roll
05.04.23. We have just been informed that we are now the headline band at the 29th of April gig at the Con Club Strood as Bates Motel can't make it for personal reasons. So rapid promotion from support to main band, better start getting it together now then.
Rock&Roll
