Alley Cat Video

Brandon from the Toy Bombs directed this kick ass video!

Pre-Order The Dark Dark

Yesterday Mechanical People announced that you could Pre-Order their debut album "The Dark Dark"! I don't know about you guys, but I immediately clicked the link and made the purchase. The album will be shipped on May 12th, and has 8 tracks on it. If you missed the announcement HURRY UP and click here to get yours! Here is the track listing.

1 Sick and Wired
2 Secrets
3 Magnolia
4 Skyscraper (acoustic)
5 Sinners Dream
6 Dinosaur
7 Monster
8 Alleycats

Texas...

I'm sitting in Berlin, Germany right now wanting to write my thoughts/reviews on the shows but my buddy is insisting that I get my butt off the pc and join him for a beer ... so, this blog will have to wait.  So VERY sad that the short Texas Invasion is over ... hopefully more is to come.

SBL Austin

This is gonna be a long one bare with me. My SBL experience can be described as epically beautiful. The talent that graced the stage at the Mohawk was beyond words. My only complaint was that I would have preferred more Spencer Bell covers. The few fans that did cover his songs were great and did the music justice.

Blake Mackey blew me away with the amazing finger work on his guitar. His sound is folky and he is new to Austin.

Shawn Fernando ripped the stage as usual with his piano skills and smooth voice. He gave you a great mixture of upbeat songs, sad songs, a rap and even threatend to bust your face in with a baseball bat. If you haven't had the pleasure to see him live next time you are in Austin look him up. He is well worth a trip to the mutha fuckin A-TX!

The Kissing Club never disappoints with the sweet sound of Linden Tree and the upbeat ho down of Water in the Pipes. Jake was joined by friends on stage for most of his set and you could feel the joy pouring from the stage as they performed.

Axis Unity was a last minute addition to the SBL line up they were so freaking rad. The reggae beat gave the crowd a groovy sway. The horns and bongo section was a highlight in my day. I couldn't stay still during their whole set.

The Netherfriends blew me away. Anyone who will play pots and a helium tank as an instrument is fabulous in my book. I had a new cd by the time this set was over with and it had found it's place in with my Legacy Bands playlist before I made the journey to Dallas Sunday morning.

Mechanical People were next and to say they killed it would be an understatement. The harmonies these guys bring together just amaze me. The crowd gave just as much energy to them as they poured it into their art. Jake wailed on the guitar so hard I thought he was going to fall over. My favorite song of theirs that night was "Alleycats" the harmonies during the chorus were just sick. I could probably continue to go on and on about this band but I will cut this short.

Tin Tin Can I can only say I wish these guys were from my city. I want to see them all the time. Their songs just make me wanna move. They bring such a unique sound and energy to every show I have seen them play. A great surprise for the evening was their cover of Spencer's "Tourist". The crowd was a mass of swaying bodies singing along. I would be lying if I said I didn't get a little misty eyed at this point.

The show stopper and last but sure as fuck not least The Stevedores. They started out strong as we all expected with the regular members but as a huge surprise to everyone after a couple of songs Graupner joined Ben, Shawn, Jake and Adam on stage. Thunderdome was the last song of the night every musician was on stage playing, and I was rendered speechless. You could feel every soul and ounce of energy being poured into the lyrics, chords and beats coming from that stage. The music flowed through the crowd and made us all one family. Tears flowed, and cheers sounded as we all tipped our glasses, beers or shots to gratitude.

My words really aren't enough to describe the music that was heard and the emotion that surrounded this day. If you were there you understand if not watch the videos that some graciously provided. I didn't even bring a camera into the venue. Luckily, my friends did and I can live with their pictures. Until next time Beer, Love, and Robots... Jenn

Austin, TX Headhunters 3/22/11

I was trying to come up with words last night and I sat in front of a blank screen for about 30 minutes before I said fuck it. Eventually words will come to me but right now I am just going to bask in the epicness that was my cherry popper of a Mechanical People show. Until then I will copy Shawn and post this picture to commemorate my epic fall! Until next time folks... Jenn

Austin - Headhunters

I wanted to write a full review, but it's hard to put all the awesomness in to words.  So, I'll just post a picture that pretty much sums up the mood of the evening!  Enjoy!

Ben G says 'thank you'

Everything Mechanical People

Lately all we can seem to think about is Mechanical People. Our group emails, our tweets, our texts, our dreams ... that's all it is. Not complaining by any means - I think it just means we are ready for the Texas Invasion Spring '11. Only 6, 10 and 12 days left. There will be many MP cherries popped and I'm so over the moon that I can be a part of that! And in 10 days, we can reveal our awesome logo we made. You'll see it on a shirt or two at SBL. It's nothing fancy, but we absolutely adore it. We know how to execute ideas. haha.

*on a sad note, took my car to the car wash today and my awesome MP sticker didn't make it out alive. Luckily, they provided more than one. Thanks, guys - you're the best.

Sinner's dream

They say the lucky man
And cats, have got nine lives
Well watch me and I'll lose 'em all
I won't even try
The morning you'll go find me
And you'll see that I'm gone
You feel your luck changing
Where you think that's coming from?

I said oh preacher, preacher
Can't you wait to make me clean
He said I'm sorry son
That's just a sinner's dream (x2)

And I said, oh my soul
Oh, my sinnin' soul
My sinnin' soul

Well hey ol' Lucifer
Pour that liquor three rings deep
You can get my lips a flappin'
But we both know talk is cheap
You can tell the truth from liars
Yeah, I'll know all that I've seen
Well I heard you bet with many
But you've never bet with me

And I said oh preacher, preacher
Can't you wait to make me clean
He said I'm sorry son
That's just a sinner's dream (x2)

And I said, oh my soul
Oh, my sinnin' soul
My sinnin' soul

Morning you'll wake up
And find that I've been gone
Yeah your good luck's a comin'
Where you think it's coming from?
And dirty ol' Satan
He'll be sucking on my bones
Just as soon as my wicked body's gone

And I said oh preacher, preacher
Can't you wait to make me clean
He said I'm sorry son
That's just a sinner's dream (x2)

And I said, oh my soul
Oh, my sinnin' soul
My sinnin' soul

Dinosaur

You look so good
You look so good
You look oh so good

You look so good
You look so good
You look so good
You look so good

Just like a tiny
Just like a tasty
Little treat

Well you can run
You can run
Yeah you can run
But you can't hide

You can run
Oh you can run
Oh you can run
But you can't hide

From me
And my Tyrannosaurus eyes

You got away
You got away
From my little arms

You got away
You got away away
From my dinosaur arms

Well I'm gonna get you
Oh for sure
I'm a mother fucking dinosaur

Oh I caught you
I caught you
And I'm gonna eat you up

Look I caught you
Look I caught you
Now I'm gonna eat you up

You taste yummy
Yum yum yum

Now I'm so full
I'm so full
But I'm lonely too

Oh I'm so full
Oh I'm so full
And now I'm missing you

I should not have eaten
My only friend
From now on
This dinosaur's a vegetarian (x2)

Mechanical People's Official Site

Check out Mechanical People's new OFFICIAL website. It makes us giddy.

Click there ---> Official Site

Schwag!!

The Mechanical People schwag has arrived!!!  There's already a sticker in it's rightful place on my car (even though they're not vinyl stickers, it belongs there) and the CD has found it's home in my car CD player.

If  you would like some of this stuff (not mine - you'll have to get your own cause I ain't parting with any of it!)... why not email the guys: mechanicalpeoplemerch@gmail.com and tell them you want some stuff!  It's $11 or $15 internationally.  I hear supplies are limited, so what are you waiting for??

 

Texas Shows

I couldn't be more excited about the 3 Texas dates that Mechanical People are playing.  2 Austin shows and one Dallas show.  Poor David's Pub in Dallas had sent out an email and my friend Lesley immediately texted me and let me know that Mechanical People were playing on the 28th last week.  Do you know how hard that secret was to keep?  I wanted to climb on top of my roof and scream it.  I'm sure my neighbors wouldn't have liked that but who cares ... I GET TO SEE MECHANICAL PEOPLE in just a matter of weeks.  That's worth a mad neighbor or two.  hah.

I wasn't going to be able to go to the mid-week Austin show but my job, being as awesome as it is, will have to do without me.  I also have a CD and some stickers on the way - which by the way, I about had a minor coronary when I received a PayPal invoice from a Mr. Ben G.  EEK

Who is going to what show?  Will I see you there?  Come say 'hi'.

Just Checkin In

Hi guys I'm Jenn. Just wanted show my love for The Mechanical People. Holy Hell could this be any more of a dream band? They have quickly dominated my ears and given me many eargasms in the last few weeks. These guys are amazing the smoky rasp of Graupners voice, mixed with Johnson and Jake in the harmonies sends me into a frenzy. Jake wailing on the guitar and Johnson keeping the tempo with the drums makes me move and shake. I can't wait to see them in Austin for SBL. "Sick and Wired" describes the posse to a T because "we can get down with any kind of situation"!  Well that's all the rambling I have for now folks take care and until the next time... Beer, Love and Robots, Jenn

Skyscraper

Didn't call for any answers
But you answered
That's my way
Who'da felt so alone
In a pool of a million dollar skyscraper
Steel shades

Hello, Hello
Are you there
I know you by name
But you just don't
Care, care, care
For me... you say

Baby, you've been calling
For my dollar on the hour
Dial the operator
Just to hear the sound
But it's not around

Two's of us our heart is broken
And I'm left here all alone
I thought these calls were recorded
And I'm right here on the phone

Mechanical problems
I just can't stop
My cold mechanical heart
1-900 tell me who cares
Who cares... and you say

Baby, you've been calling
For my dollar on the hour
Dial the operator
Just to hear the sound
Oh, my dear you've been hanging
By the phone for weeks and hours
You dump your ashtray out on the ground
But it's not around

We're mechanical people
With arrhythmic hearts (x3)
We're mechanical people
But don't set us apart

We're mechanical people

With arrhythmic hearts (x3)

We're mechanical people

But don't set us apart

And I know you've got a soul

And I know you can be held

And I'm stuck here, on the other line

Holding, holding, holding

We're mechanical people

With arrhythmic hearts (x3)

Don't don't don't set us apart

We're mechanical people

With arrhythmic hearts (x3)

Don't don't don't set us apart

We're mechanical people

With arrhythmic hearts (x3)

Don't don't don't set us apart

Alleycats

Amber lights, dim in the haze
Out in the alley, where the alleycats play
Gin in the glovebox
Rings in their hands
Hold stolen gems from faraway lands

Temper, Temper
Watch what you say
It'll be recorded
It'll be replayed

Puff out your gossip
Suck in a cough
We're waiting for
Them shoes to drop

Feel the claws
In the small of your back
Relax, you like it like that
Clever kitten, she's got her prey
Another story that she will trade

We've all got our ways
Of wastin' our precious time
Tell me now that I found yours
Can you take a guess at mine

Fame and shadows
Begin in the day
Let morning chase the darkness away
Now I can see all the things
I've done wrong
Listening to the break of dawn

Draw your face, be ashamed
Root 'round in
The mess you've made

Turn your back
On all the good that you've done
Then you can feel
Them slender fingers run

Flick a match
And sit up and wait
Watch the smoke
And the shape that it makes
Listen close to the creakin' board
And the stairway juts past the door

We've all got our ways
Of wastin' our precious time
Tell me now that I found yours
Can you take a guess at mine (x2)

Sick and Wired

Shake it..
Ooh, the things we do
Ooh, the things we do

So much alcohol in my veins
It's amazing I don't just
Burst into flames
When I reach to light
Another cigarette
Well it smells like gasoline
On my breath

I'm sick and wired
I'm sick and wired

I've unplugged the phone
Bouncing off the walls
Cause I'm home alone
And my skin is so pale
And I chew my fingernails
To the bone

I'm sick and wired
I'm sick and wired

Doing ok
Feeling alright
One thing's for sure
That we won't be sleeping tonight

Well I'm twitching like a freak
Up late
Shoutin' at the TV
And I call "Oh Lord, won't you
Pull these demons out of me"

I'm sick and wired
I'm sick and wired
I'm sick and wired
I'm sick and wired

Doing ok
Feeling alright
One thing's for sure
That we won't be sleeping tonight

Well we're alright with this ill sensation
We can get down with any kind of situation
Well we're alright with this ill sensation
We can get down with any kind of situation

It's alright
Well alright

Monster

Take off your charm
Throw it in the water
Take off your charm
Throw it in the water

You can walk around town
Watch the scared people
And their faces hang down
Oh, what a monster
To save the year

So, you can nibble on my ear
I won't hear or feel a thing at all
So, you can nibble on my ear
I won't hear or feel a thing at all

My body is devoid of nerves
These feelings have grown inert
Oh, what a monster
To save the year

Go'n paint an image on my eyes
I won't realize
Go'n paint an image on my eyes
I won't realize

My optics don't work
So it's grown mighty dark in here
Oh, what a monster
Oh, what a monster
He's the worst one of 'em all

And I know there's a place
Where you don't have to paint
No field of dreams
And I know we've been livin'
Our lives on a TV screen

And if that's called being a monster
I'm the worst one of 'em all (x5)

Magnolia

Magnolia, Magnolia
No things aren't what they seem
Magnolia, Magnolia
Crawlin' out the TV screen
Magnolia, Magnolia
I'm cardboard
Cardboard can dream

Well I saw the preacher
And he's drinkin' and kissin' on the missus
I saw the preacher
And I know that's none of my business
Good man that's sneakin' around
The devil's kitchen (?)

No matter how good you come
You've gotta go
No matter how good you come
You've gotta go
Magnolia, Magnolia
Don't go selling souls

Oh, you can rest at ease
Oh, you can rest at ease

The strong big ol' (?)
Like a big oak tree (?)

Magnolia, Magnolia
No things aren't what they seem
Magnolia, Magnolia
Crawlin' out the TV screen
Magnolia, Magnolia
I'm cardboard
Cardboard can dream

Well, the twinklin' lights
Are bright in the Heavens tonight
Those twinklin' lights
Are bright in the Heavens tonight
Oh, are they playing on the water tonight

Quiet Quiet Quiet
Now she comes
Quiet Quiet Quiet
Now she comes

You've gotta rest
You've gotta rest
Rest before the storm

Just wanted to say...

I've fallen hard for this new band called Mechanical People.  The talent showcased in this band is second to none.  I can't wait until the day I get to see them for myself, even if it means another long-ass roadtrip to Texas.  It would be well worth it.

And that's all I have to say.  For now.

XOXO
Jenny

First post!!

Hello all.  First, I'd like to welcome you to our little blog.

I had some people asking if I was going to blog about Mechanical People's first show that I had the pleasure of seeing in Baton Rouge, LA on February 1st ... and I want to share it with you but I didn't feel it right to blog on our Monkey Entourage page so I decided to make this blog that way we can share our love for them as well without overloading our fan page for 100 Monkeys.

If you've read any of the blogs on the Entourage page, you know they can be long winded.  So, you'll have to bear with me.

The road trip from Dallas to Baton Rouge is a pretty lengthy one (7.5/8 hours).  I was driving with people that I didn't know, aside from Liz but I was going for it.  To miss the awesomeness that is Jake, Anna, Ben and Ben was NOT going to happen.  We left Dallas around 8pm after getting our essentials (snacks and energy drinks) and it was a pretty funny trip talking and laughing the whole way (and stops at gas stations and buying little trinkets).  We arrived real late and checked in and tried to get some sleep but by 8am, I realized that I was too excited for the day and decided to get up and get ready.

We did some driving around - got some food and coffee.  Ran into a paparazzi guy.  Saw some "vampire" guy from the back as he was walking away.  A broken cell phone.  Chapped lips.  Laughs.

Finally we decided we'd go ahead and head back to the hotel and get ready for the show.  Once we arrived, we decided that shots were a good idea.  Unfortunately the bar did not stock Tuaca, and I was sad but on the upside... they had NEWCASTLE!!  That always means it's gonna be a good night.

The guys started showing up and kinda just stood around talking to people for a while.  I was not inebriated enough just yet, so I hung back since Graupner tends to make me forget how to form complete sentences.  I got to finally meet Tara who runs Jerad Anderson Fans, she is SO sweet.  I stood around and talked to her for a while and then I heard someone kinda squeal and I turn around and see Jackson on stage.  Now, let me preface this ... I'm a huge fan of him and all but I was kind of hoping that he wouldn't be there so that the focus could all be on Mechanical People.  I knew that there would be some Twihards there but I was hoping that it wouldn't leak so it wouldn't be overloaded.  At some points during the night, you could tell when he went outside for a smoke - as all of a sudden the crowd of 20 people was suddenly a crowd of 5.  But, I digress.

As the night went on and more drinks and shots were had - I eventually got up the guts to talk to Graupner.  And, holy crap - could this dude be ANY nicer?  Pretty sure it's impossible.  I'm a chain smoker when I drink, so I was outside for 75% of the night - in a little alcove because I was not prepared for the gale force winds this lovely evening.  Luckily, this helped with getting in some more conversation with Graupner and Johnson.  I'm not going to go into depth of what the conversations entailed - but, I'll just say that Johnson is one funny fucker!  Sarcasm will always win with me.  And, he's a winner.  :)

It was time for Mechanical People to go on.  As we found out later, Anna was stuck in NY and Jackson would be filling in for her as a one off.  There really is no word to describe how beautiful the sounds these guys make when they get together.  Jake emotes so much without vocally saying anything - just with his guitar, it gives you goose bumps.  Graupner's soulful voice makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.  Johnson makes you smile when you watch his enthusiasm on the drums.  It was a monumental night, to say the least.

After their set - I was just elated.  Not sure if it was the contact high from a certain smell that had filled the bar, but I was super relaxed and just having a great time.  I talked with La Di Da Di Scotty for what seemed like the entire night (but it was probably 5 minutes).  I remember confessing to Jake that I had stolen the 'Skyscraper' song to put on my iPod cause I just had to listen to it all the time.  He assured me that was ok, but I bought their single anyway.  :)  There were a bunch of funny pictures taken ... somehow, I was on a 'thumbs up' kick and was telling everyone THUMBS UP and a few obliged - thank you.  Yeah, a drunken good time.

Every since returning back to Earth from this night, I have been counting down the days until I can see them again.  March 26th is the only date that is solid on my calendar ... but, I'm still trying to find a way out to California for a few days in March to see them.  They're just THAT good.  I'm in love.

xoxo
Shawn