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Local band Mechanical Boy to release debut album
  
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By VAL CLIFTON
On Aug. 3, the five members of Mechanical Boy were holed up in their Rhythm Room studio on Brittmoore Road polishing their set list; diligently ironing out the details in preparation of their highly anticipated CD release show.
The reflection of a two-year work in progress, Sept. 12 marks the unveiling of their debut 11-song album “Play Along,” a collection of tunes that encompasses the feel of Mechanical Boy’s signature live shows.
“We are a very live band and we like to make the audience a part of the show,” said guitarist Mike Regino. “We like to feel that the audience is witnessing something that’s super hype and we want people to have goose bumps when they see us play.”
Houston producer-engineer Mike Thompson of Ivory Towers began recording the band in 2007 and brother and sister owners of Valentone Media, Mike and Molly Rodriguez, headed up the design, photography and videoography to promote the album.
Valentone launched a series of dating videos, in which each of member replicates the True.com personal ads that are plastered across many online social networking sites, to promote the show.
Mechanical Boy vocalist Tim Anderson describes the band’s sound as a punch in the face, while guitarist Regino likens it to getting one’s face stuck in a waffle maker.
They kid…
In Anderson’s lyrics, which are largely based on social observations and situations, the sarcasm theme also makes an appearance.
“I like to poke fun at myself as far as self-pity type moments and also take a different spin on traditional love songs,” Anderson said. “It’s not that I’m against love, but it all seems a little goofy.”
The album was titled “Play Along” after a phrase that at one time showed up in many of the band’s songs.
“It’s kind of a double entendre,” Anderson said. “You could look at it as meaning to get involved, but at the same time, most of what we do is playing along, whether it’s friendships, relationships, work and things that are going on in our daily lives.”
Regino said the musicians draw from a wide variety of influences, so categorizing their music is a bit difficult. The band collectively describes their sound as a super combination of Indie power pop, dance rock and sludge, a genre that in all likeliness, they made up.
“It’s like if a whole bunch of Killers were after Franz Ferdinand because he ate a Red Hot Chili Pepper,” Regino said.
Mechanical Boy formed as the result of the combination of an overlapping past and circumstance.
Anderson and bassist Chris Applegate, both Spring High grads, and Regino decided to collaborate on a new project after disbanding their group Ignite the Morning. They shared a practice space with The Colour Clear and recruited their drummer, Matt Wheeler.
Jason Castle, who was in a band with former Klein Oak classmate Regino, joined on keyboards to complete the sound.
Since, they’ve released a few demos and a split CD with a San Antonio band and have received local media acclaim.
The band garnered an influx of attention after performing at the “Free Press” Westheimer Block Party in which they were scheduled inside the Number’s venue mid-day while other bands played on the coveted street-side stages.
“It was a great day outside, so I didn’t think anybody was going to come inside to watch,” Anderson said. “I was surprised that they were paying attention. It seemed like they were specifically there to watch our show and review it.”
One of the four Houston news outlets that reviewed the show that day described Mechanical Boy’s sound as, “a stylish, groove-based swagger that’s more polished than almost anything (we’ve) heard on the local scene.”
Mechanical Boy will celebrate the release of “Play Along” Sept. 12 at Fitzgerald’s, which sits on the corner of Studemont and White Oak Drive in the Heights. Support for the show includes Denton, Texas band Veloura, and Houston bands The Last Place You Look and Thee Armada.
Along with the debut release, a tour is in the works for winter 2009 in support of the album.
To hear Mechanical Boy, visit www.MechanicalBoy.com.
The reflection of a two-year work in progress, Sept. 12 marks the unveiling of their debut 11-song album “Play Along,” a collection of tunes that encompasses the feel of Mechanical Boy’s signature live shows.
“We are a very live band and we like to make the audience a part of the show,” said guitarist Mike Regino. “We like to feel that the audience is witnessing something that’s super hype and we want people to have goose bumps when they see us play.”
Houston producer-engineer Mike Thompson of Ivory Towers began recording the band in 2007 and brother and sister owners of Valentone Media, Mike and Molly Rodriguez, headed up the design, photography and videoography to promote the album.
Valentone launched a series of dating videos, in which each of member replicates the True.com personal ads that are plastered across many online social networking sites, to promote the show.
Mechanical Boy vocalist Tim Anderson describes the band’s sound as a punch in the face, while guitarist Regino likens it to getting one’s face stuck in a waffle maker.
They kid…
In Anderson’s lyrics, which are largely based on social observations and situations, the sarcasm theme also makes an appearance.
“I like to poke fun at myself as far as self-pity type moments and also take a different spin on traditional love songs,” Anderson said. “It’s not that I’m against love, but it all seems a little goofy.”
The album was titled “Play Along” after a phrase that at one time showed up in many of the band’s songs.
“It’s kind of a double entendre,” Anderson said. “You could look at it as meaning to get involved, but at the same time, most of what we do is playing along, whether it’s friendships, relationships, work and things that are going on in our daily lives.”
Regino said the musicians draw from a wide variety of influences, so categorizing their music is a bit difficult. The band collectively describes their sound as a super combination of Indie power pop, dance rock and sludge, a genre that in all likeliness, they made up.
“It’s like if a whole bunch of Killers were after Franz Ferdinand because he ate a Red Hot Chili Pepper,” Regino said.
Mechanical Boy formed as the result of the combination of an overlapping past and circumstance.
Anderson and bassist Chris Applegate, both Spring High grads, and Regino decided to collaborate on a new project after disbanding their group Ignite the Morning. They shared a practice space with The Colour Clear and recruited their drummer, Matt Wheeler.
Jason Castle, who was in a band with former Klein Oak classmate Regino, joined on keyboards to complete the sound.
Since, they’ve released a few demos and a split CD with a San Antonio band and have received local media acclaim.
The band garnered an influx of attention after performing at the “Free Press” Westheimer Block Party in which they were scheduled inside the Number’s venue mid-day while other bands played on the coveted street-side stages.
“It was a great day outside, so I didn’t think anybody was going to come inside to watch,” Anderson said. “I was surprised that they were paying attention. It seemed like they were specifically there to watch our show and review it.”
One of the four Houston news outlets that reviewed the show that day described Mechanical Boy’s sound as, “a stylish, groove-based swagger that’s more polished than almost anything (we’ve) heard on the local scene.”
Mechanical Boy will celebrate the release of “Play Along” Sept. 12 at Fitzgerald’s, which sits on the corner of Studemont and White Oak Drive in the Heights. Support for the show includes Denton, Texas band Veloura, and Houston bands The Last Place You Look and Thee Armada.
Along with the debut release, a tour is in the works for winter 2009 in support of the album.
To hear Mechanical Boy, visit www.MechanicalBoy.com.
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