Machine Animal Mach II.5
With machine-like precision and animal magnetism, Machine Animal has entered Mach II. Actually, Mach II.5.
Anthony ‘Beer Bunny’ Navarro, also of Bellingham deuce The Second Hand Suits has replaced Bill ‘Beard Bunny’ Anker on drums. Anthony makes lots of intense faces when he plays, and will use with his hands when necessary. Kind of like a drum machine animal.
The band has also gone to a platoon system for fat strings. Original bassist Vincent Blackshadow will represent the band east of the Continental Divide. Chris Coyle, the easy-breathing leader of Sir Coyler and his Asthmatic Band (Seattle) will hold down the west coast basslines.
Dave Crider and Zack Van Houton will continue shotgunning beers and finishing each others’ sentences. “This new lineup gives us more flexibility plus way more intense faces behind the drums,” said Dave before Zack added “Sharks are rad!”
The whole thing started in 2016 when Dave & Zack got drunk and a turn-up contest broke out. It was like a rock and roll arms race—extreme guitardation. A rhythm section was added and made things even louder and more retarded.
They liked the name Animal Machine, but something wasn’t quite right. They all wanted to be the singer, so they made a rule that no one wasn’t the singer. The songs were so fuckin’ dumb. Just dumber than dirt. Dumber than that horse you fucked. Bonehead rock. Inspired by some of the dumbest 70s hard rock & glam rock songs and bands, the dumb just kept getting dumber. Dumb and loud—like an animal.
Shows. Shirts. Shit. Shinola. The skull-numbing down-dumbing Live in Wreck b/w Devil Woman single on California’s Valley King Records. The beards and bunny suits. The beers and balloon animals. A lifetime of decibels tamped into one year.
The first year…
Actually, Machine Animal works better than Animal Machine…
Machine Animal is:
Zack Van Houten (Black Beast Revival, Machine Animal) Tele, vox
Dave Crider (Mono Men, Watts, DT’s, Machine Animal) SG, vox
Vincent Blackshadow (Sweet Invicta, Machine Animal) bass guitar, vox [Mid-west Div]
Anthony Navarro (The Second Hand Suits, Machine Animal) drums, vox
Chris Coyle (Sir Coyler and His Athsmatic Band, Machine Animal) SG bass guitar, vox [West Coast Div]