About Me
NEW ALBUM:
MACHINES OF STRING THEORY IN Cm
ma?chine [muh-sheen]
–noun
1. an apparatus consisting of interrelated parts with separate functions, used in the performance of some kind of work.
A piano in the key of Cm heralds the introduction to the long awaited new album from one of LA’s most passionate punk bands. Pistol Grip’s Machines of String Theory in Cm, marks their 10-year anniversary and the return of the band’s original line-up of long-time friends Slowey M. (bass), Boxcar Kelley (drums), Hollywood (lead guitar), Stax (vocals), and Chase Revenge (rhythm guitar). Produced by Chase Revenge and co-produced by Rich Mouser, MACHINES was recorded and mixed at The Mouse House in Los Angeles, CA. This latest release is a culmination of a decade of experience and growth, conveying the same aggression and early punk styling Pistol Grip is known for, while introducing new, more refined, and darker influences.
In 2001, Pistol Grip’s debut record, the critically acclaimed The Shots From the Kalico Rose, was released on one of Southern California’s most enduring and respected punk labels, BYO Records. Then in 2002, Chase, the group’s founder and main songwriter, left the band, amidst personal turmoil, bound for law school. Pistol Grip forged on, replacing Chase with childhood friend Chris Cerda and releasing two more records on BYO, Another Round (2003) and Tear it All Down (2004). With the fans demanding more, they shot a live DVD to a sold out crowd as part of Kung-Fu Record’s The Show Must Go Off DVD series. They toured the U.S. ten times between 2001 and 2004, supporting bands such as AFI, The Unseen, The Business, Swingin’ Utters, Bad Religion, Lars Fredrickson & the Bastards, and Youth Brigade, as well as playing on a good portion of the Vans Warped Tour. In the same time frame, Pistol Grip also completed five European tours, headlining twice and supporting the Dropkick Murphys, Youth Brigade, and Oxymoron on the others.
In 2005, Pistol Grip restructured to welcome Chase back while still retaining Chris on rhythm guitar. Chase has reassumed the role of studio musician and composer of most of the material. MACHINES OF STRING THEORY IN Cm revives the songwriting magic captured in Pistol Grip’s debut album, while showcasing the bands artistic progression over the past ten years.
String Theory:
A model of fundamental physics whose building blocks are incredibly small vibrating threads of energy (strings). A string that vibrates one way becomes an electron. Another, vibrating differently, becomes one of the carriers of the force of gravity. You can think of the universe as a symphonic work of art - for both are made up of notes produced by strings vibrating in particular ways.
Machines is the smartest and hardest hitting Pistol Grip record to date. Evolving beyond street punk tradition, MACHINES includes their darkest and most polished recordings. From the Joy Division inspired Hallucination Hallway to the Sisters of Mercy-tinged No Romance, the production is emphasized more so than on any of their previous releases. The subject matter and lyrics have matured, pontificating death, love, sex, and despair. Moreover, MACHINES bleeds character, incorporating a variety of styles such as with the lounge piano of Reeperbahn and the ragtime feel of Smoke. It delivers some unexpected twists; yet, despite the variety, it all blends perfectly into one beautifully black and cohesive work of art, with the last chord ringing ever so appropriately…in Cm.
