The Beta Machine
The Beta Machine | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, Progressive rock, Alternative |
| Years active | 2017—present |
| Labels | T-Boy, UMe |
| Associated acts | A Perfect Circle, Tool (band), Ashes Divide, Puscifer, Eagles of Death Metal |
| Website | www |
| Members |
|
The Beta Machine is an American rock band formed in 2017 from Los Angeles led by Matt McJunkins (vocals/bassist/keys) and Jeff Friedl (drums).[1]
Already renowned for their long membership in A Perfect Circle, McJunkins and Friedl first came together at auditions for Ashes Divide in 2008, a band led by Billy Howerdel (of a Perfect Circle).[2]
Maynard James Keenan, co-founder of A Perfect Circle and Tool frontman, asked McJunkins and Friedl to join Puscifer, and ever since, the two have developed a collaborative spirit with one another that has manifested in subsequent projects, including The Beta Machine.[3][4]
In addition to performing together in The Beta Machine, A Perfect Circle, and Tool, Matt McJunkins has also played with Thirty Seconds To Mars, Jeff Friedl has performed with Devo and Filter, and the duo have also jointly played with Eagles of Death Metal.[5][6]
The name "The Beta Machine" is an homage to the future-focused, high-energy sound of the band. Having already worked with Claire Acey (vocals) and Nicholas Perez (guitar/keys), McJunkins and Friedl asked both to join The Beta Machine’s lineup.
While all four band members continue to work with other bands on existing projects, The Beta Machine represents an outlet to continue to experiment creatively—a "conglomeration of their personal and cooperative influences to achieve a singular sound that thrives on evolution and their shared experience as collaborators."[7] According to Friedl, "We just had such a good rapport with each other. The ideas flowed nicely. There weren't any ego problems along the way."[8]
The debut release from The Beta Machine was the All This Time EP in 2017, five tracks that showcased the band’s progressive rock soundscape. Fans of the band members’ other musical endeavors found exciting new sounds from this project unbound by traditional expectations. “It’s hard for any artist or band to exist outside of a bubble,” says McJunkins. “They get pigeonholed pretty easily into being known for one thing. We’re trying to create a wide range so we don’t fall into those traps.”[9]
The Beta Machine’s debut album Intruder was released on March 29, 2019 on T-Boy Records/UMe. Singles from the album include “Embers,” released on February 1, 2019, and “Someday,” released February 22, 2019. “Embers” features “haunting vocal interplay between [Matt] McJunkins and [Claire] Acey,” paired with driving percussion, ambient synths, and atmospheric guitars.[10] “Someday” is a guitar-driven, optimistic track with just the right amount of distortion. Once again, McJunkins & Acey’s vocal blend stands at the forefront of this single. The day before Intruder's release, the band premiered its final single "Precious Design" on Loudwire. McJunkins described "Precious Design" as "an anti anthem of sorts. Dancing around themes of addiction but in a way that doesn't condemn the addict but takes them in your arms and holds on tight."[11]
The Beta Machine performed as the only opener on A Perfect Circle’s arena tour 2017 (meaning McJunkins and Friedl played back-to-back sets at each tour stop).[12] This diet of regular live performing, songwriting, and artistic collaboration means near constant creative evolution for the band members. In a 2018 interview at Rock On The Range, Matt McJunkins said, "Basically, whenever I'm not busy doing something with another band, I'm doing that—I'm working on something with The Beta Machine."[13] It was announced in June 2019 that The Beta Machine would be embarking on a Fall tour of the United States supporting Blue October.[14]
This article "The Beta Machine" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:The Beta Machine. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "About The Band". The Beta Machine. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ↑ Lover |, Turbo (2018-05-30). "An Interview With Matt McJunkins (A Perfect Circle, The Beta Machine & More) [Video]". Metal Nexus. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ↑ Lucas, Nici (2019-02-14). "A Chat with Jeff Friedl, Drummer for A Perfect Circle and The Beta Machine". Adventure Music Life. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ↑ "He wasn't into Coachella when he lived here. That changed. He's performing onstage with A Perfect Circle". Desert Sun. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ↑ Peacock, Tim (2019-03-14). ""We've Nothing To Hide": Beta Machine's Matt McJunkins Talks 'Intruder'". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ↑ "Members of A Perfect Circle Matt McJunkins and Jeff Friedl Debut New Album Intruder As The Beta Machine -". mxdwn Music. 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ↑ "Watch L.A. Rock Act the Beta Machine's Surreal Retro-Futuristic New "Embers" Video". Revolver. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ↑ "A Perfect Circle Offshoot The Beta Machine Releasing Debut Album". www.antimusic.com. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
- ↑ Peacock, Tim (2019-02-01). "The Beta Machine Announce Debut Album 'Intruder', Share First Single 'Embers'". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ↑ Stavropoulos, Laura (2019-06-06). "Watch The Beta Machine Perform 'Embers' Live At Capitol Studios". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ↑ Childers, Chad. "The Beta Machine Reveal Infectious New Song 'Precious Design'". Loudwire. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ↑ "Coverage: A Perfect Circle played Barclays Center | NextMosh.com". Retrieved 2019-03-11.
- ↑ Metal Nexus (2018-05-31), An Interview With Matt McJunkins of A Perfect Circle [Rock On The Range 2018], retrieved 2019-03-11
- ↑ The Beta Machine (2019-06-15). "Very excited to announce that we will be supporting @blueoctober in the U.S. this fall! Tickets on sale now! Grab 'em and we'll see you soon:) http://bit.ly/TBMxBLUEOCTOBER *TBM supporting 9/27-11/2pic.twitter.com/TEyNqriOAy". @TheBetaMachine. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
