Immaculate Machine swung threw town on Monday, playing a fantastic set of their indie power pop at O’Hanlon’s. Until recently, all I really knew about this band was that this was Kathryn Calder’s “other” band. I am a huge New Pornographers fan so I have seen her more than ably fill the big shoes of Neko Case. A friend of mine recently ripped me a copy of Immaculate Machine’s album Fables and it has been on constant repeat on my iPod ever since. So needless to say I was a little excited for this show.
My expectations were initially a little dashed when I heard prior to the show that Kathryn Calder would not be part of the band’s lineup on this tour due to an illness in her family. I had a weird sense of deja vu because when I saw the New Pornagraphers two or three years ago, Neko Case was not part of the lineup and Ms. Calder filled in. However, Calder had more than a few people asking, “Neko Who?”
I never caught the name of Calder’s replacement but she did a stellar job filling in on backing vocals and guitar. No attempts were made by the band to replace Calder’s keyboards though. On a side note, Calder’s fill-in also did a rousing rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance WIth Somebody” later on in the night at karaoke. I can’t say I’m a big Whitney fan but she did a great job, with tongue firmly in cheek.
Definitely a fun part of the night.
Basically this version of Immaculate Machine was primary singer/songwriter Brooke Gallupe and some hired guns. However, they have obviously played enough times together because they sounded tight, with guitars interweaving around each other and displaying some tight harmonies.
Highlights included Gallupe’s intro about bullshitting Sook-Yin Lee on CBC’s DNTO for “He’s A Biter,” a rollicking version of “Sound The Alarms” and the Beatle-esque “C’mon Sea Legs.”
Being a relative newbie to the band, I am still in the early processes of delving into their catalogue but I love everything I’ve heard so far. I purchased their excellent new album High On Jackson Hill at the show and have probably played it from start to finished about eight times so far and counting.
Brooke Gallupe is definitely one of Canada’s most underrated songwriters. It’s a shame there weren’t more people at a FREE SHOW(!!!!!!) but it was definitely worth the money (on the CD and beer anyways) and time.
Below is a video for their single “Sound The Alarms.”
http://myspace.com/immaculatemachine
...submitted by JJ
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