The Diabolical Machines
Fort Worth, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2012 | SELF
Music
Press
An in-your-face disposition and amalgamation of indie rock and power pop makes The Diabolical Machines stand out in the best of ways and sets them on the track to triumph, and their Get Scrappy EP captures that essence in just five songs. - Music Murmur
Steph’s voice no longer accompanies her guitar and Kevin’s precocious Farfisa organ. It competes with them for primacy in a mix in which her rhythmic fretwork is thunderous and distorted...There are enough similar surprising sonic twists on Get Scrappy! to make you wonder where the Buchanans and company’s next release will take them. - Fort Worth Weekly
If you squint your ears, you can hear Beach Boys homagery in “Drag You Away”....Subtle and driving, the songs are sharp, gaining richness with each listen. - Keep Texas Live
Working with co-producer Britt Robisheaux, the Machines, billing its sound as “boutique indie pop,” capture that infectious exuberance on this four-track, 10-minute EP. The title track feels like a cartwheel in the sunshine, while the stinging The Robber Barons of 7th Street gets in digs at Fort Worth’s power brokers, including (ow) the Star-Telegram. - DFW.com/Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The band also uses the term “lit rock” to describe its music, a genre label that implies brainier-than-thou lyrics full of literary and cultural allusions a la The Decemberists. Shimmering with groovy Farfisa organ and the chime-like sounds of tenor ukulele, "Drag You Away" overflows with clever, observant wordplay married to maddeningly hummable hooks. - Fort Worth Weekly
Discography
Get Scrappy! - EP - Feburary 2014
Drinking Alone on Christmas - Single - December 2013
Drag You Away - EP - June 2013
Photos
Bio
The Diabolical Machines is an power pop / indie rock band that combines unique, retro instrumentation with lit-rock songwriting and multipart harmony. Formed by spousal duo Steph Buchanan (guitar/vocals) and Kevin Buchanan (Farfisa organ/uke/guitar/vocals), and joined by rhythm section Jonathan Holder (bass/vocals) and Aubrey Savage (drums, percussion), The Diabolical Machines craft boutique indie power pop with literate indie rock overtones.
One of the best ways we've found to sum up our sound is "Dressy Bessy meets Harvey Danger on the way to visit Brian Wilson." We marry supremely catchy pop hooks to thoughtful, often melancholic lyrics.
Band Members
Links