Back last year in September, Carter and I checked out The Festival of New Horizons, a show presented by $2 Shows Austin and Lucy the Poodle Productions at the Parish. At the 19 band deep show we saw great local acts including: Federal! State! Local!, The Noise Revival Orchestra, MoTel Aviv, and more. It was a huge fest where we got to hear the current pulse of the local music scene.
One of the standout artists that played the fest was Ethan Kennedy. His guitar skills were impressive but not overwrought throughout the set of intriguing tunes. Originally hailing from Houston, Ethan’s been in the Austin music scene for a few years now with various projects playing in local clubs, on balconies and beyond. Turns out that shortly after this show Ethan started a new band called Kinky Machine with Drew D’entermont on drums, Sam Pankey on bass and Matt Mueling on guitar.
These guys went quickly to work and released a 3-track EP titled Drag late last year. Self-described as Postmodern Garage Soul, Kinky Machine at times sounds like Band of Horses with their reverbed guitar licks and soaring vocals. On the title track of the EP, Ethan lays down some sweet melodic guitar licks which then ramp up to a drum heavy chorus. Throughout the EP the great guitar work that Ethan has become known for is definitely there, but there are also some surprises like the vocal harmony breakdown on “The Spell.” Check the full EP out for expansive and earnest mellow rock songs.
Kinky Machine is playing tonight at The Hole in the Wall. They’re playing with Little Brave and Megan Carney and go on at 11p. Also, you can pick up the Drag EP on Bandcamp for 3 bucks. We’re looking forward to more tunes from Kinky Machine soon and we’ll keep y’all updated about anything we hear about the group of local rockers.
-Dan