One Man Machine and Broken Smokes rock the local scene

April 7, 8:27 AMNew Orleans Music ExaminerDominique Minor

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the New Orleans Music Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

One Man Machine

In 2008, I was absolutely memorized by the work of local musical auteur One Man Machine, a.k.a. Bernard Pearce. His music is built around jarring, broken melodies and jittery pre-programmed loops that serve as an engaging aural experience. However, it is in live performances that he is able to shine as an artist, because he is able to expand his sound in ways that cannot be captured in a studio recording.

Oftentimes, on stage he is accompanied by a revolving line-up of local musicians that fill out his lush soundscapes on drums, bass, keyboard, and electric banjo. It is a set up that worked particularly well during his electrifying performance in the Bingo! Parlour at the 2008 Voodoo Music Experience. I urge those of you whom have not listened to, or seen, his ambient, punk and jazz-inspired tunes to pick up Get My Sound today.

Broken Smokes

In the spirit of 90s anti-heroes, Pavement and Beck, come the deadpan vocals (“Waiting Part”), acoustic melodies, alt-rock fuzz (“Winning Side”), and eccentric, but catchy choruses of Broken Smokes. The trio's amalgamation of lo-fi quirk (“Heading South”) and introspective lyrics make them quite possibly one of the coolest local band you're not listening to.

Be sure to catch these guys at next their show. They'll be playing performing at Le Chat Noir on April 30, 2009.

For more details on Broken Smokes, please visit www.myspace.com/brokensmokesmusic.