Sand Machine:
Quincy Rock
by Darlington Howland

With a powerful arsenal of songs, a respectable history, and a new CD out, Sand Machine seems poised to take on the industry. Named after a radio they took to the beach during childhood, the band’s history spans fifteen years, from the church basement concerts they held as teenagers to regular spots at the Middle East.

Over time their sound has evolved. “In the beginning we were learning the instruments and trying to play together and it was just bad, unpolished,” remembers Jay Hepburn lead vocalist and guitarist. “Very garage band-ish.”

Sand Machine describes their sound now as “infective melody lines and harmony arrangements reminiscent of the British invasion overlaying bucolic American roots rock.”

Quite a mouthful, but it’s challenging to provide a more succinct description for these homegrown rockers. Their new CD, Porch & Space (produced by David Minehan, Wholly Mammoth Sound) due out this month, captures this eclectic groove.

“We didn’t concern ourselves with whether it would be a popular CD,” says Hepburn. “We just wanted a diversity of sounds.”

Diverse it is. One hardly knows whether to headbang or sway to the songs, which range from the punchy “Running of the Tree Frogs Week” to the deeply reflective ballad “(Traditional)”.

“We didn’t really have an approach. We just took a chunk of songs, without regard for unity, that seemed to express what we are,” says Hepburn. “And it ended up working out.”

This pop-meets-melancholy sound might be too scattered a range for a less experienced group, but Sand Machine tackles their breath of expression with passion and skill.

The songs tell stories and wrestle with the indecision of life. Towards the end of the CD “Not Sure I Can” speculates, Now the time has come/ To wonder why it is/ I should stay here/ Tell me how can I leave you?/ Would I still know who I am?, while “(Traditional)” ponders the human spirit: he’s hiding his will to aspire/ Quietly sorting things out.

The song is not only noteworthy for its thoughtful lyrics, but also its stripped-down arrangement, which contrasts with its neighbors on the album. Hepburn muses, “We were willing to take risks, such as slipping ‘(Traditional)’ into the middle of the record.”

Porch & Space marks the fourth recording for Sand Machine and serves as a testament to their focus over the years. Maintaining group unity and such strong musical standards is an accomplishment, considering the constant flux of musical trends. Sand Machine remains remarkably unscathed. Concertgoers might think they are seeing double as the lead guitarist and drummer bear quite a resemblance to one another. In fact Jay and Dave Hepburn are identical twins. These genetic ties lend a unique element to the already intriguing group.

“Playing with Jay and Dave is great,” says bassist Noah Scanlan. “When they sing harmonies, the combination of the slightly different timbres in their voices, add up to a very cohesive and rich sound. They have magic superhero ESP too, which sometimes leaves the rest of us out of the loop, but works well when they want to cheat at card games."

Fans of Sand Machine are diverse; with such a distinct sound one imagines the alternative art school kid digging on this new group. Likewise a generation a bit older - seeking a revival of classic rock - might also identify with the jive of Sand Machine. Their wide range of lyrics and musical genre bending creates a timeless and universal appeal.

With experience, talent, and lack of pretension, Sand Machine puts on an energetic performance whether at a reputable New York venue or a humble local pub. If you have yet to discover this innovative group, hustle over to the Middle East for the Boston release of Porch & Space, guaranteed to inspire and entertain.

The Middle East Downstairs
Saturday, May 20^th 9pm
$10.00
With The Gulf, Three Day Threshold, and The Collisions
www.sandmachine.com