Pike vs. the Automaton Announce First Live Shows
Though not unheard of, Matt Pike side-projects don’t happen all the time. It’s been more than a decade since he fronted Kalas on the side from High on Fire, and in the years since, splitting duty with High on Fire and Sleep has no doubt been enough, so Pike vs. the Automaton, which released its self-titled debut (review here) earlier this year on MNRK Heavy (formerly eOne), is something of an outlier. I don’t know how much touring Pike and company will ultimately do for the project, and that record’s enough of a brainscrew that I’d be curious to check it out live. I’m not trying to sell you on a show or anything — dude needs my promotion not in the slightest — but if you go or don’t, this isn’t necessarily a ‘they’ll be back’ kind of situation.
Food for thought. There’s elements in Pike vs. the Automaton that draw from all sides of his approach and then some from what he’s shown to-date. I wonder what that would be like blasting at you from a stage at full volume. Torrential, maybe.
From the PR wire:
Matt Pike Announces First Live Shows Supporting Debut Solo LP ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’
From rewriting the hard rock rulebook with his Grammy award-winning trio, High on Fire, to reverse engineering doom metal with his genre-defining trio Sleep, Matt Pike has channeled his natural talents and chiseled a steely path straight to the heart of modern-day metal’s molten core. Pike’s debut solo LP, ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’, was released on February 18 via MNRK Heavy. Music, merch and more is available at PikeVstheAutomaton.com.
Matt Pike announces the very first live shows with his solo band, which includes drummer Jon Reid, bassist Chad “Chief” Hartgrave, guitarist Chris Evans (Lord Dying), and “possible special guests”. The group has booked live dates in Seattle (May 5), Tacoma, WA (May 6), Port Angeles, WA (May 7) and Portland, OR (May 8) with additional live performances expected to be detailed soon.
On the topic of the first “Automaton” shows, Pike bellows, “Who’s ready to be crushed by sound?!? Rehearsals for our inaugural shows have been deafening! We are primed and ready to deliver and destroy! See you soon!”
‘Pike vs. the Automaton’ live dates:
May 5 Seattle, WA Barhouse
May 6 Tacoma, WA Plaid Pig
May 7 Port Angeles, WA Devil’s Lunchbox
May 8 Portland, OR High Water Mark
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