CMW 2008: Immaculate Machine

03/04/08 5:00pm

by Alyssa Noel (CHARTattack)

Hometown: Hometown: Victoria, BC
Official Website: www.immaculatemachine.com
Members:
Brooke Gallupe (guitar/vocals)
Kathryn Calder (keyboard/vocals)
Luke Kozlowski (drums/vocals)

Fresh off a European tour, this indie pop band bring their bouncy gems to Canadian Music Week ahead of their jaunt across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Immaculate Machine have been exhibiting telltale signs that they're about to explode, not unlike pop darlings The New Pornographers, with whom they share keyboardist/vocalist Kathryn Calder.

So, you're about to play the big industry event that is Canadian Music Week. What's the most shameless thing you've ever done to promote your band?
Brooke Gallupe: We made flasks and tried to sell them at an all-ages show. We kind of got shut down at one of them because the City of Seattle funded the show.

What's the hardest part about being an up-and-coming band?
Honestly, the hardest part is juggling band members' schedules. As we get busier, it becomes more of a hassle.

How important is it for your band members to circulate and flirt with the audience before or after the show?
Not too important. There have been venues where we have a big backstage and because of the novelty of that we say, "Sweet backstage!" and sit on the couch for five minutes and get bored.

Have you ever stolen from someone else's rider? If so, who was it and what did you take?
We spent a whole month stealing from The New Pornographers when we were on tour with them. I don't know if that counts because I don't think they minded, but we'll say it does. We stole enough Jameson to ensure we were drunk the whole time.

Have you ever been graded before according to ChartAttack.com's Rock 'n' Roll Report Cards?
No.

Does the idea of being graded bring back bad memories of being in elementary school or high school?
I don't know. Whatever. I'll try and ignore it anyway.

Have you done anything new or interesting this week?
I'm in Dawson City, which is all-new and all-interesting. The interesting things I've done this week are curling, tobogganing down a closed ski hill, saw the northern lights last night and I stayed in a cabin with no electricity or running water.

Immaculate Machine plays the Horseshoe Tavern on Thursday, March 6 at 8:30 p.m. as part of the annual Chart/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcase.