MONSTER IN THE MACHINE Prepares To Hit The Road

MONSTER IN THE MACHINE is hitting the road starting September 26 to spread the word about their ethereal debut album, "Butterfly Pinned", which was released August 21 on Emotional Syphon Recordings (ADA Distribution),the independent label owned by KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer. It was was mixed and recorded at the home studio of band mastermind and former CELLOPHANE singer Shannon Crawford (vocals/keyboards/guitars) and at Henson Studios (formerly A&M Studios) in Los Angeles, CA.

The band will be performing three acoustic shows with RIDERS ON THE STORM (featuring Robbie Krieger and Ray Manzerek of THE DOORS) before heading out with Israeli band ROCK FOUR on a three-week tour sponsored by KCRW-FM (the prestigious and groundbreaking Los Angeles radio station) starting October 6.

Accompanying Crawford on the jaunt will be Lats (bass, formerly with MEMENTO),John Chase (guitar) and Jay Curry (drums). Doug Ardito (bass, who performed with Crawford in CELLOPHANE) and Josh Freese (drums) appear on "Butterfly Pinned", but will not be part of the touring line-up due to prior commitments with other musical projects.

"Savior" is the album's first single, which is currently heating up radio airwaves across the country. A video for the track was recently filmed in Los Angeles and will be ready to invade TV and the Internet in the coming weeks.

Crawford has crafted a record that entrances the listener with swirling acoustic melodies and haunting, hypnotic electronics. From the infectiously incendiary chorus of "Under Your Shadow" to the sonic dreamscape of "Helicopter", the music remains memorable. Pristine melodies soar over brooding beats, and tracks like "Savior" convey a message of disenchantment and call for change. Underneath the beauty of the music lies an honest mirror reflecting social ills. Yet, hope for a solution exists. Issues faced include the death of our environment, religion's contradictions and the perilous existence of an artist under the thumb of a corporation. These are some of the darker themes that Crawford delves into on "Butterfly Pinned".

Once Crawford was finished with the recording, he played the demos for longtime friend James "Munky" Shaffer, who he grew up with in Bakersfield, CA. "James has been my biggest cheerleader for years. He'd been on the fence about starting a label, and when I played him my first songs, he said, 'That's it. I'm starting it.'" Shaffer loved the music so much that he lent his guitar talents to the tense album closer "Don't". Imani Coppola also makes a guest appearance playing violin on "Shut the Door".

Upcoming MONSTER IN THE MACHINE shows:

With RIDERS ON THE STORM:

Sep. 26 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
Sep. 28 - Anaheim, CA - House of Blues
Sep. 29 - San Diego, CA - 4th & B Theatre

With ROCK FOUR:

Oct. 06 - Monterey, CA - Monterey Live
Oct. 07 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe du Nord
Oct. 09 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy
Oct. 10 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
Oct. 11 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy and Harriet's
Oct. 19 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
Oct. 24 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East (upstairs)