Big Fat Love Machine works on selling out

By GEORGE MASEK
Collegian Arts Writer

Taking a break from their music last week, Big Fat Love Machine kicked back and watched Star Wars. Guitarist Mike Matthews walked over to turn off the television so the band could be interviewed.

"Aw c'mon, I've never seen this part before," drummer Russ Jones complained.

The rest of the band laughed but the television was turned off anyway as everyone took their places on the tattered couches and chairs huddled together in the living room. Jones reluctantly took a seat on the floor beneath a collage of Kenny Rogers photos pasted on the wall.

Big Fat Love Machine is a relatively new band that arose from the remains of The Imploding Organic Avoidable, a cover band that Matthews and bassist Greg Symons formed. The current lineup was completed about a year ago with Jones, guitarist Jon Reardon and vocalist Katie Werner.

The band members talked and joked among themselves with an ease suggesting that, unlike some other bands, there are no cliques within the group. They often finish each other's sentences and seem at times to speak collectively as one individual.

This kind of mental cohesiveness within their group is reflected in their music, which they describe with a series of random glances around the room and a chorus of "I don't knows."

Werner finally explained, "We try to stay as simple as possible, while being complex at the same time." Matthews leaned forward to add, "No two songs sound alike," and Reardon quickly jumped in to say "Unfortunately we always use the same three chords."

Although Werner writes a lot of the band's material herself, the members do piece their music together collectively through what everyone agrees is a slow and painstaking process.

"Hey did anything come out of da-na-na-na-ah?" interupted Jones, while the rest of the band tried to make sense of the drummer's attempt to hum the guitar riff. Symons and Reardon just stared back in bewilderment.

The band's music is cleanly structured with melodic harmony and Matthews explained that the band members often switch instruments to keep the music from getting stale. They also share turns with the vocals.

Reardon said the kind of unity Big Fat Love Machine has, extended to the local music scene, is the key to original bands like themselves getting exposure around town.

But the development of a sense of unity between a group of bands usually depends on whether they have similar styles, he said. The band claims that they owe a lot to The Pinch for setting up shows with them.

"We respect that they let us open for them without knowing too much about our band," Werner said.

Despite being such a new band Big Fat Love Machine has gained a decent amount of notoriety.

"Among 13-year-old girls we're right behind Green Day," Jones said.

The band also expressed hopes and concerns about the local scene and the role that bars play in helping new bands get on their feet.

"Since alternative has become a big thing, more bands are getting exposure. (Bars) are really starting to try more, especally places like the Crowbar," Matthews said.

Although the band is interested in expanding their fan base by playing in clubs and bars, they prefer the atmosphere a party can provide, Werner said. The band prefers to play parties because the people that come are more likely to pay attention to the band's music.

As for the future, the band said a lot depends on the response to their recently-recorded, self-titled demo, which has not been released. The four-song recording includes the tracks "Ocean Size," "Underware," "Suzy Sparetire," and "Indecisive Day." They hope to have copies ready this month to send out to small record labels.

Werner is the only band member still in school, but even after she graduates the band plans to stick around to see what happens with the scene.

"We need to take it upon ourselves to get it together," Reardon said jokingly, "but we're not afraid to sell out."