Long-time friends Brooke Gallupe (vocals/guitar), Kathryn Calder (vocals/ keyboards), and Luke Kozlowski (vocals/drums) played in many bands together before settling on their current lineup in October 2002. Luke and Brooke have lived down the street from each other since elementary school, and Kathryn met them while all three were in their high school's rhythm and blues band. Immaculate Machine's first performances were unpaid gigs in an obscure sports bar to drunken regulars (not recommended). After lugging their own sound system up flights of stairs, they would argue with management over having to announce the daily specials. The following years saw more dues-paying. The trio independently released two albums, The View (EP 2003) and Transporter (LP 2004). Seizing their musical destiny, they made their own merchandise and booked two tours across Canada. In 2004, they toured for six months following the release of Transporter, charting high on several Canadian college radio stations and reaching #1 in Victoria and Halifax.

 

The very last show of the Transporter tour was in Vancouver, home of Mint Records. It was at that show that the band met producers John Collins and Dave Carswell (JC/DC), and musically introduced themselves to Mint. In the spring of 2005, Immaculate Machine signed with Mint and began recording with JC/DC, who also have Tegan & Sara, Destroyer, and fellow Mint artists Young and Sexy and The New Pornographers to their credit.

 

Incidentally, Carl Newman, frontman of The New Pornographers, is related to the band by more than just his labelmate status. He is also Kathryn's long lost uncle, from her mother's recently discovered biological family. Kathryn played piano and sang on The New Pornographers' album Twin Cinema. The trio also has another unexpected Canadian rock connection: Men Without Hats keyboardist Colin Doroschuk was their opera singing coach in their beginning years.

 

If you google 'immaculate machine', you're likely to find sites about the band, stuff about really clean motorcycles or tractors, and links to Paul Simon lyrics. The name is from a Paul Simon song, but the band has too many influences to credit any one artist. Growing up with grunge and punk, they quickly developed an appetite for all types of music, new and old. The threesome has a particular appreciation for music that makes political messages fun and accessible.

 

Immaculate Machine's unorthodox instrumentation attracts attention. Since the band has no bass player, Kathryn plays bass lines on her keyboard with one hand while the other plays lead. Being a trio forces each member to take on multiple duties, hence the frequent three-part harmonies. But instrumental multi-tasking doesn't stop the group from putting on an engaging live show. Their energy and enjoyment of the music rubs off on the crowd, and audiences clap rhythms, shout and gesticulate along with the band.