Matt Pike, the legend behind such iconic bands as SLEEP and High on Fire, has announced his first-ever live shows supporting his debut album Pike vs. the Automaton (read our review here). The album was released on February 18 via MNRK Heavy. Music, merch, and more are available at the link below:
https://www.PikeVstheAutomaton.com
Today, 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
Check out our interview with Pike!
Born out of the challenges brought on by a worldwide pandemic, ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’, is both a musical and emotional release. The record features contributions from a slew of family and friends, and was recorded with longtime conspirator Billy Anderson, the producer who brought the best out of Pike previously on touchstone titles such as ‘Surrounded by Thieves’ and ‘Sleep’s Holy Mountain’.
Guest musicians on ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’ include Alyssa Maucere-Pike (Lord Dying, Grigax), Chad “Chief” Hartgrave, Brent Hinds (Mastodon), Steve McPeeks (West End Motel), Josh Greene (El Cerdo), Todd Burdette (Tragedy, His Hero is Gone), and High on Fire bassist Jeff Matz, who lays down Turkish electric saz on the album’s towering closing track “Leaving the Wars of Woe”.
Pike vs. the Automaton track listing:
1.) Abusive
2.) Throat Cobra
3.) Trapped In A Midcave
4.) Epoxia
5.) Land (feat. Brent Hinds / watch VIDEO)
6.) Alien Slut Mum (watch VIDEO)
7.) Apollyon
8.) Acid Test Zone
9.) Latin American Geological Formation
10.) Leaving The Wars Of Woe
In additional news, Pike recently released ‘Head On A Pike: The Illustrated Lyrics of Matt Pike’. Described as “a retrospective of musical poetry”, the book showcases the lyrical works of Pike across his more than twenty year career. Beginning with High on Fire’s 1998 album ‘The Art Of Self Defense’, and through to 2018’s ‘Electric Messiah’, each chapter of ‘Head on A Pike’ features Matt’s distinctive lyrics flanked by artwork — specifically inspired by each album — from creators that Pike has trusted since the beginning to depict his unique musical vision.