The gift machine started as a the name of dave's studio project in early 1999. the first live appearance was in the summer of 1999 on a tour of the west coast with the The Microphones, Karl Blau, and Nate Ashley. Phil, Karl, Dave, and Nate all learned each others songs and functioned as each others temporary back up band for the two week tour.
Darrin Matthies joined the gift machine in the fall of 1999. After the release of "Sooner or Later or Not", the duo joined forces with labelmates Nate Ashley and Bill Cook and, again learned each other's songs and hit the road in the spring of 2000. The quartet piled in a van and traveled south, having a lot of fun along the way.
Eric Mathews (the Happeners) joined
the band in 2001 or so and played with the band unitl 2003. Bryce Weech
(also the Happeners, the Shitsters, etc.) joined the band on keyboards,
guitar, singing and general good vibes in 2002 and still is a regular
contributer.
Currently Dave is recording a new album scheduled for release sometime
in late 2005. He has also been known to play bass for Dame Dulce and drums
for Karl Blau on occasion.
pre gift machine:
Back i n the summer of 1998 Dave Matthies
released his solo debut, The Serendipious
Mayors of Brightness "Thank Your Friendly Oxygen Machines"
7 inch single (click here for review
), which is available through KNW-YR-OWN. The original 300 singles were
packaged in hand made sleeves
from "Olympia" and
Dave was also singer/songwriter for the early 90's pop quartet Yukon Stove, which recorded a five song EP with producer Phil Ek in 1993. In addition, Dave also helped create the sonic thunderings and tumultous melodic tumblings of the late Trespassers W and Fluid Flow Alarm. Darrin records and releases his own solo work as well.
