*thumbnail photo by Alex Gomez- IG: @ag_images
Mechanical Roots is an Post-Alternative Rock band comprised of uniquely talented individuals from across the world: Kev O’Brien, Zach Gaston and Patricia Teles. Combined, they create the radio-ready, polished sound of Mechanical Roots, a band based in Los Angeles that is devoted to musical craftsmanship and bringing a unique cathartic performance to every audience. Their music is influenced by Post-Rock and Alternative Rock sounds with catchy, singable hooks in both the vocals and instrumentals. Mechanical Roots finds success in writing hard-rocking music while maintaining a sound that is listenable and enjoyable for any demographic.
They took the time to discuss their favorite albums and influences with us:
Kev’s Picks:
Guns N Roses – Appetite for Destruction
“This is the album that opened my eyes up to the rawness of Rock ‘n Roll. I love every part of the album. As a guitarist, Slash’s riffs and solos are perfect.”
Coheed And Cambria – Year of the Black Rainbow
“This is the album that got me to love Coheed. The riffs and the drumming on this record are too damn good. The way the songs flow into each other makes it feel like a movie. I could listen to this record every day and it would never get old.”
Snarky Puppy – We Like It Here
“This record opened my eyes up to the jazz fusion world. The musicianship in this band is amazing, and I love that the whole record was recorded live. Perfect playing.”
Patricia’s Picks:
Ark – Burn the Sun
“I love it because it’s a powerful and at the same time sensitive and melodic songs. Also very versatile, a perfect mix between progressive rock and syncopated music. I love the creative drums parts and guitar riffs as well.”
Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine
“I never felt the same way like I felt when I listened to “Killing in the Name” for the first time. I was just 15/16 years old and after I bought the CD I used to perform for my family singing all the songs and made them watch the show!” (she laughs) “At that time, I wouldn’t imagine that 3 years after I would be starting my first drum class. This is the time that I figured out that I wanted to be surrounded by music and rock and this CD was fundamental to my future decisions. I love all the songs and I think they are unique to this day. (Even though I don’t agree 100% with the political view of the lyrics anymore️)”
Metallica – Load
“It was the first Metallica CD that I got, I was just a teenager and couldn’t stop listening to it all the time. These days I still listen to Load and love everything. Every single song. I just love the guitar riffs, melodies, and James’ singing.”
Zach’s Picks:
Theon Cross – Fyah
“This album is fairly new, so I can’t say that it really formed me as a musician, but it has so many of the things I value in music. It is full of intensity. It has great musicianship. The music is harmonically somewhat simple because of the small instrumentation, but it has complexity in the melodies and rhythms. The funk coming off this album is almost enough to make me dance, and I don’t dance.”
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication
“I used to say the Red Hot Chili Peppers were my favorite band, but my music tastes are fairly volatile. I will still say that in terms of rock bass playing, it doesn’t get better than Flea. This album shows off Flea’s, and the rest of the band’s, versatility. There are super funky bangers on here as well as really chill ballads and everything in between. If you want to hear where RHCP came from and where they are going to, it’s pretty much all on here.”
Streetlight Manifesto – Somewhere In The Between
“I picked this album because, first and foremost, I love Streetlight Manifesto. They are all great musicians and the songwriting is amazing as well. I am not much of a lyrics guy, but the lyrics of their songs are as great as the music, and that’s saying something. This is also an album that has a larger instrumentation, and I love how they use it. One of my favorite moments in all of music is in Somewhere In The Between. Near the end of the solos, the saxophones play an almost classical sounding accompaniment to the trombone solo, and it just wrecks me every time.”
Band Pick:
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magic
“This album, while generally funkier than the music we play, has all of the elements we aspire to have in our playing. The guitar playing is funky and slinky and full of simple but perfect parts. The bass playing is funky as all get out. It isn’t too much, but every note that should be there is there. The drumming is simple and fundamental, but the grooves are undeniable. This album is a masterclass in groovy rock musicianship. The ballads, “Under The Bridge” and “Breaking The Girl” (a ballad compared to the rest of the album), really showcase Anthony’s songwriting in a way that the funkier songs don’t really. Again, the playing fills every spot that needs to be filled without overdoing anything.”
Listen to Mechanical Roots’ new single “Day Dream” below:
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