Matt Pike recently released his debut solo album Pike vs. The Automaton, and has now added a New York show to his mostly West Coast touring schedule. Pike will hit the road this May alongside drummer Jon Reid, bassist Chad "Chief" Hartgrave, guitarist Chris Evans (Lord Dying), and what's being dubbed "possible special guests."
"Who's ready to be crushed by sound?!?" said Pike. "Rehearsals for our inaugural shows have been deafening! We are primed and ready to deliver and destroy! See you soon!"
5/5 Seattle, WA – Barhouse
5/6 Tacoma, WA – Plaid Pig
5/7 Port Angeles, WA – Devil's Lunchbox
5/8 Portland, OR – High Water Mark
5/16 Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus Bar
Pike vs. The Automaton features drummer Jon Reid (ex-Lord Dying, ex-Megaton Leviathan) and guest appearances from Alyssa Maucere-Pike (Lord Dying, Grigax), Chad "Chief" Hartgrave, Brent Hinds (Mastodon), Steve McPeeks (West End Motel), Josh Greene (El Cerdo), Todd Burdette (Tragedy), and Jeff Matz (High On Fire, Mutoid Man).
"I was just going bonkers during the pandemic. It was like really, truly miserable. And then all the riots here in Portland and all the political shit. I was trapped in my garage, which was the only place I could go and jam and do anything," said Pike of how the project started. "I was trapped in there 'cause I couldn't go jam with High On Fire, I couldn't do this, I couldn't do that, no one could fly. I was going crazy.
"My friend Jon Reid, who was the original drummer for Lord Dying, had moved to Portland and was babysitting my dog, Crom, and he was drumming for my wife's band, so he had his drums already set up at my place. I finally said, 'Dude, do you want to come over and just start jamming?' So, I just started this thing with my friend Jon. I was like, 'Dude, fuck it. Let's start a side band and we'll just demo this and act like we're starting it as teenagers, you know?'"
