Time: 9:30 p.m.

Cover: none

 Come and play the  weekly open mic at the Slice tonight. The New Weather machine aka Jon martin, Jesse Northey and Clayton Smith are the hosts this week.

http://www.theweathermachine.com

Born and raised in the prairies of Lethbridge, Alberta, Jon always had a strong fascination with music. At the late age of 15, the dormant guitar in the closet became the most interesting thing in his life. He soon embraced a busy gigging schedule and spent several years developing his unique guitar style and voice. During a break from his previous band in 2006, Jon began working on new material for a solo album. The old group had all but fallen apart and these songs became the debut album from The New Weather Machine (December 2008). The record was written, performed, and recorded by Jon at his home over the course of a year.

In early 2009 a one off band was assembled to perform the album for the record launch. The shows success lead Jon to continue with the band and the group has subsequently continued to perform across Western Canada. The dynamic and engaging three-piece band now features Jon Martin on guitar and vocals, Jesse Northey on bass and backup vocals, and Clayton Smith/Brad Brouwer on drums. The progressive alternative rock groundwork laid on The New Weather Machine is expanded on and enhanced by the band’s chemistry, intensity, passion, and forward approach to live performance.

The band is currently recording songs for a second album (TBA 2012), which will feature legendary studio drummer Kenny Aronoff. (video here) “The next album is going to lean a lot further into the rock side of the musical spectrum. All live gigs we’ve been doing have been influencing the songs and pushing my writing in a new direction,” says Martin, “The band has been sounding great and I want to move into musical territory that is artistically challenging, but still accessible and enjoyable.”

Influences cover a wide range of artists such as David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Clash, The Stones, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, The Who, Radiohead, Wilco, Black Sabbath, and T.Rex.

When he is not working on music for The New Weather Machine, Jon studies music at The University of Lethbridge, produces, mixes, and records other artists and bands. He is also the Photo Editor for the weekly independent newspaper The Meliorist and explores visual art. He is also an active AES member with a strange fascination with the creation of music and sounds, microphones, compressors, preamps, and the art of recording.