Secret Machines Play SPIN Shutterbug's Show

Last night (April 8) to throngs of snazzy music lovers at NYC’s Openhouse Gallery, Spin contributing photographer Brantley Gutierrez unveiled a collection of rock’n’roll photographs dubbed Sounds & Light — then had Secret Machines soundtrack the after party with a live set! The event, presented by Spring Court sneakers and featuring Spin as a media sponsor, showcased live and behind-the-scenes snapshots of the likes of Weezer, Arcade Fire, and Foo Fighters, plus definitive center-piece pic capturing Iggy Pop dancing onstage at Lollapalooza 2007, while guest DJ Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem spun records.

After our fill of photographs of live performances it was due time for the Real McCoy as hordes of in-the-know New Yorkers flocked to an exclusive after party at the swanky Tribeca Grand Hotel for gratis New Castle beers and an off-the-cuff jam session from Secret Machines. As explained to SPIN.com by drummer Josh Garza, Secret Machines, playing as a two-piece with bassist/vocalist Brandon Curtis, wrote the amorphous 30-minute and three-song jam session particularly for the show. With driving drums and fluxing bass routed through a bevy of effects pedals, the first two nameless tunes rubbed elbows with the band’s new material (more!); for the third and final song, the duo space-walked through a decidedly unique cover of David Bowie’s “Big Brother,” which was truly worth a thousand words

The Secret Machines / Photo by William Goodman