The daily trials and tribulations of a working stiff, devoted husband and father, and musician.
Friday, March 25, 2022
ELLE MACHO
so obsessed i made a desktop background from a video capture
I do not know why this incredible band is not ruling the world, or at least still putting out incredible songs.
A week ago I put a post in TalkBass looking for ideas around pedals and fattening up sounds. A guy pretty much said to google it and in a link he posted, it linked to gear page which had this post in a forum, which had this video linked:
I've pretty much been obsessed ever since. I loved how this song started and then when the other singer kicked in at the :40 mark. And then the harmonies at 1:06? Wow. Just a two part harmony, but so good. And then the Tbird bass tone at 1:23? My goodness. I fell in love.
I did some research on the band and found out the bassist/singer is none other than Butterfly Boucher, someone I actually saw with Haley in 2019. We bought tickets to see Sara Bareilles in Seattle, and Butterfly was on guitar and vocals. At the time, after seeing her sing with Sara, I started following her on IG, but back then, even playing with Sara, she didn't post a lot, so I forgot about her.
But when I started researching Elle Macho, I fell in love. Her voice is so pure and clear, her bass playing is inspiring, and the musicianship is just overall incredible. With regard to the band and songs, everything just works. It ticks all my boxes. Let's make a list:
Power trio
Killer harmonies
Killer melodies
All instruments are showing up well
T-bird bass tone is incredible
They all look cool (esp. Butterfly)
Songs have the added undefinable juice that I love
Basslines are thoughtful and complex, but simple at the same time
I'm sure there's more, but you get the gist.
I almost forgot to mention the most incredible part. This band put out stuff like that video above in 2009. They only have one full length and one EP and they were put out in 2013 (Import) and 2016 (VoVo). They do have something more recent, a video they filmed, from 2020, but there's no indication of any more music. There are a few live club videos with a few dozen views scattered on YT, but other than that, it's been radio silence. David (guitar) does have a solo career that I have yet to check out, and Lindsay (drums) apparently is in marketing by day, and isn't doing much more on drums. Butterfly did put out some solo records, but it's not super clear what she does these days; she's not active at all on social media, it seems. Other than Sara B.'s tour, she hasn't been forthright with what she's doing.
But, regardless of the lack of material (or info), I am super excited about this band. It has inspired me. I am searching now for a Epiphone (Gibson too expensive) Thunderbird and have done a bunch of research. There's a guy on TB that has offered me his TB IV (entry model, bolt on neck), but I'm waiting to hear back from him for a potential meet and try.
I am also hoping to sing a bunch more in future projects. Not just harmony here and there and not necessarily lead, but harmony/lead, if that makes sense. I love what Butterfly and David (guitar) do vocally, and would love to do something like that. Now, if I could only get better at hearing/singing harmonies without having to be told what they are!
Here's an Elle Macho playlist, in case you need more (and you will):
