Sand Machine

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Sand Machine is a Quincy, Massachusetts, USA original rock and roll band founded by twins Jay and Dave Hepburn and childhood friend Jeremy Bates in 1999. The band was a retooling of earlier projects Tongues of Fire (TOF) and the Hearde. With Jay Hepburn on vocals and rhythm guitar, Dave Hepburn on vocals and drums, Jeremy Bates on lead guitar, and Scott Ryans on bass, Sand Machine played their first show at the Crazy Clam in Old Orchard Beach, Maine on June 26, 1999.

That fall they released their debut CD entitled It Goes with Anything which was recorded at Bristol Studios in Boston. This was followed in 2000 by the 4-song EP You Turn to Now which was met with mixed reviews. Scott Ryans left the band amicably and was replaced by Jonathan Andree, former bassist of bob.. In December of 2001, Andree was replaced by former Deadpan Jack bassist Emmett Witchell.

A breakthrough came in 2002 with the release of the full-length CD The Difference Is which was produced by award-winning producer and former front man of The Neighborhoods, Dave Minehan at Woolly Mammoth Sound. This album brought Sand Machine greater critical attention and radio play. Following its release Sand Machine began to play regularly at prominent Boston area venues The Middle East Downstairs, Lizard Lounge, Bill’s Bar, and Milky Way amongst others. They also began tapping into new markets, playing shows throughout New England, in New York City, Nashville, and Pittsburgh.

Emmett Witchel left the band to take a professorship at the University of Texas in November, 2003. He was replaced by former Shelly Winters Project bassist Noah Scanlon in 2004.

On July 29, 2004 Sand Machine played a benefit for Moveon.org called “Boston Tea Party II” with the Twinemen, Concrete Blonde, and Rick Berlin. Sand Machine tracks “ATM Song” and “The Difference Is” appear on the compilation CD of the same name which was released on Kufala Records. Sand Machine participated in the 2005 WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble and released a 4-song EP Running of the Tree Frogs Week in 2005.

Mai Mochida, formerly of funk band Dr. Awkward, joined the band on organ and electric piano in 2006. Sand Machine’s latest full-length CD, Porch & Space, was released on May 20, 2006 at the Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA. This album was also produced by Dave Minehan at Woolly Mammoth Sound.