Author Mike Shepard releases “Echos for the Machine” on Amazon. The book documents his time covering the underground, artists, poets, writers, directors, and beyond.
Echos for the Machine: The ROX-TV Sessions is a collection of interviews gathered during the author’s journey throughout the music underground and beyond. The author takes the reader behind the scenes and into the minds of artists, poets, writers, and directors who are currently making their mark in their chosen mediums. The ROX-TV Sessions were compiled from the author’s time on the road and the interactions he encountered while trying to document the scene for future generations and ultimately the Machine. The author tends to see the world from a long view and although some people might not understand the project, the book is intended to capture the scene in real time.
“This book is really meant for twenty years from now; I think that is when it’s purpose will be fully realized. So often we wait too long to look back and remember where we were and what we were doing. When this finally occurs, time and distance can distort what was really happening. The look and feel of a show, the weather that night, the things happening not only on stage but in the back parking lot. I feel it all has value and this collection of interviews, in my estimation as a whole capture that vibe, literally as it was unfolding. The people that understand what I’m talking about will see it for what it is, the others…well maybe never”
-Author Mike Shepard
The interviews include an amazing session with Zoran Maslic (Director of the film Annoying) and has some of the most in-depth insights about the film, the artists, and Zoran on record. Also included in the book is a great interview with the living legend John Holmstrom who founded PUNK Magazine and whose worked continued at High Times Magazine. Another interesting interview comes from Tom Putnam, the director of “The United States of Insanity” which documents the Insane Clown Posse suing the FBI.
The body of work continues with underground artists, poets, and much more. This book is a unique collection of “points” that intersect through the life of the author during the last two years covering movement and events that matter to the fans of the underground. You will not find another book out there that is this multi-faceted on the topic of capturing the feel and sound of “what is going on now”. Although this book documents the now time, the author feels that the true impact of these events will be realized many years from now. So bust out the tower, roll out the tray, pop a top and enjoy an evening on the run.
