Robotboy MK 3 (03-now)
With a handful of fresh songs and a new sound percolating in his head, Smarty began the hunt for a new Robotboy lineup. Needing experienced musicians who were weird enough to push the band to the next level, he hand picked and begged the best and cutest players from the strangest and most varied bands around.
“Mikey Jam” Smith
has pounded the drums for some of Texas’ most influential and loud bands including surf-punk
popsters Where the Action Is and bluesy noise makers Boxcar Satan,
appearing on their ’99 CD release “Days Before the Flood” and 2002’s “Crooked
Mile March”. Mikey’s also done a few stints as touring drummer for Austin’s
Crackpipes. His powerhouse drumming swings like nobody around…and he’s funny.
Chris Branca
is best known as frontman/guitarist for defunct garage rockers, the White Heat, helping
produce their 2002 self titled CD and
follow up 7” single as well as
surviving three countrywide tours. He’s less well known locally for his ‘90s vinyl and CD
releases with avant garde minimalists TONALAMOTL
who have a small but devout cult following internationally. An aural artist, Chris can make a guitar
sound like an avalanche or a butterfly.
Shawn Terry
spent the last fifteen years behind a guitar before taking over bass duties for Robotboy. He got his
start fronting goth rockers Berlin Black in the late ‘80s. Throughout the ‘90s
he handled lead guitar for punk rockers the Despicables as well as forming the dark and
mysterious Veronica’s Veil who still get a good deal of airplay on underground
radio. Shawn can occassionally be seen in the guitar spot for booze rockers,
Hammered. He is the master of Goth and groove.
James Traugott
cut his musical teeth with his late ‘90s punk band the Defectives playing bass
and singing on their 1997 7” vinyl EP “Hey Kids”,
developing a strong fan base which he’s continued to build upon through numerous infamous
house parties. For Robotboy, he’s put down the bass to become head noisemaker, fronting an
arsenal of synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, tone generators and anything else that makes a
weird sound. A natural star on stage, no one can smoke a cigarette better.
MK III’s debut in January 2005 set the all time attendance record at the venue, with a line wrapped around the building. After a year of recording, the new CD “Slow” is finally finished. It proves without a doubt, the Mechanical Walking Robotboy MK III, rocks, swings, swaggers and slinks like no other, returning sex, glamour, style and self-parody to a sterile Indy rock world.