The Answering Machine

The Answering Machine is an indie rock band based in Manchester, United Kingdom. The group forms in October 2005 at the University of Manchester and is active from 2005 onwards. Its line-up consists of Martin Colclough on vocals and guitar, Pat Fogarty on guitar and backing vocals, Gemma Evans on bass and backing vocals, and Ben Perry on drums and glockenspiel. Before Ben Perry joins, the band performs as a three-piece and uses a drum machine called Mustafa Beat until August 2007.

Early years and first releases

Martin Colclough and Pat Fogarty write songs together in their final year at university, and Gemma Evans joins on bass shortly afterwards. The band’s first live appearance is at Retro Bar in Manchester on 1 March 2006. Its first single, “Oklahoma”, appears in October 2006 on High Voltage Sounds and is limited to 500 vinyl copies, selling out in two days. “Silent Hotels” follows in June 2007, also on High Voltage Sounds and also limited to 500 copies. A third single, “Lightbulbs”, comes out in November 2007 on Regal Records.

Album releases and touring

The Answering Machine play Glastonbury in 2007 and SXSW in 2008. They also complete a UK headline tour in May and June 2007 and support The Rumble Strips in October and November 2007. Their debut album, Another City, Another Sorry, is finished at the end of 2008 with Dave Eringa. It is recorded in a farmhouse in Yorkshire and mixed at Beethoven Street Studios in London. The album is released through Heist Or Hit Records and receives positive reviews, with NME describing it as “a fantastic debut” and referring to “perfect pop songs”.

Later activity

In 2009 the band tours with the Manic Street Preachers, including a three-night run at the Roundhouse, and also tours with Bombay Bicycle Club, Twisted Wheel and Ra Ra Riot. It plays showcases in Los Angeles and New York. In 2010 the group tours again in the United States and also tours Europe with Tokyo Police Club. Its second album, Lifeline, is released in February 2011, and the band returns to SXSW in March 2011. On 16 May 2011 the group announces that it ceases producing music under the name The Answering Machine.

Online presence

The band designs its own website and uses the Twitter name “theansmachine”.