While A.J. Heckman listened to the radio, a sexless, low-toned voice hijacked the signal. This pirate entity claimed its name was A-Tec. Its nonsensical ramblings and theories on the government and robots did not seem like a big deal to Heckman at the time, but since then, thoughts have been creeping into his brain that he said might or might not be his own.
During A-Tec's broadcast, Heckman scrambled to record what he could.
The government has coined 'robots on crack' to refer to the exponential growth of fringe technology misconducts who use the net to destabilize the government monopoly of information
A-Tec said in the recorded portion of the broadcast.
Since hearing the broadcast, Heckman said he believes another entity has tapped into his thoughts. Black holes, not yet understood by humans, might be responsible for the manipulation of information in his brain, he said.
This compromised brain is responsible for the zany, mind-blowing art-rock of local band Robots on Crack.
While performing with the band, Heckman does not go by his regular name. Because of the impact of A-Tec, Heckman's stage name is A-Tec Saturnatal. The rest of the band's members have similar monikers. J-Tron Matter shreds bass. E-lectro Graviton plays string things. D-Ton Thundar drums with the power of the skies.
This band is not just about rock; its members are on a mission. And the mission is about the rock, but not for its Athens audience. Saturnatal claims Robots on Crack answers to a higher authority. The Robot Conglomeration Limited International Corporation demands to be entertained not only with the superficial but also with substance that makes Robots on Crack more than entertainers, he said.
We'll sustain your brain from thought death Saturnatal said.
The stereotype of rock star is a gold mine for satire, Saturnatal said. They spit beer on themselves and then write a song about it.
We take ourselves so seriously that we don't take ourselves seriously Saturnatal said.
Tonight Robots on Crack will be playing a show at Casa Cantina, 4 W. State St. This will be the release of the band's seven-track EP, Piles of Sunshine. The band made 200 copies of the disc, drew each copy's artwork and is giving them away for free.
Music is free
Saturnatal said. Download it. Spread it.
If Robots on Crack is not enough robot-themed art, Heckman and Scott McCurdy have an exhibition, AXIOMS: Hybrid Entities from the New Technology
in Trisolini Gallery through Saturday. The exhibit features photocopied sections of A-Tech's radio address as well as speakers speaking to one another using bleeps and bloops worthy only of an exhibition such as this.
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