European transplant Samir Merchant, local Chicagoan Patrick Hiller, and California native Connor Lynch formed the first incarnation of Simple Machines in 2009, working out of Hyde Park. In the time since then, the trio has been writing material and honing their craft, as well as adding a keyboardist and a full time drummer to their line up. Hinging their musical influences on such acts as Radiohead, Blur, Coldplay and Foo Fighters, Simple Machines work to create quality songs, never settling for anything less. Spirit of the Shoreland (2011), is the band’s first release, receiving good initial acclaim and establishing themselves into the local scene.