Biography
Head Automatica arose from the unexpected alliance of vocalist Daryl Palumbo, known from New York City's hardcore band Glassjaw, and producer Dan the Automator, otherwise recognized as Dan Nakamura through his work with Gorillaz and Handsome Boy Modeling School. Mutual acquaintances connected them, leading the pair to launch their first project by pursuing a hybrid that merged the producer's electronic pulses and textures with Palumbo's affinity for rock and punk. Their debut, Decadence, surfaced in late summer 2004 and embodied precisely that balance, offering a vivid, gritty blend of electronics and rock & roll tailored to nocturnal hours. Palumbo and Automator assembled a touring group to promote the release, appearing alongside an eclectic range of acts including Lostprophets, Thrice, Interpol, and the Rapture. Palumbo's chronic Crohn's disease, which had afflicted him since childhood, nevertheless created ongoing difficulties on the road, prompting multiple cancellations and periods of hospitalization for treatment.
Further relapses struck the frontman as recording commenced for Head Automatica's follow-up album, with his condition persisting through the majority of the sessions. The lineup had by then expanded to feature Palumbo alongside drummer Larry Gorman, previously of Glassjaw, bassist Jarvis Morgan Holden, formerly of Give Up the Ghost, guitarist Craig Bonich, and keyboardist Jessie Nelson; together they recruited producer Howard Benson to deliver a "bright, crisp sound." Popaganda reached stores in June 2006. True to its title, the album dispensed with the electronic elements that defined Decadence once Dan the Automator stepped away, favoring instead a more direct guitar approach shaped by late-'70s pop. The ensuing summer found them opening for Taking Back Sunday in the company of Angels and Airwaves and the Subways.
Further relapses struck the frontman as recording commenced for Head Automatica's follow-up album, with his condition persisting through the majority of the sessions. The lineup had by then expanded to feature Palumbo alongside drummer Larry Gorman, previously of Glassjaw, bassist Jarvis Morgan Holden, formerly of Give Up the Ghost, guitarist Craig Bonich, and keyboardist Jessie Nelson; together they recruited producer Howard Benson to deliver a "bright, crisp sound." Popaganda reached stores in June 2006. True to its title, the album dispensed with the electronic elements that defined Decadence once Dan the Automator stepped away, favoring instead a more direct guitar approach shaped by late-'70s pop. The ensuing summer found them opening for Taking Back Sunday in the company of Angels and Airwaves and the Subways.
Albums
Singles
