Tony Vick

¡Ex Maquina! was / is the brainchild of Tony Vick. Originally built by Miranda Freitas & Tony Vick to complete song ideas penned in the early double aughts, ¡Ex Maquina! expanded with the inclusion of V Ramos, Tina Gee, Karin Hukai, Todd Bryerton & Keizo Amakawa.

Stylistically ¡XMQ! has moved between Bossa Nova and Punk and Jazz. No rules, No boundaries!

There have been many incarnations of ¡Ex Maquina! since 2002. All of them incredibly potent and musically diverse. The California version featured the incredible reeds of Anthony Ortega (Lionel Hampton & Miles Davis) all the way to 2024 and the wonderful contributions of ¡Ex Maquina!’s current roster: Tony Vick (Guitar / Vocals), Steve Martin (Strings / Reeds / Keys), Mandingo (Percussion / Vocals), Luke Meyer (Drums), Susie Lofton (Vocals / Percussion), Michael Hovnanian (Upright Arco Bass), and Nabil Gowdey (Electric Bass).

¡Ex Maquina! currently play across “Chicagoland” and release new music regularly.

Din was formed out of the employee pool of Tower Records in El Toro, California. Original members included Tony Vick, Lee Dolan, Phil Clevenger, Scott Schnabel & Clifford Mabra. Over the course of the band’s history many others were included: Mike Malone, John Lenz, Bobby Martin, Paul Carmen, David Ewing, Gina Bloxham and more. 

Din weathered many tours, recording sessions, FBI interventions, had a video broadcast on MTV and released one album “Great Tradition”. The original incarnation of Din played its final gig in 1986.

Din reformed in October 2011 with original members Tony Vick, Lee Dolan, Phil Clevenger, Mike Malone and John Lenz to perform a single show in honor of Gina Bloxham. After the show at Mr Toad’s in San Francisco, Din recorded an album, “Authenticity,” that was released in 2013.

Formula was formed around the vibrant San Diego indie scene of the early 1990’s with a broad cast of musicians: Tony Davis, Julie McBride Craig Delavel, Joyce Rooks, Morgan Young, Tony Vick, Vince Lara, John Salcido, Julian Rosenthal, Jerry Hamlin, and many more.

Formula created a unique style of “Chamber Pop” featuring subdued guitars, atmospheric electronics and subtle vocals. On three releases: “Formula – A Six Piece Pop Orchestra,” “Joik,” and “Conduit,” Formula tried on many sonic jackets.

Formula performed all over Southern California, with its last gig a benefit to help friend and fellow musician Vince Lara in 2002.

The Dead Sea Squirrels was put together by Tony Vick, Niamh Smyth, Phil Clevenger, Linnea Ahms and Paul (Speno) Spencer. DSS aspired to a blend of post-punk-pop with a decidedly Emerald Isle flavor (Niamh hails from Dublin). 

Over the course of five years The Dead Sea Squirrels played many shows around the Orange County / Los Angeles, California region & recorded a wonderful set of eight tunes. The music reflects the varied tastes of all involved, from “Mad” Chester grooves, Bob Wills samples, Buzzcocks guitars and proggy production values.