Photo by Michael de Leon

You can’t tickle yourself. It’s laughter born from torture. It is the sound of forced glee with an undercurrent of pain and vulnerability. We’re all tied to tickle machines, and it’s high time to acknowledge and redefine our relationship with the fingers.

Electric Tickle Machine would like you to know that their name is not a euphemism for a vibrator. They use is as a reference to the mobius strip of humanity, technology and our tabloid nation. So who are they? 3 downtown kids (shout out to the East Village!) united under the ETM monker in 2008 and have been building up reputation for sweaty live gigs ever since. They cast an infectious spell over audiences that tends to inspire general mayhem and random hookups. It’s like that fairy tale The Red Shoes except the Chuck Taylor version on Avenue A. We’re talking curfew-breaking music.

This exclusive mp3 they were kind enough to provide us with recalls Enrico Morricone scoring a Band of Horses duel, Charles Bronson stubbing out a cigarette in Death Wish combined with a dash of the crowd euphoria - the kind that was in the air when the barriers collapsed at the Black Lips Brooklyn Pool Party show last summer. Liberated bad ass martial law. You can’t help but give in.

Electric Tickle Machine: Honest Injun by SUPMAG

After 2 awesome years of sharpening their teeth on the DIY scene, ETM’s debut album Blew it Again drops June 29th on their own label Science Diction. We’re giving away a vinyl copy of the album and a pair of tickets to their Northside Festival gig at Shea Stadium on June 25th in Brooklyn. Just email abbey@supmag.com with ETM in the subject line. Be sure to include your fave Charles Bronson flick and whether you’re in the market for the concert tickets or vinyl in the message. EASY. US residents only please.

Let’s file this under “Contest I Really Want To Rig But Won’t In Fear of Rock’n'Roll Karma… and Joan Jett.” Whew, glad to get that off my chest. Back to business- we’re giving away not one but TWO prizepacks in celebration of the upcoming biopic of The Runaways. Many people will be queuing up because Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart are rumored to make out. Now I’ll be queuing up for the premiere because the film is the full length directorial debut by Floria Sigusmondi, who is someone I unabashedly admire. As in, like, I’ve paid full price for her photo books. Her music videos you are probably already familiar with- She’s like the live motion version of David Carson’s classic Raygun covers. Everything from Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People” to the White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid” can be traced back to her. So be sure to support Women in Rock who Rock with Bangs or whatever that facebook group is called, and keep updated via the offical Runaways Myspace page. As you can see in the clip below, it’s best not to leave the house w/out knowing a little Suzi Quatro. Contest info below - US residents only this time.