The Shants

January 13, 2010

Undiscovered Band of the Month: The Shants

Hailing from Oakland, California, The Shants specialize in a blend of Southern folk and country, embossed with the sad sounds of the pedal steel guitar. The Shants features Skip Allums on guitars, harmonica, and vocals with Samuel Tokheim on pedal steel, Carver Cordes on bass, and Adam Burstein on drums. Look out for the recently released Russian River Songs EP on High Scores and Records.

Official Sites:
http://theshants.tumblr.com
http://myspace.com/theshantsmusic



Who are your main influences?
Well, its more of a "what" than a who. Each of us grew up in parts of the US that affected the way we play music together. Sam (pedal steel) grew up in Minnesota, on the South Dakota border, so he has a gruff, solemn and at times sweet & sentimental way of playing. He loves Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, George Jones and Son Volt.

Skip (guitars, vocals) grew up in sad, sopping-wet South Louisiana, so he listened to a lot of Southern blues (like Son House and Leadbelly) and New Orleans R&B (Eldridge Holmes, Irma Thomas), but loves bands like Neutral Milk Hotel and Kings of Convenience. Skip is also influenced by his father's record collection - lots of Bob Dylan, Fats Domino, Webb Pierce and Waylon Jennings.

Carver (bass) is from the Central Coast of California, and he is passionate about American soul, and so he loves James Carr, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke and Etta James. Adam (drums) is a devourer of all sorts of music, but folk & jazz in particular. He loves drummers like Peter Erskine and Brian Blade. Carver and Adam are both California natives, so they bring a warm West Coast feel to the rhythm section, whereas Sam and Skip came up in more stark landscapes.


How did you meet?
Sam and Skip met at the gym a few years ago. When the subject of music came up, they found that they had a lot in common. Carver and Skip met through mutual friends/bands that they knew that were from near Carver's hometown in San Luis Obispo (like Treluna, Port O'Brien). Adam came to this project through a Craigslist ad, asking for a drummer who could play more than just two dynamics: loud and louder.

What is your biggest achievement as a band to date?
The Shants are a brand new act, having formed in September of 2009. The recording of our EP, Russian River Songs is our best work yet. We holed up in a little house near the redwoods north of San Francisco to record them live. We only meant to document the way we sound when we're in the practice space, but what we captured felt really good, so we decided to release it. It's a pure an honest snapshot of the direction we are heading in - a lonesome, sweet and slow burning sound.

Where did the band name originate?
Shants refers to a few things.... the somewhat antiquated contraction of "shall not", and British slang for getting drunk "fancy a shant?" or "we got so shanted last night." To us, it represents our music in that it references something that has fallen out of pop culture's radar (honest, early country music) as well as the hazy, sometimes regretful attempts to drown your sorrows.

Favorite Bands?
Right now we're listening to a lot of J Tillman, Basia Bulat, Wilco, Christina Antipa (who we are playing a handful of shows with this month), Beach House, The Meters, Richard Buckner, and stupid classic rock on the radio.

Plans to Tour?
We're playing a string of shows in San Francisco, Stockton, Nevada City and Chico this month. We're planning a West Coast jaunt this summer, during Skip's break from school (he's a grad student at Academy of Art University in SF).

Plans for next release?
Right now we're collecting songs for a full length release, which may include some of the songs from our EP. We've been talking with the folks at Tape Op Magazine's studio in Sacramento, The Hangar, to do some tracking work. Tons of great artists have recorded there, including Vetiver, Devendra Banhart, Au Revoir Simone, The Devil Makes 3 and lots more. - FILTER Magazine

January 13, 2010

Undiscovered Band of the Month: The Shants

Hailing from Oakland, California, The Shants specialize in a blend of Southern folk and country, embossed with the sad sounds of the pedal steel guitar. The Shants features Skip Allums on guitars, harmonica, and vocals with Samuel Tokheim on pedal steel, Carver Cordes on bass, and Adam Burstein on drums. Look out for the recently released Russian River Songs EP on High Scores and Records.

Official Sites:
http://theshants.tumblr.com
http://myspace.com/theshantsmusic



Who are your main influences?
Well, its more of a "what" than a who. Each of us grew up in parts of the US that affected the way we play music together. Sam (pedal steel) grew up in Minnesota, on the South Dakota border, so he has a gruff, solemn and at times sweet & sentimental way of playing. He loves Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, George Jones and Son Volt.

Skip (guitars, vocals) grew up in sad, sopping-wet South Louisiana, so he listened to a lot of Southern blues (like Son House and Leadbelly) and New Orleans R&B (Eldridge Holmes, Irma Thomas), but loves bands like Neutral Milk Hotel and Kings of Convenience. Skip is also influenced by his father's record collection - lots of Bob Dylan, Fats Domino, Webb Pierce and Waylon Jennings.

Carver (bass) is from the Central Coast of California, and he is passionate about American soul, and so he loves James Carr, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke and Etta James. Adam (drums) is a devourer of all sorts of music, but folk & jazz in particular. He loves drummers like Peter Erskine and Brian Blade. Carver and Adam are both California natives, so they bring a warm West Coast feel to the rhythm section, whereas Sam and Skip came up in more stark landscapes.


How did you meet?
Sam and Skip met at the gym a few years ago. When the subject of music came up, they found that they had a lot in common. Carver and Skip met through mutual friends/bands that they knew that were from near Carver's hometown in San Luis Obispo (like Treluna, Port O'Brien). Adam came to this project through a Craigslist ad, asking for a drummer who could play more than just two dynamics: loud and louder.

What is your biggest achievement as a band to date?
The Shants are a brand new act, having formed in September of 2009. The recording of our EP, Russian River Songs is our best work yet. We holed up in a little house near the redwoods north of San Francisco to record them live. We only meant to document the way we sound when we're in the practice space, but what we captured felt really good, so we decided to release it. It's a pure an honest snapshot of the direction we are heading in - a lonesome, sweet and slow burning sound.

Where did the band name originate?
Shants refers to a few things.... the somewhat antiquated contraction of "shall not", and British slang for getting drunk "fancy a shant?" or "we got so shanted last night." To us, it represents our music in that it references something that has fallen out of pop culture's radar (honest, early country music) as well as the hazy, sometimes regretful attempts to drown your sorrows.

Favorite Bands?
Right now we're listening to a lot of J Tillman, Basia Bulat, Wilco, Christina Antipa (who we are playing a handful of shows with this month), Beach House, The Meters, Richard Buckner, and stupid classic rock on the radio.

Plans to Tour?
We're playing a string of shows in San Francisco, Stockton, Nevada City and Chico this month. We're planning a West Coast jaunt this summer, during Skip's break from school (he's a grad student at Academy of Art University in SF).

Plans for next release?
Right now we're collecting songs for a full length release, which may include some of the songs from our EP. We've been talking with the folks at Tape Op Magazine's studio in Sacramento, The Hangar, to do some tracking work. Tons of great artists have recorded there, including Vetiver, Devendra Banhart, Au Revoir Simone, The Devil Makes 3 and lots more. - FILTER Magazine

“The band calls itself Americana, but it shall not be denied that The Shants are heart and soul. Skip Allums is more of a crooner than just another lead singer and The Shants’ latest release,last year’s “Beautiful Was the Night,” has staying power. It’s one of those few records that can keep even the most jaded of music journalists listening again and again.” - San Francisco Chronicle

“…these tracks were recorded in a cabin near the Russian River, and the first- and second-take demos are rustic and subdued, like the scant, heavily muted light that finds its way to the floor of a redwood grove. Their biography mentions comparisons to Richard Buckner, and they share the sort of minimalism and melancholy Buckner laid down on early albums like Devotion + Doubt. There’s a similar angst in vocalist Skip Allums’ passivity, but he sings with a more dissipated air than Buckner. The productions of vocals, guitar, bass, drums and pedal steel are at once dreamy and eerie; even the album’s love song features the semi-misanthropic sentiment “I’m tired of everyone but you.” An ode to their home town may be a bit ragged for official city adoption, but its shout-out to the Parkway Theater will resonate with those who knew the cozy movie house. The group’s combination of creeping tempos, drowsy vocals and dripping pedal steel gives these recordings an appealing moodiness.”

Read more:
http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/the-shants-russian-river - No Depression

“…these tracks were recorded in a cabin near the Russian River, and the first- and second-take demos are rustic and subdued, like the scant, heavily muted light that finds its way to the floor of a redwood grove. Their biography mentions comparisons to Richard Buckner, and they share the sort of minimalism and melancholy Buckner laid down on early albums like Devotion + Doubt. There’s a similar angst in vocalist Skip Allums’ passivity, but he sings with a more dissipated air than Buckner. The productions of vocals, guitar, bass, drums and pedal steel are at once dreamy and eerie; even the album’s love song features the semi-misanthropic sentiment “I’m tired of everyone but you.” An ode to their home town may be a bit ragged for official city adoption, but its shout-out to the Parkway Theater will resonate with those who knew the cozy movie house. The group’s combination of creeping tempos, drowsy vocals and dripping pedal steel gives these recordings an appealing moodiness.”

Read more:
http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/the-shants-russian-river - No Depression

“Paints a beautiful picture of Louisiana. Beautiful was the Night offers subtle music with a touch of country and folk, in which Sam Tokheim excels at a lonely-sounding pedal steel guitar. Gritty, unconstrained… with a sharp, dark edge & burning guitar riffs, this record is perfect for an Indian summer.” - Alt Country Forum (Netherlands)

“Paints a beautiful picture of Louisiana. Beautiful was the Night offers subtle music with a touch of country and folk, in which Sam Tokheim excels at a lonely-sounding pedal steel guitar. Gritty, unconstrained… with a sharp, dark edge & burning guitar riffs, this record is perfect for an Indian summer.” - Alt Country Forum (Netherlands)

The Shants’ slow-burning sound originates from the rural backgrounds of its members: from South Louisiana delta pines, to the brusk plains of Minnesota to the rolling hills of the Central California Coast. The Shants now call Oakland, California home. - CD Baby

“Fantastic. A first-rate tribute to the state of Louisiana.” - KGSR, Austin

“Fantastic. A first-rate tribute to the state of Louisiana.” - KGSR, Austin

“With their full length debut, Beautiful was the Night, set for release September 27, the band is about to garner more praise. The album maintains the haunting, meandering sound from the EP that made me want to root for The Shants, but tracks like “Brother” and the closer “(I’m Not) Gonna Waste Another Song on You” reveal a brass swagger.” - SF Station Music Blog

The Shants
http://theshants.tumblr.com

Skope: How does it feel to be chosen as an “A2W” artist for February 2010?
The Shants: It feels great! We’re honored. 2010 is proving to be a really great year for us so far.

Skope: What are you currently working on in your musical endeavours?
The Shants: Well we just released an EP through High Scores & Records, called Russian River Songs. It was meant to just be a demo, so we headed up to a cabin near the redwoods North of San Francisco and recorded a bunch of songs live. It’s rough around the edges, but it felt and sounded great so we decided to release it. You can get it from iTunes, from highscoresandrecords.com, or directly from us online or at shows. Other than that, we’re just playing shows regionally and planning a West Coast tour this summer.

Skope: What is your favorite time of day to create music?
The Shants: We’d have to quote Big Joe Turner and say that the night-time is the right time! Seems like the only time we ever write songs or get together to play is after the sun goes down.


http://skopemag.com/2010/02/02/february-2010-sonicbids-%E2%80%9Cartists-2-watch%E2%80%9D#more-19008 - Skope Magazine

“When you’re home from that dysfunctional mess listen to The Shants. They won’t harsh your mellow after you have that extra hit of (insert vice here). Listen and stare at the ceiling and try to figure out what the hell just happened. You might live through Christmas. The Shants combine mellow grooves with a sexy twang.” - SF Chronicle Music Blog

“When you’re home from that dysfunctional mess listen to The Shants. They won’t harsh your mellow after you have that extra hit of (insert vice here). Listen and stare at the ceiling and try to figure out what the hell just happened. You might live through Christmas. The Shants combine mellow grooves with a sexy twang.” - SF Chronicle Music Blog

“The Shants & my iPod have been carrying on a torrid little dalliance for a few days now. & I’m surprised to find myself getting actually kind of infatuated with these here Shants.

Submitted for our consideration is an 8-song EP entitled Russian River Demos, evidently recorded live in a cabin among the redwoods. & it feels like that: kind of languid, kind of sexy. Nobody’s in a hurry to get anywhere. Skip’s singing is, well, pretty. But it’s also delivered with the quiet confidence of somebody who’s strong enough to never need to shout. OK, I guess that’s a lot of words just to say he’s understated. Anyway, I like the singing & I like the songwriting, too. I like the frequent drifting into a minor key, just to keep things interesting. The clear signature here is the aforementioned pedal steel, wielded craftily by Samuel Tokheim. & that’s what really drew me into these songs. Samuel plays with finesse, with wit, & with a poetic sense that makes these good songs kind of great.”
- Clatter Music Blog
http://suchaclatter.blogspot.com
- Clatter Music Blog

“The Shants & my iPod have been carrying on a torrid little dalliance for a few days now. & I’m surprised to find myself getting actually kind of infatuated with these here Shants.

Submitted for our consideration is an 8-song EP entitled Russian River Demos, evidently recorded live in a cabin among the redwoods. & it feels like that: kind of languid, kind of sexy. Nobody’s in a hurry to get anywhere. Skip’s singing is, well, pretty. But it’s also delivered with the quiet confidence of somebody who’s strong enough to never need to shout. OK, I guess that’s a lot of words just to say he’s understated. Anyway, I like the singing & I like the songwriting, too. I like the frequent drifting into a minor key, just to keep things interesting. The clear signature here is the aforementioned pedal steel, wielded craftily by Samuel Tokheim. & that’s what really drew me into these songs. Samuel plays with finesse, with wit, & with a poetic sense that makes these good songs kind of great.”
- Clatter Music Blog
http://suchaclatter.blogspot.com
- Clatter Music Blog

"The Shants hail from Oakland, California... sort of. They come by way of various bands and places of origins, carrying with them a rich musical heritage that is clearly evident in their songs. Slow, lulling bass resonates somewhere below the surface whilst slide guitar and delicate, fragile vocals pour into your ear smoother than a greased dolphin sliding round a gymnasium floor in it's socks. "So Strange These Days" and "I'm a Ghost" are stand-out tracks in this listener's opinion and were in the band's own words, made whilst 'holed up in a cabin on the Russian River in Northern California'. This too, is clear from the music - there is a singularity about some of these tracks that is often missing from many newer records that stems from the fact that many modern acts never actually play with each other when making a record, which almost negates the point of being a band in the first place, but that's another rant for another day.

Musically The Shants are the equivalent of dinner with friends rather than dining out. It isn't flashy and slick but it is almost infinitely more enjoyable. There is very little spectacle to their music, which instead will nest itself quite happily in your head for hours after a few spins, bringing with it a sense of earthy, warm familiarity."

http://wolfmag.squarespace.com/home/2009/12/17/the-shants.html - Wolf Magazine

"The Shants hail from Oakland, California... sort of. They come by way of various bands and places of origins, carrying with them a rich musical heritage that is clearly evident in their songs. Slow, lulling bass resonates somewhere below the surface whilst slide guitar and delicate, fragile vocals pour into your ear smoother than a greased dolphin sliding round a gymnasium floor in it's socks. "So Strange These Days" and "I'm a Ghost" are stand-out tracks in this listener's opinion and were in the band's own words, made whilst 'holed up in a cabin on the Russian River in Northern California'. This too, is clear from the music - there is a singularity about some of these tracks that is often missing from many newer records that stems from the fact that many modern acts never actually play with each other when making a record, which almost negates the point of being a band in the first place, but that's another rant for another day.

Musically The Shants are the equivalent of dinner with friends rather than dining out. It isn't flashy and slick but it is almost infinitely more enjoyable. There is very little spectacle to their music, which instead will nest itself quite happily in your head for hours after a few spins, bringing with it a sense of earthy, warm familiarity."

http://wolfmag.squarespace.com/home/2009/12/17/the-shants.html - Wolf Magazine