Shannon and the Clams = a good time. - Oh My Rockness

Band We Like

Shannon and the Clams = a good time.

April 22, 2013
San Francisco’s Shannon and the Clams are vocalist/bassist Shannon Shaw (she was one of Hunx’s punks) and vocalist/bassist Cody Blanchard and drummer/bassist Ian Amberson (ok, he’s not a bassist too - just drums, man - just drums). Together, the trio make something like surf-soul-doo-wop-garage-punk.

Don’t roll your eyes at me. Chill. I didn’t say this WAS surf-soul-doo-wop-garage-punk. Obviously that would be a ridiculous made-up musical genre...and an abuse of hyphens...and would be like throwing a bunch of historical sound descriptors against the wall and hoping one of them sticks...before slowly sliding down to rest in a pile of its own filth. I would never resort to such tricks. That’s why I said it was LIKE surf-soul-doo-wop-garage-punk. What it IS is pop music.

I’ll tell you what else this is. Shannon and the Clams is a good time. This is like a sloppy 1960s sock hop - the kind crammed with slipshod punks and pranksters - who could be menacing - but could also dance like a dream. Wait. Maybe I’m just thinking of “Grease.” No. Wait. Maybe I’m thinking of “Grease 2.” Man, I always do that. Maybe it’s because it’s the exact same rags-to-coolness story except the genders are reversed. Cool times, producer bros.

Shannon and the Clams have a new album coming out on Hardly Art (Black Marble + Seapony + Woven Bones + lots more good bands). It’ll be good. They’re also currently touring with Ty Segall’s bb, Mikal Cronin. He’s good too. So I guess the action is hot hot HOT for these guys. It was only a matter of time before a surf-soul-doo-wop-garage-punk craze swept the nation. I’ve been predicting it for years.



Shannon and the Clams play with Mikal Cronin and Roomrunner at Bowery Ballroom, on Thursday, June 20th. Good line-up!

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