The Legendary Shack Shakers Offer Up A Ferocious Mix Of Rockabilly And Punk Rock
Published 29th Jun 2010 by Matt Costello

The Legendary Shack Shakers offer a ferocious mix of rockabilly, punk rock, swamp blues and country, and their latest album Agridustrial captures the mentality of these genres perfectly.
Picture it: the rustic grind of rural America. The cacophonous crunch and wheeze of motor-driven rock songs accompany the sound of corroded farm implements awakened to service once again. The soundtrack of a time when strip malls will choke with ivy and the vestiges of over development will be razed and ploughed up for acreage. With their seventh full-length album The Legendary Shack Shakers confront an America that is in decay. Agridustrial is the statement of an American band fighting back against a society gone mad with greed and the usurpation of basic human dignities.

Their sound is a direct response to the present day recession in foreshadowing the looming collapse that awaits to return us back to self-sufficiency. The band went to a blacksmith forge and recorded the sounds of hammers, anvils, tongs, cranks and chains for much of the percussion on the album. Bassist Mark Robertson produced the album, doing a tasteful job of marrying the band’s hard driving rock sound with these organic flourishes. Also key to the band’s sound is the ferocious guitar work of new member Duane Denison, who is fresh off the triumphant Jesus Lizard 2009 world tour. In addition to being a member of the Legendary Shack Shakers, Duane is a member of the Jesus Lizard and Tomahawk.

The Legendary Shack Shakers had already earned high praise as one of the best live acts around, with both Jello Biafra and Hank Williams III calling, J.D. Wilkes “the best front man in the world.” Robertson combines with drummer Brett Whitacre to form the Shack Shakers thundering rhythm section. It’s been said many times, but probably never so sincerely; this is a band that you must not miss live.

The Legendary Shack Shakers visit Komedia Brighton on Monday 19 July at 7.30pm. Tickets are £11 available on-line at www.komedia.co.uk/brighton or from the Box Office on 0845 293 8480.

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