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The Legendary Shack Shakers Believe Yep Roc Legendary Shack Shakers’ web site __________________________________________________ |
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Believe is the Shack Shakers’ sophomore CD and first for roots-minded Yep Roc, and it comes a lot closer to reproducing the Kentucky-hellpower of the band in concert. In doing so, the disc helps to dispel the shticky, cornpone feel that lingered after hearing Cockadoodledon’t—on Believe, the Shack Shakers come across not only as bloodthirsty roots-rock killers, but as an extremely versatile outfit that shifts in tone and style from ferocious hill country rave-ups (“Agony Wagon”) and rockabilly hitmen (“Creek Cats”) to barroom soulsters (“Piss and Vinegar,” “All My Life to Kill”) and steam-breathing thunder rockers (a savage rip through Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Help Me”) with ease. Wilkes’ manic delivery and flawless harmonica are the instrumental highlights, but every Shaker shines in his own right and brings serious musical brawn to the proceedings. Make room next to your Cramps, Horton Heat, and Immortal Lee County Killers platters for this li’l slice of Hell, served up hot, black, and steaming from the Shack. __________________________________________________ |
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-Paul Gaita |
By all accounts, the
Legendary Shack Shakers’ live
show is an unholy thing to behold; the band sets their punk-o-billy
hawstomp on “kill” and lets frontman Col. J.D. Wilkes do his thing, which
consists of assaulting audience members, ripping out fistfuls of his own
body hair, howling at the top of his lungs and generally acting like
Sleepy LaBeef’s swamp monster in The Exotic Ones. Backwoods rock and roll freakouts like these have earned the
Shack Shakers plenty of praise from
critics and fellow headcases like Jello Biafra and the Reverend Horton
Heat, but somehow, they’ve never been able to lend that maniacs-are-loose
vibe to their records. Their debut, Cockadoodledon’t (for Bloodshot),
while certifiably swinging in spots, just didn’t pack enough firepower to
raise the band above novelty status.