Shady Groove

The first time I saw Shinyribs on the bill opening for The Gourds I had no idea who it was. Dem good ol’ Gourds had rarely had an opening band and because I was solely going to see them, catching Shinyribs beforehand was not a priority. When I arrived shortly before The Gourds went on, I asked someone “who was this Shinyribs band that had opened? Were they good?” He informed me that Shinyribs was simply Kevin Russel’s solo stagename. Wow. OK. Now that makes perfect sense. I do love the name and as The Gourds and Shinyribs embark on another east coast mini-tour to NYC and Philadelphia, I will not be missing the opener. So for those of you who still are looking for a bit of info on Shinyribs, here is the bio, most likely written by Mr. Ribs himself.

“The mysterious quantity lurking in the afterglow of yesterweek. A gamey diamond of a find for any fan of the utmost mystical wooden teapot of song known as American Song Bag. A modern day renegade born of the white rice and rain in the lonley, humid southeast of Texas. Raised by Karankawan Wizards. Awarded the congressional medal of the obtuse in 1967 by then President Lyndon Johnson. Inventor of Frequency Shifter used in the growing of medicinal eggs. Educated at Glory Abounds Academy For Isothermal Static. Professor of Economic Threat Access. Steaming with uncertain attributes only seen in the general population during the scotch-Irish domination of Western Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. Dangling participle of roots music.”

Thought that was lyrically amazing. So if you have the chance, check out the Gourds and Shinyribs, sunday 9/19 at Sullivan Hall in NYC, and monday 9/20 at the North Star Bar in Philadelphia. You will not be dissapointed.