Bob - drums, vocals & guitars
John - bass, synths, vocals
Ben - vocals, guitar
Influences
Loads, but I guess you may hear a little: Low, Yo la Tengo, Lampchop, Calexico, Portishead, Massive Attack, Dirty Three, Stereolab, Will Oldham, Jeff n Tim Buckley, Led Zep, Lift to Experience, Boards of Canada, AFX, Sebadoh & Serpico
Sounds Like
"Is Shepherd are one of those bands who are familiar, and yet completely new all on their own." Pennyblackmusic.co.uk
We like pop songs, and we like rock songs, but we don't think that the answer lies there. There must be more: more sounds to make, more experiments to try, more surprises to uncover. There's a message to get across, and the message is that things can be better if we make them better. We don't have to settle for what we've already heard or what we've already got. We can break new ground for new sounds and a better life.
We work with the tools at our disposal, which at first was vocals, guitar, bass & drums. We've added extra vocals, melodica, violin, synths, drum loops & mandolin. Sometimes we swap instruments; sometimes we stop playing and bash bits of percussion. We get bored with the usual approaches and want to try new stuff. We're sometimes quiet and sometimes very loud; sometimes we're contemplative, sometimes we're angry, sometimes we just want to dance.
Is Shepherd has been a band for around two years now, has had a total of five members, and so far has recorded one record and played many gigs. We mix soulful music with hard rock, eclectronica, and a bit of folk if necessary. We're based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and we love the north-east of England.
ASCENDEZ VOUS - AVAILABLE NOW
In Winter of 2008 Is Shepherd released their debut 5 track CD 'Ascendez Vous'. Recorded over the course of the past year ‘Ascendez Vous’ is the debut collection of 5 songs from Is Shepherd.
This CD release is available now in the following record shops in Newcastle: Alt.Viynl, RPM, Reflex, Beatdown, Roots Music. The initial run are available in a limited edition gatefold, ‘hand-made’ sleeves with colour photos.
It is also available from these other following stores: Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, GroupieTunes, Amazon MP3, Lala, Shockhound, Amie Street.
Some reviews of 'Ascendez Vous':
“Is Shepherd's style is never easy to nail down, as on the five tracks on this release, they run through a whole range of sounds. The production is excellent, never more so than on the killer track, Stretcher Bearer, which is saved for the final cut. A very promising debut indeed.” Sandman Magazine
“’Time’ and ‘Waitress’ both have an uplifting quality about them and there is an overwhelming sense of optimism about the whole CD.… ‘Ascendez-Vous’ then, a collection of 5 classic songs expertly committed to CD.” Tasty Fanzine
“Is Shepherd are one of those bands who are familiar, and yet completely new all on their own… Waitess is a brilliantly accessible song, and could easily be one of the “I-recognise-that-it’s-off-an-advert” tunes which start off as an underground hit but six months later if you haven’t heard it, your friends no longer know you.” Pennyblackmusic.com
Hi. Would love to have you guys open for us if you're free. We're at The Cumberland Arms, Sat 26th Sept. Let us know if you'd be up for that. Would be great to share a stage with you. Charlie PS check out this month's The Crack mag - great review of our single!
Saturday 25th April. Legends will be putting on a great band called Hydrogyn with Special Guests, Rise To Addiction and Remedy. Doors open at 7p.m and it will only cost you £5 to gain entry for the gig and the club night afterwards so come along and enjoy an evening of live music, drink and dancing till the early hours of the morning.
Cracking set at The Trojan rooms last night, really enjoyed the songs especially that one you did about half way through with that great dissonant chord in the verse. Nowt like a bit of dissonance!
CD arrived yesterday. Some of the most interesting and original packaging I've seen for a fair while. Enjoying all of the tracks - a good mix really. Liked the production - so a thumbs up to Daz for that one! Looking forward to working with you in the not too distant future!
