"Mass Shivers' full-length debut is awfully, awfully good. This Chicago trio (which becomes a quartet with a second drummer at live shows) captures the spirit of the best out-rock of the 70s: Can's free-form tribal-Teutonic drums, Beefheart's stomping junkyard riffs and unhinged harmonic imagination, Faust's cerebral jams, Eno's expansive pop palette. In less capable hands, this kind of ambition often results in little more than a self-conscious statement about the band members' LP collections, but Mass Shivers skirt that pitfall with their discipline and devotion to detail. Standouts like 'Womanizing Metal Studs', 'Downwind of Amour', and 'Mossy Nethers' (with guest turns from both members of Michael Columbia) are dense and complex, with meticulously organized, counterintuitive guitar lines, but the substantial vocal melodies and playful backup harmonies make the tunes not only approachable but memorable" [Chicago Reader]
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WOMANIZING METAL STUDS!!! By Kristin Reeves & Charley Pond
A C. Pond & K. Reeves Production
"Mutant blues, motorik rhythmathletics, early Eno whimsy and Stooges grindhouse riffage all rub their oily hips together like a deep-fried harmonic sex coven, and immaculately conceive a troubled but beautiful hot-chrome hybrid, we might just christen 'Captain Beef Can' if we're feeling asinine" - Plan B
"The second album from Chicago-based Mass Shivers is one that sounds
infinitely familiar, though where that familiarity comes from is
uncertain. The opener of “Womanizing Metal Studs” sets the stage for the
album as a whole; flanged-out, low-end guitars squelch and noodle around
a consistently tribal groove. This is a pretty common theme throughout
the album as a whole, though the guitars range from the stop-start
staccato of Captain Beefheart to thick Stooges growl to straight-up
drone. Likewise, while always somewhat tribal, the drums meander between
solid rock rhythms and krautrock afrobeat hybrids. What really gets this
music to swing, though, are the vocals. They sound like they would nestle
most comfortably on some late 70s space-rock album, spouting epic stories
of some extinct alien race, vocals equal part cock and soul. Similarly,
throughout the album, the campfire and the stadium are found in equal
measure." –B. Roller, Slugmag
"On their second album Chicago trio Mass Shivers rush through a
wealth of great ideas and sharply shaped twists whils a touch of genuine
pop quality is always present. Outbursts of simplified complexity become
well-trimmed song structures of instant appeal. They're pretty loud, yet
(very) well focused. They are an orthodox, triangular sounding band
perhaps but Mass Shivers prove that guitar, drums and vocals still leave
room for new, and excellent, ideas.
The title of the eighth track, 'Tense and Anxious' aptly describes the
trademark Mass Shivers song. Add to it rolling drums and you have a
pleasing and durable formula. Immaculately recorded and produced, the ten
songs on 'Ecstatic Eyes Glow Glossy' clock in at under half an hour and
are rendered with a fabulous sense of urgency." - Maarten Schiethart , Pennyblackmusic
"Showing much heavier tendencies as well as a penchant for
doing the unexpected Mass Shivers twist and turn through 28
infectious minutes on their latest album ‘Ecstatic Eyes Glow Glossy’.
Opening track ‘Womanising Metal Studs’ is a bizarre mix of the Stooges
and the Beach Boys, whilst ‘Mossy Nethers’ is a repetitive can-like
groove, with some creeping brass adding to the atmosphere. Diverse and
never dull, this is well worth a listen." - Terrascope UK
No Poster yet but I'd like to remind you about the Horner park concert (2741 w montrose) series this friday june 10th. Ill be hitting the stage with Colin Gilmore and Mike Mangione at 7:00 pm.
This Monday No Coast Studios will be a part of Danny's monthly Peace Party series. We will be presenting 12 months of Peace Party posters printed and designed here at No Coast by Alex Valentine. Proceeds from the bar will benefit public programming and other activities here at the space. Please come dance and listen to amazing music from DJ's Jeff Parker, Jocelyn Brown, Naomi Walker, and Josh Abrams.
Monday, April 13 @ Danny's 1951 W. Dickens (near corner of Damen, one block north of Armitage. ) 10pm-2am FREE www.no-coast.org
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