MICHAEL APINYAKUL: songs, guitars, harmonica, vocals
SHAWN MCLAIN (Blind Pilot): violin, vocals, drums
WILLIAM JOERSZ (Nick Jaina and Run on Sentence): Double Bass.
JOHN VECCHIARELLI: drums
ALI WESLEY (Super XX Man): vocals
EZZA ROSE: VOCALS
OTHER GUESTS include Leonard Mynx, Audie Darling, Nate Clark, Nick Jaina, Dustin Hamman .
Influences
Mississippi Fred McDowell, Mazzy Star, John Steinbeck, The Latin Playboys, Muddy Waters, Flannery O'Connor, George Jones, Wilco, Andrew Bird, Bob Dylan, The White Stripes, John Lennon, Bukka White, Run On Sentence, Beethoven, Rachels, Perlman, John Wayne Samurais, etc. etc.....
Shoeshine Blue began years ago as a lo-fi literary blues act. Songwriter, Michael Apinyakul's uncanny abilities with a cassette 4-track earned him critical praise from both the press and studio engineers with the album, "Talk Real Slow". Since then Shoeshine Blue has evolved into something else entirely. Falling somewhere between classical and blues, folk and gospel, old time and indie. Alone, Apinyakul displays a fast, dark, and emotive finger picking style as if Mississippi John Hurt listened to Dead Moon, but more often Shoeshine Blue consists of a larger lineup of violinist Shawn Mclain (Blind Pilot), bassist William Joersz (Nick Jaina, Run On Sentence), singer Ali Wesley (Super XX Man), and drummer John Vecchiarelli of more bands than I can count, plus his own wonderful songs. This bare bones, tonally complex combo, produces wistful backdrops for lyrics full of political fervor, high romance, and heartland poetics. Shoeshine Blue is about to release their new full length album,
"HOWL AT THE WOODEN MOON"
ABOUT HOWL AT THE WOODEN MOON:
"Howl At The Wooden Moon" is an album written and recorded during a period of war, broken love, sketchy loans, and automated joy. All a songwriter needed to do was build a good mirror, hold it up, and let the world writhe in the ecstasy of its own truth. But it's not easy. In the high stakes game of writing good songs, there's no room for lies or lazy observations. "Howl At The Wooden Moon" is Shoeshine Blue's best and most honest contribution. It is a love letter to the natural world, a love story between two people, and a keen eye on the moment. In other words, a monument to all things doomed and beautiful.
Songwriter, Michael Apinyakul, made a departure from the last Shoeshine Blue album, "Talk Real Slow", where he produced, recorded, and played most of the instruments. Howl at the Wooden Moon draws from a larger pool of Portland's talented musicians. Recorded to half inch 8-track at Telltale Studios in Portland Oregon, and engineered by Antreo Pukay, the album has a honey-glow sound, reminiscent of the great folk and psychedelic albums of the 60's and 70's. Lyrically sharp, simply layered, and accidentally gospel.
WHAAAAAAAAAAT UP!!! Just sayin what up to our favorite mother fuckers. We are in the middle of recording for the myspace toyata music mix tape contest. First place gets a record deal with myspace and alot of fender gear. You decide who wins. We will keep you posted. ~ Lead, lead your life, lead it twice, but live it your own way~ Your biggest fan, Reeper Valentine
Thank you for playin last night- there was so much life an soul in the room I wanted to burst. Really lovely music & CD. Mike- Best to you on the day of your birth.
Mike, I've been wanting to get out to one of your shows but alas I have been pummeled with things. I have been listening to your last album, it is really something else. Ezza
hey mike, i keep on missing the chance to connect with ya but i'm tryin to get work off for the roadside show... also i gotta say, y'all are doing a great f'n job. thank for for being.
We're playing a great show with The Joe McMurrian Quartet (now Woodbrain) and Eggplant this Thursday. It's a super solid evening of rocking roots music dripping in blues and jazz.
Hope to see you there! ~~C
Thursday, April 9th : 10 pm : 21+ : $4
Kelly's Olympian 426 SW Washington St Portland, OR 97204
Wowsers, just got around to hearing the recorded version of "All The Pretty Women", and y'all did a bang-up job with that. If that doesn't climb the folk-rawk charts, I don't know what will.
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