Stay tuned for The Shondes' first music video set to debut verrrrrry soon! The release will coincide with a cross country tour coming soon to a club near you!
At times, the Shondes conjure comparisons to post-punk's volatile spark on songs like "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and "Let's Go," and yet they seem most inspired when the orchestra kicks in on "Your Monster" and "The Start Of Everything" as walls of shiver-inducing, epic violins crescendo. Louisa Rachel Solomon's vocals are strong, nimble and graceful on the band's self-released debut, which sees both complex song structures intertwined with direct, inquisitive lyrics. The result is an album rich in saw-tooth guitars, pummeling rhythms and an undeniably anthemic spirit. It's haunting and it's eerie, yet it's rousing. The Shondes are a twisted carnival film noir come true.
-CMJ
"The Red Sea," is a visceral work. While they give much credit to the sounds that influenced them -- riot girl and queercore bands of the '90s, traditional Jewish music -- their moody songs are redolent of a time in the early '80s when punk fractured into something more tuneful and complex. Harmonies grow discordant, Eli Oberman's [violin] lends substantial melancholy to their quiet-loud dynamics. While being a radical, Judaic-bent, genderqueer, post-punk quartet sets The Shondes apart, being a political band whose music is as strong as its message is a rare treat.
-The Chicago Tribune
The Shondes (taking their name from the Yiddish word for "shame" or "disgrace") are a rock quartet based in Brooklyn, New York, who make dramatic rock music that has been compared to Sleater-Kinney, Patti Smith, and Rasputina. Their instrumentation includes drums (Temim Fruchter), bass (Louisa Solomon), guitar (Ian Brannigan), violin (Elijah Oberman), and powerful, intertwining vocals (Solomon, Fruchter, Oberman).
The Shondes are known for their complex, melodic rock sound combined with rich vocals, and a live show that explodes with energy. Their songwriting fuses the various musical traditions of feminist punk, classical, Jewish, and queercore, while their vocal melodies move effortlessly from anthemic to haunting, textured by the distinct qualities of each of their voices. The result is a unique sound that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The high energy of their live shows bring audiences along for the ride, with audience members often singing along, dancing, and swaying to the punchy rhythms and soaring melodies.
From their formation, The Shondes have maintained a rigorous tour schedule including 2 national tours, a midwest mini-tour, regular east coast dates, and festivals such as North by Northeast and Homo A Go Go. They have shared the stage with indie luminaries Electrelane, Erase Errata, Amy Ray, Mecca Normal, Joe Lally (Fugazi), and Lesbians on Ecstasy, and others. The band also organizes events, often in partnership with local activist organizations, such as the Jews Against the Occupation Chanukah Ball and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project's Valentine's Day Party. Their debut album, The Red Sea, was released on January 11, 2008, following a national winter tour.
no, haha, i guess i have it hidden, i didnt even realize that until you said something, heh
i will definately come out to the show, but i have been kinda busy lately, cuz im gunna be going back to school soon and ive been brushin up on my art and eveything.
Thanks for the add. I bought your album online after your show in Boston (I didn't have enough cash on me at the time). I had never seen or heard you kids play before, but when I did I was like, "Ohh, now I see what the big deal was"(a bunch of friends insisted I had to see you play). You made my brain explode--it was fucking wonderful. So thanks for that.
