SHAMUS 73: Growing In My Mind
Driving melodies. Intelligent lyrics. Five guys playing rock and roll like their lives depend on it. That's Shamus 73, a rock quintet from Minneapolis, Minnesota who have been wowing audiences and record buyers alike throughout the Midwest. Shamus 73 grew out of the ashes of two popular Twin Cities bands, the Loose Rails and Skeleton Ed and consists of Matt Potts (guitar), Vince Murray (bass), Johnny Munster (drums), Joe Plummer (guitar) and Rodney Lynch (vocals.) The foundation of the band is built upon the song writing talents of Lynch and Potts, both strong individual writers but a powerhouse when their talents combine. They've been called the "Lennon and McCartney of Minneapolis" but neither is sure who is who. Over this is layered the one-two punch of the Murray/Munster rhythm section, Potts' chugging guitar and the liquified lead guitar of Joe Plummer. The dynamic playing of the band underpins Rodney Lynch's expressive vocals which one local critic called "a cross between John Lennon circa 1966 and Roger Whittaker in his 'Last Farewell' era."
February 2002 saw the release of Shamus 73's Growing In My Mind, a full-length cd available at shows, CDBaby on the world wide web and through the band website at www.shamus73.com. Coupled with the band's charged live performances at some high profile shows, the cd has led fans to experience what they call "Shamus 73 moments." What is a Shamus 73 moment? Well, it could be the break in the middle of "Sad Day" when Lynch sings "You're not falling/It's just gravity pulling you down"and you know he believes it. Or the Joe Plummer guitar solo in "Sault Saint Marie" that threatens to strip the strings from the neck of his instrument and propel him (and you) into space. Or maybe it's watching Matt and Rodney, as they sing together on "Light In The Sky", turn in unison to Vince and Johnny and give them a quick smile. Whatever they are, these moments are becoming more commonplace as Shamus 73's fan base grows.
Shamus 73 is rock music written by guys who know what they want to hear and haven't heard it anywhere else. It's melodies plucked from the era when AM radio was king and the first day of the future was tomorrow. "Power pop for the new millenium," one critic intoned. "Rock and roll with brains," someone else said. Eric Thiegs of Demorama said it best when he wrote "Shamus 73 is probably one of the most inspiring, hooks-slapping-my-face-off, indie, un-signed bands I've heard. EVER. Ever ever ever ever ever EVER!!"
Listen to Shamus 73 and you just might find yourself in agreement.
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.shamus73.net
Track List:
1. Sad Day
2. Please Gravity
3. Light In The Sky
4. Sault Ste. Marie
5. Sunflower
6. Grounded
7. Every Color Is Blue
8. Voodoo Summer
9. Black Coffee In The Sky
10. As Free As You
11. King Of The Jersey Shore
12. Love You Forever
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- POP: Power Pop
- POP: Quirky
- MOOD: INTELLECTUAL