theSHIFT

“...filled with chunky riffs, a water-tight rhythm section and melody.
Hard rock, the way it should be done.” - Pop Dose

“…a powerful rock trio with a singular goal in mind: be undeniably and defiantly authentic.”
– Diffuser - Diffuser

“Pro musicians come together as transcendent rock trio.”
– HitFix - Hit Fix

The song features some driving guitar from frontman John Shannon, nimble drumming from MJ Lambert and a forceful bass line from Ben Geis. Shannon tells Loudwire, “For us, ‘Kobra’ is a big part of what theSHIFT represents, reality-questioning lyrics backed up by high octane music. When we were working on ‘Kobra’, we felt that three guitar solo sections would be appropriate to back up each verse/chorus of lyrics written to challenge reality in general anyways. I mean, why should there be just one guitar solo? If it helps to serve the high energy of the song, then let’s do it! We each wrote what we played musically to serve the purpose of making the song cosmic and somewhat confrontational.”

Read More: theSHIFT, 'Kobra' - Exclusive Song Premiere | http://loudwire.com/theshift-kobra-exclusive-song-premiere/?trackback=tsmclip - Loudwire

The trio theSHIFT prides itself on a "high octane" brand of rock 'n' roll.

theSHIFT may be a new band, but individually each member of this trio—comprised of John Shannon (vocals/guitar), MJ Lambert (drums) and Ben Geis (bass)—already has a strong performance pedigree. Shannon has both recorded and toured with artists such as John Mayer, Ben Harper, and Lauren Hill; Lambert and Geis have opereated largely in the world of hip-hop, playing in backing bands for Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick. Bringing together their extensive musical experiences, the group has recorded a six-track EP entitled 7th Direction.

“theSHIFT is about altering your consciousness through the sheer power of rock ‘n’ roll,” declares Shannon. “Our lyrics don’t question the government; they question the nature of your reality.”

Shannon tells PopMatters about the album, “We are psyched to release 7th Direction out into the world and connect further with our fans. Making this record was a leap into the unknown for us, navigating what our sound had been and what it was becoming at the time. We stand behind it as a statement of vision for the band and hope that people will take the chance to get into it.” - Pop Matters

When it comes to true-roots rock ‘n’ roll, we can definitively say that the genre has not lost its thunder with younger crowds. One group in particular, theShift reinforces that sentiment as they go forwarded holding their heads high and the stone-cold brutality that rock music has evolved into.

The anthemic and vibrant depths of destructive, face-melting power that theShift boasts is not lost in their lighter vocals. Without having to strain too hard to make a statement like some younger crowds, they’re a band that has certainly put itself to the front on talent alone. The powerhouse trio will be taking all that on the road this summer for a national tour following the premiere of the video for their EP 7th Direction’s first single “Kobra” on HitFix. - AXS.com

The rock band, theSHIFT, are comprised of three highly trendy, talented musicians. The trio have brought their individual talents to the band and collaborated to bring life back to Rock & Roll. They have crafted an energetic, multi-layered rock album, 7th Direction, and are premiering the song “Control” via Diffuser.

If you are not familiar with the band theSHIFT, you may have heard of the members of the band independently. Each member attended the renowned Berklee College of Music. John Shannon (vocals and guitar), MJ Lambert (drums) and Ben Geis (bass) are well-known musicians who have recorded and toured with numerous distinguished performers. The vocalist and guitar player, Shannon, has recorded and toured with top-national acts such as John Mayer, Lauren Hill and Ben Harper. Lambert and Geis have a history in the hip-hop world; they backed legends Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick.

theSHIFT are determined to bring life back to the rebellious greatness of music. Their guitar-driven music captivates your mind with its visionary lyrics and impeccable sound. Their authenticity and talent is heard in their new song, “Control”- which you can listen to here.

Aside from the new music release, the trio are always on the road. They bring an energetic, spiritual experience to the stage and will continue to do so while on their nation-wide tour leading up to the new album release of 7th Direction. - AXS.com

“7th Direction opens with ‘Kobra,’ a fiery ass-kicker that veers heavily towards
the likes of Dire Straits and The Police. The song swerves and kicks with reckless abandon
and is fueled by a searing guitar solo from Shannon" - Absolute Punk

The individual members of rock trio theSHIFT have compiled pretty impressive resumes. John Shannon (vocals/guitar), M.J. Lambert (drums) and Ben Geis (bass) all attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music and they’ve recorded and toured with the likes of John Mayer, Lauren Hill, Ben Harper, Big Daddy Kane and Slick Rick.

theShift CDThey’ve combined their talents to form anthemic outfit theSHIFT and deliver an energy-fueled debut EP in “7th Direction.” Though the six-track release falls just short of essential, the good certainly outweighs the bad and has me wondering what the lads can do over the course of a full-length platter.

“(The music of) theSHIFT is about altering your consciousness through the sheer power of rock ‘n’ roll,” Shannon explains. “Our lyrics don’t question the government, they question the nature of your reality. When you just play a song perfectly from start to finish there’s no danger there. When you choose to open it up in a way that’s in touch with the moment and the audience, then you can get into some real danger, real transcendence.”

The guys come out of the gate firing with “Kobra” and “Dreams” before the momentum starts to wane with ho-hum entries “Consecreate” and “Everything Falls Away.” Happily, theSHIFT reclaim their groove and close things out with a flourish on personal favorite “Control” and “Sideways View.” Keep an eye on Shannon & Co. (Jeffrey Sisk) - Pittsburgh In Tune

“TheSHIFT is a power trio that captures all energy and intensity of classic power trios
such as Cream, Mountain and the James Gang. It also is a band with a sound that is fresh and contemporary.”
– The Unionville Times - The Unionville Times

“theSHIFT Are Taking Rock & Roll In A New ‘Direction’”
– Arena.com - Arena.com

“TheSHIFT bring high cosmic rock and roll to your ear drums!”
– Charged.fm - Charged.fm