The Shack Band
Richmond, Virginia, United States | SELF
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When I got a call from Mason Owen, bassist for the Richmond based group The Shack Band, telling me they would be playing at The National, I was excited to finally see them at a large venue. When I found out they were opening for moe, I was ecstatic. I arrived in Richmond just in time to get in The National and catch the end of The Shack Band’s first song . By time they were ripping into their third song, at least four hundred people were crowding the theater. Without a doubt, the hometown band was garnering plenty of support from the locals. Musically, The Shack Band played as tight a set as I have seen them play, and I’ve been seeing them for three years now. Mentality wise, the boys seemed as loose as ever and were clearly having a great time on stage. Add that to the supreme acoustics of The National and you’ve got the makings of a set that definitely made an impression on anyone seeing them for the first time. The Shack Band played a set spanning their originals, showcasing their versatility and eclectic taste. I’d recommend them to anyone, especially fans of moe.
After The Shack Band warmed up the audience, moe came out to a nearly packed house. Opening with a ten minute rendition of “Waiting for the Punchline,” the band immediately took the already buzzing crowd into a dancing frenzy. There was only time for bassist Rob Derhak to catch his breath after the last beat of “Punchline” before he quickly started belting the opening lines to “Captain America.” The band tore through a standard but solid rendition of that song before mellowing the mood with the rare reggae version of “Letter Home.” The crowd was more than enthusiastic to hear that gem. The first set was rounded out with three songs that the band seamlessly jammed into one another: “Paper Dragon > Darkness > Bring You Down.” During set break, it seemed like half the crowd poured out of the venue to the single alleyway reserved for smokers; the other half hit the bar.
The second set immediately kicked the crowd into high gear as moe opened it with “Kyle’s Song.” There was a resounding cheer as soon as the classic bass line started what would be an exceptional jam, exploring slow spaced-out melodic jams as well as fast-paced guitar shredding portions by guitarists Chuck Garvey and Al Schnier. “Kyle’s Song” flowed nicely into “Little Miss Cup Half Empty.” Moe then brought out the big guns with the rare, wacky yet funky “Dr. Graffenberg” and boy did they shred it. The extended jams in “Dr. G” would end up being the highlight of what was a very strong concert. The band ended the set with the slow but rocking anthem “Opium” and the quick country fried licks of “32 Things.” When they played “It” as the encore it felt like the show might be over but they treated the Richmond crowd to a great rendition of The Rolling Stone’s classic “Dead Flowers” to end the night.
Overall it was a fantastic night at the National. Moe was as good as I’ve seen them over the last six years. Anyone trying to find an up and coming band with great potential should definitely give the Shack Band a listen. Moe is on tour now. The Shack Band play in Richmond every week, and have a date coming up in Raleigh at The Pour House July 19th, as well as other places in the South East. - New Music Monkey
Here's a link to some photos from our most recent Blacksburg, VA show. Always nice to return to our former hometown! - Roger Gupta
Page B6 - The Collegiate Times
The Shack Band at the Tobacco Company - Daniel Glass
Voted Best Local Band in 2008 by The Town of Blacksburg and the Virginia Tech student body! - The Collegiate Times
Discography
Born & Raised
-Got Work to Do
-Seal the Deal
-Before It's Over
-Down South
-Much too Much
-Picture Yourself
*Produced and Recorded by Jody Boyd of Red Amp Audio in Richmond, Va. Jody has worked with numerous artists including The Dave Matthew's Band, Carbon Leaf, The Pat McGee Band, and Steve Basset. EP due out 2012.
Photos
Bio
What originally started as an organic, impromptu and free-flowing collection of musicians casually performing in the renovated remains of a dilapidated “shack” in Blacksburg, VA has morphed into what is now The Shack Band. Since 2010, things have changed. The band relocated from Blacksburg to Richmond, VA. A true lineup was established, with four members signing on. The songwriting abilities and sensibilities matured and improved. At the start of 2013, the quartet became a quintet with the addition of a horn player adding more complex arrangements and texture to the band’s already well-established sound. But, the one thing that never wavered was The Shack Band’s intent to wow new crowds with their off-the-cuff, high-energy live shows melding funky rock ‘n’ roll and soaring harmonies with a strong emphasis on song-writing.
In 2012 alone, The Shack Band played 120 + shows up and down the East Coast and as far west as Chicago, while performing alongside a number of national touring acts, including: moe., Moon Taxi, The Machine, Perpetual Groove, The Pimps of Joytime, The Heavy Pets, and Dangermuffin among others. Thanks to their raw, infectious live shows and incessant touring, The Shack Band have seen, felt, and heard the effects of their budding reputation and burgeoning fan base. In February of 2012, they released their first EP, Born & Raised, to a sold-out crowd in their hometown of Richmond, VA. For 2013, the goals are simple yet ambitious: hit the rarified level of 200+ live shows, release their first full-length album, and continue to hone their craft while writing and learning new material.
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