Post by tackhead311 on Sept 2, 2009 13:39:13 GMT -5
Between Guitar Hero and Rock Band, Shaimus has forcibly (but legally) entered the homes of millions of people around the world. The Los Angeles-based rock band's song "Like a Fool" has lit a fire under plastic instrument-wielding rockers everywhere as a free download for Rock Band 2; the tune also helps to usher in the next phase of Shaimus music with their second album, The Sad Thing Is, We Like It Here—a record that showcases the band's knack for memorable hooks, soulful vocals and intricate-yet-somehow-tasteful playing.
In addition to their two video game appearances, Shaimus has been played on indie and mainstream radio, licensed their music to MTV, become International Songwriting Competition semi-finalists, signed a publishing contract with North Star Media, appeared in the Sony/Screengems film The Roommate, signed a Friends Deal with MySpace Records, and had tens of thousands of music sales—all without the help of a record label.
The five original members of Shaimus joined forces toward the end of 2004 while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. Their mysterious band name origins and dubious character traits aside, the quintet began locking in with each other musically almost immediately, and soon began work on their debut album, Paper Sun. The disc had its genesis in the late night abandoned cubicles of the Rhode Island Food Bank where the drums were tracked (but no canned food was consumed by starving musicians). The recording moved on to cramped apartment bedrooms where most of the rest was completed. Partway through the hasty recording process, "All Of This" was tapped by a little known company called Harmonix to be in a quirky new game called Guitar Hero. This would become the catalyst for Shaimus' worldwide proliferation of rock.
The band moved to Los Angeles and hit the road on tour, during which they honed their sound, songwriting process and performance chops. Their live shows, marked by energy, unadulterated volume, ripping guitar solos and sweat-drenched wristbands became the band's trademark and led to a win at B.B. King's Battle of the Bands in Universal City and a 7-month residency in an LA rock club. With a bevy of new songs that exemplified the newly refined Shaimus style and a steady demand from their fans, Phil, Evan, Cam, Johannes, and original guitarist Dave Middleton realized it was time to record a new album—one that would prove just how far they'd come since Paper Sun.
So, holing themselves up for most of 2008, Shaimus painstakingly crafted a follow-up that would define the sound of a band coming into its own (this time minus the food bank but adding a bathroom, a closet and The Record Plant). The result was 2009's The Sad Thing Is, We Like It Here (and a sold-out CD release party), with themes of morality, mundanity and generational impassivity, plus the standard serving of love and ire that accompany most quality music. It was just one more step toward the band's single, modest goal: total world domination.
Hey Ron. Glad to answer some questions.
---
1 How did the name Shaimus come about?
One evening, in the days before the bars would let us in, the boys and I were walking around Boston, causing absolutely no trouble at all with water balloons. As we came upon a graveyard, Dave (ex-guitarist) suggested we launch a water ballon into it. The minor desecration had justification though. It yielded the perfect opportunity for us to find a band name completely by chance; We would inherit the name on the soaked gravestone. Best idea ever. We set up the water balloon launcher on the fence and let one go. It landed on a grave that belonged to Robert "Deuce" Bodkin... Loving husband, father of two, and bad candidate for a rock band name. The grave next to his got a little wet too and was occupied by once faithful church cantor, and cool name owner, Seamus Jacob James Healy. Actually it's a pretty weird name. So Shaimus it was (already a band with "Seamus" in it... and it looked too much like "seamen" which sounds too much like "semen"). Turns out that the surname Healy means "artistic, and scientific." I think that it is a perfect fit for the overall band personality.
2 How did you guys get together?
This is another long one:
I got pretty burnt out at Berklee playing trumpet (my major) and needed to rekindle my love for music. That happened in the form of songwriting and singing. My close friend and roommate, Johannes, who was a fellow keyboardist and production/engineering major, was a full supporter of my derelict shift from the beginning, so we thought it would be cool to start a band. Why not. It would a the very least be fun. Considering my musical roots (jazz, classical, blues) I knew that I would be needing a lot hands on rock education, so I asked the best rocker I knew, Evan Brown, if he wanted to be in my band. Luckily for me and the band, he did. I knew Cam Brousseau through my friend James, who recommended him as our drummer. I had never heard Cam before our first practice and was pretty much blown away immediately. Dave was a friend of Cam's, and a funny dude who I played Halo with on occasion. Just happened to be a killer guitarist. Johannes picked up a bass, plugged it in, and it just kind of worked out like that. Starting the band may have been the easiest thing we've ever done. None of us thought we'd be doing it for this long when we started.
3 That's must be pretty awesome having your brother in the band, did you guys haze him yet and how so?
Having Lou in the band is incredible. He's dedicated, talented, and can read me really well (being my family and all). Communication inside the band has gotten better overall along with our positive energy.
We've hazed him, are hazing him, and will continue to haze him. It's how we show our love for the new guy. His induction to Shaimus was great. He had no idea what was going on. Check out the video with his reaction here:
There will be more hazing captured on video to follow.
4 How did you get your start in music?
I grew up listening to my Dad's favorite records including Crosby Stills and Nash, Grateful Dead, The Police. My grandfather was a big Dixie-land lover, so I used to wiggle to that stuff when I was a baby, and continued to appreciate it as I grew older. When I was 4, my mom started my older sister Anne and me on violin. My first teacher, Aurora Curran was incredible to both of us. She had an enthusiasm and kindness, not to mention patience, that had helped spark my initial interest in music. Music and Love were one in the same with her, and that was something I absorbed.
I started trumpet in 5th grade band. Piano in 6th. In high-school our jazz band went to Essentially Ellington in NYC, run by Wynton Marsalis. I met Wynton, and received a trumpet soloist award from him. It was a defining moment in my life and from then on I knew I was going to be a musician. Little did I know I was going to be in rock band in Los Angeles 10 years later.
5 I read about how your baseball coach made you choose between music and sports. Has he seen Shaimus or heard your music?
I think he's one of those guys who didn't like music... or if he did, only listened to Lawrence Welk. I can almost guarantee he has never heard of us.
6 I am a transplanted NY-er to Cali myself, did you find any good pizza here yet and please tell where if you did?
Nothing really stands up to the east-coast pizza. I understand the frustration. But there are some decent joints I've found in my search, in particular this place called Bravo Pizzeria in Santa Monica. Awesome topping choices.
7 Phil you are getting into some Hip-Hop. What are you enjoying?( I suggest La Coka Nostra)
Good suggestion. I'm still in history class. Studying up on the beginnings of Hip-Hop and the differences of East and West coast Rap. Just now getting into some southern stuff. Right now I'm really enjoying Biggie. I think his lyrical swagger is so emphatic. He's also puts a lot of character and diversity in his phrases which I love. I'm never bored.
8 What are your favorite songs to do live? You guys do any covers?
My favorite songs to sing live change with my mood, but usually they're "Like a Fool," and "Slow Down" (from Paper Sun). I really enjoy performing "Heads or Tails," especially when we're locked in with the groove. "Tie You Down," originally the song I dreaded to sing (due to it's range and difficulty) has become one of my favorites. We love covering Muse! "Everlong" from the Foo Fighters is also a classic set closer.
9 What are your musical influences?
Early on - Duke Ellington for his musicality and beautiful arrangements; Louis Armstrong for his melodic storytelling; Wynton Marsalis for his dexterity and attention to detail... to name a few.
Recently - There are a lot of good famous influences I could list off, but the people who have influenced me the most have been my very musical friends.
10 What are some of your favorite venues to play? Least favorite?
The Troubadour is great. They have an awesome stage and a very friendly crew. Sonny is the chef there. Make sure to say hi. He's cool.
Hotel Cafe is another good one; a little cramped for us 5, but like some of the better clubs in Hollywood, they have their shit together. It makes it easier for the band when the club is organized and communicative. Both of these clubs are. I have yet to really hate a club.
11 Any advice for young people getting in the music industry?
Yes. Confidence. Belief in your talents and ability to achieve your goals is the fuel that will keep you going. (now I'm gonna preaching a little here) These qualities are easy to see in someone who has them, however self-doubt is also very easy to see... Sometimes people try to overcompensate with arrogance, and that is pretty transparent too... not to mention completely irritating. There is no faking it. If you want people to work with you (which you do) you have to feeeeeel a genuine confidence in yourself. Humility is very important, but don't mistake that with self-deprication (It took my Catholic side a long time to get over that one). If you feel like you're no good, you will project that to other people. I'm a pretty confident guy, but it has developed over time and with a lot of practice.
So here are a few tips that helped me shed a little of that self-doubt:
- Continually refine your skills, like practicing your instrument, learning a song, playing with other people, etc.
- Always remind yourself what it is about music you love the most. Listen to good music, lose yourself in it, forget about everything else that's happening around you. Find your uniqueness in music.
- Everyone needs help. You do. Your friends do. Strangers do. Mom and Dad do. Allow people to help you, and make sure to help them too! Actually, you start.
Helping people will get you farther than you'd ever think. - Expect to hear the word "no" a lot. But stay positive because there are people who will say "yes." Expect people to not give a shit. But, stay positive because there are a lot of people who do (even if they don't know it yet). Expect that your success in music will probably take a long time to achieve. But expect to get there too! The Beatles played an estimated twelve-hundred times before their first burst of success in 1964! I just found that out the other day... kind of blew my mind !
12 What is on the horizon for Shaimus?
We've been working hard in the practice space writing new songs. It may be a little while before our 3rd record, but it's gonna be a good one. We're developing our sound, always changing, always experimenting. Now that Lou is in the band, Shaimus' DNA is 1/5th different, so you can expect some cool new flavors. We're working on setting up a west-coast tour in November. We're also in a movie called The Roommate, coming out in 2010. Look out for that! We always let our mailing-list people know when something cool happens in the world of Shaimus.
You can sign up here: shaimus.com/interact
[glow=red,2,300]Find out what a Shaimus is at http://www.shaimus.com[/glow]
Thank you Phil !!!!