Following recent tours with lauded singer-songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov and bluegrass favorites Railroad Earth, Shook Twins return to select Northeast, West Coast, and Mountain markets to perform songs from their latest full-length album, What We Do. Shook Twins appear in NYC and Cambridge with Tall Heights, as well as with backing ensemble the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra (Cambridge & Maine). Shook Twins are thrilled to collaborate with the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra, which features a program in part with the Maine Academy of Modern Music that provides orchestral string students (ages 10 - 18) the opportunity to perform alongside professional artists.
Shook Twins perform at the following select venues: Beat Kitchen (Chicago, IL: Sept. 27), Mercury Lounge (New York City: Oct. 1), The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA: Oct. 4), Cervantes' Other Side (Denver, CO: Oct. 15), The State Room (Salt Lake City: Oct. 16), Neurolux (Boise, ID: Oct. 17), Soda Bar (San Diego, CA: Oct. 11), Leo's Nightclub (Oakland, CA: Nov. 14), Hopmonk Tavern (Sebastopol, CA: Nov. 18), Hi-Fi Music Hall (Eugene, OR: Nov. 20), Revolution Hall (Portland, OR: Nov. 21), and Nectar Lounge (Seattle, WA: Dec. 4). Interviews and hi-res photos are available upon request.
Shook Twins are well on their way to gaining national attention for their haunting indie-folk sound, with appearances alongside Carolina Chocolate Drops and Laura Veirs. They've even hosted The Lumineers (prior to their mega-hit, "Ho-Hey") at their singular house concerts in Portland, OR. Wesley Schultz, co-founder of The Lumineers, says, "The Shook Twins helped us out when we were coming up, letting us crash on couches and organizing house shows. Shook Twins have that DIY spirit..." Identical twins, Katelyn and Laurie Shook, certainly are a DIY success story; they've raised $26,734 via Kickstarterto record What We Do with Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Elephant Revival, Milo Greene) at Bear Creek Studios (Seattle, WA).
Shook Twins have garnered strong local endorsements, with the Willamette Weekly (Portland, OR) exclaiming, "Shook Twins are the most exciting local folk act I've heard in ages. Strike that word 'local' and the sentiment still stands." And, the sisters' contagious quirky vibe and impassioned songwriting reaches far beyond just the indie music scene, to stalwarts in the literary world and cult craft beer companies. New York Times best-selling author and husband of Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman notes, "I love the harmonies of the Shook Twins, the dreamlike songs that seem somehow permeated by the American Folk tradition, without actually being part of it. They make music that twines through your soul the way vines cover an abandoned shack in the woods."
Ambitiously retooling the American roots genre with their indie-folk songcraft, lush harmonies, foot-stomping gospel/swing ballads and deep groove, Shook Twins are set to be one of 2015's breakout bands. On their latest recording, What We Do strikes a meaningful balance between the thoughtful vulnerability of life's struggles and the fiery positivity that carries us through. The album's buoyant opener, "Thoughts All In," celebrates the survival of "the end of the world" (December 21, 2012); Shook Twins note, "the world continued to turn after all the hype of 12/21/12, and it really reminded us about the importance of being better humans, and loving our loved ones even more."
Other standout songs include the slow-burner title track, "What We Do," which embodies, "the essence of our lives; the things we honor and let go of," says Shook Twins. Beautiful twin harmonies are enmeshed with African-style guitar riffs and campfire percussion, leading to an anthemic bridge with slugging rhythms while the sisters' repeat, "we put our troubles on the moth's wings, we open the window" -- a nod to the album's cover art, an illustration designed by their father depicting a moth in flight.
The futuristic apocalyptic gospel ballad, "Shake," tells the story of a couple who's survived a massive West Coast earthquake, only to face theft and heartache. But only remember the refrain, "the earth is gonna shake you down," and one can take comfort in the fact that those who harm will receive their retribution. "Crisper" is an ode to growing up, and the transition of kids starting to care about money. Laurie Shook recalls, "My sister and I used to spray our dollar bills with water and place them in big books to make them look crisper." On "Awhile," the twins focus on a new relationship that's seemingly very promising and moving fast. The chorus raves, "stop thinking about the end when it's just beginning, hold my hand and make your head stop spinning," only to launch into a fervorous spinning jam session.
On What We Do, the inimitable talents of Laurie and Katelyn Shook are supported by their touring band, including Niko Daoussis (mandolin, electric guitar, vocals) and some of Portlands brightest musicians. Laurie's inventive use of percussive and ambient vocal loops as well as Katelyn's repurposed telephone-microphone inflected vocals are layered atop a wide range of creative instruments (i.e. electronic drums, beat boxing, glockenspiel, ukulele, banjo drumming, and their signature golden percussive egg). Shook Twins' ensemble is clearly a family, related or otherwise, collectively ascending to dizzying heights with their undeniable charm and free spirit.
Shook Twins' previous albums have already established them as one of recent years' pre-eminent songwriting forces. You Can Have The Rest (2008) and Window (2011; featuring Elephant Revival's Bonnie Paine and Bridget Law) both received critical praise from the press and extensive radio play, further solidifying the band's demand on the road and becoming a favorite on the festival circuit. Shook Twins have recently appeared at Big Apple BBQ, Harvest Music Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Northwest String Summit, Suwanee, Oregon County Fair, Sisters Folk Fest, MeadowGrass, Ogden Music Festival, Redwing Roots Festival, and others.
Don't miss Shook Twins as they tour nationally this Fall in a city near you!
Shook Twins - National Fall Tour 2015:
Sept. 18 & 19, 2015 -- Lotus, CA -- American River Music Festival
Sept. 25 - 26, 2015 -- Winona, MN -- Boats & Bluegrass
Sept. 27, 2015 -- Chicago, IL -- Beat Kitchen
Oct. 1, 2015 -- New York, NY -- Mercury Lounge*
Oct. 2, 2015 -- Northampton, MA -- Iron Horse Music Hall*
Oct. 3, 2015 -- Portland, ME -- Port City Music Hall*-
Oct. 4, 2015 -- Cambridge, MA -- The Sinclair*-
Oct. 7, 2015 -- Philadelphia, PA -- Milkboy*
Oct. 8, 2015 -- Vienna, VA -- Jammin Java*
Oct. 10 & 11, 2015 -- Roseland, VA -- The Festy Experience
Oct. 14, 2015 -- Gold Hill, CO -- Gold Hill Inn
Oct. 15, 2015 -- Denver, CO -- Cervantes' Other Side
Oct. 16, 2015 -- Salt Lake City, UT -- The State Room
Oct. 17, 2015 -- Boise, ID -- Neurolox
Nov. 1, 2015 -- Live Oak, FL -- Suwannee Hulaween
Nov. 6, 2015 -- Sisters, OR -- The Belfry^
Nov. 7, 2015 -- Ashland, OR -- Brickroom^
Nov. 8, 2015 -- Redding, CA -- Vintage Wine Bar & Restaurant*
Nov. 9, 2015 -- Hayfork, CA -- Northern Delights^
Nov. 11, 2015 -- San Diego, CA -- Soda Bar^
Nov. 12, 2015 -- Huntington Beach, CA -- Huntington Beach Arts Center^
Nov. 13, 2015 -- Santa Cruz, CA -- Moe's Alley+
Nov. 14, 2015 -- Oakland, CA -- Leo's Nightclub*
Nov. 18, 2015 -- Sebastopol, CA -- Hopmonk Tavern*
Nov. 19, 2015 -- Arcata, CA - Humboldt Brews*
Nov. 20, 2015 -- Eugene, OR -- Hi-Fi Music Hall*
Nov. 21, 2015 -- Portland, OR -- Revolution Hall*#
Dec. 4, 2015 -- Seattle, WA -- Nectar Lounge^
*with Tall Heights
-with Maine Youth Rock Orchestra
^with John Craigie
+with Marty O'Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra
#with Annalisa Tornfelt & The Sound Outside
