Tasty Sounds from the Sweet Lowdown
THe sHinE-oLas
SHinE-oLa Record Reviews
Review Roots Highway, Italy
Reviewer: Marco Poggio (02/08/2012), Italy
The Shineolas:
Album: Quirkphony [DMI Records 2012]
Quirkophony , debut album on behalf of Bruce Gerrish and The
Shineolas . The Canadian by adoption, but American by birth, is not in
fact a rookie, having on his shoulders a career more than thirty years,
but only now comes to the much-coveted goal of the work before.
What interests us most of his musical personality is obviously the first
aspect, the songwriting blossomed at an early age and honed with the
passage of time, also because of a life spent largely on the
road. Intense years with the guitar as the only faithful traveling
companion, during which many faces and many stories are paraded in
front of the singer-songwriter, originally from Minnesota. Stories that
Gerrish has internalized and then transpose them on staff, giving rise
to a handful of compositions finally go to make up the backbone of
Quirkophony. The result of this long process of writing are thirteen
songs that draw equally to the country, to roots rock and the Texas
Swing, to witness how the roots of our music are firmly in the tradition
of their country of origin. Already in the opener I wanna new life , with
lap steel and mandolin now on display and more than infectious
refrain, or runaway and electrical Man down , shows his preference for
sounds of country roots, recalling in more than one juncture that
Robert Earl Keen, with whom Gerrish seems to have much more of an
affinity. Definite maybe , and You do not know shit from Shineola , they
turn instead toward the Texas Swing: the first piano and lap steel to
dictate the time, while in the second large space is left in a horn
section in great form. Winds that we find, this time however
impression mariachi, even I said I do but that, with lots of accordion,
apparently written to be played in some forgotten bar Tjiuana. The
singer-songwriter side of Gerrish emerges when times are slow, as in
buffettiana and solar power, beginning with the title, A sunny place for
shady people , or in the ballad night, for solo acoustic guitar and
piano, Tonight , which refers to the Lyle Lovett more intimate. musical
influences of a long stay in the New Orleans' experience in sound crazy
experiment Jumbo shrimp , in which the joyful atmosphere of the "Big
Easy" merge with stylistic country, a bit 'like Willie Nelson and his
Family Band unite, during the celebrations of Mardi Grass in a wild jam
on horns of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. At the end of the latter,
almost unnoticed, appears an unexpected hidden track, a small
acoustic reprise of A sunny place for shady people , able to far surpass
in beauty and intensity that present in the tracklist "official" album . A
hard honest and sincere Quirkophony , which relies on the
contributions of a swarm of valid instrumentalists, united under the
name of The Shinolas, expertly directed by the experienced producer
Bill Buckingham. A name to pinning for the future, to Bruce Gerrish,
hoping to not have to wait a long time before you can listen to his new
production.
Review Euro Americanna Chart, Holland
http://www.euroamericanachart.eu/
Reviewer: Rein van den Berg (02/08/2012), Amsterdam,NL
Bruce Gerrish and The Shineolas
Album: Quirkphony [DMI Records 2012]
"Quickophony" from Bruce Gerrish and The Shineolas is a very good
record and if you're not in the right mood to party, this record will bring you there and not many records do!
​
Review: Beale Street Magazine , Belgium
Reviewer: Francois (Swa) Braeken
The Shinolas
Album: Quirkphony [DMI Records 2012]
"Qiurkophony" is a very nice acquaintance with Bruce Gerrish and The
Shineolas, a musical chameleon who ranges from the bluesy and gospel like "Red River" to the Jazzy "Jumbo Shrimp" in a extra effort to musically entertain you an me. Mission accomplished
Review: The Province Newspaper, Vancouver Canada
Reviewer: Tom Harrison
" Bruce Gerrish is a smart writer and funny writer . He share's Jimmy
Buffetts generous perspective along with his own unique and diverse songs that touch on everything from Roots, Jazz, Blues and beyond". Tom Harrison, Vancouver Province.
Review: Rootstime, Belgium
Reviewer: Freddy Celis
The Shineolas
Album: Quirkphony [DMI Records 2012]
Bruce Gerrish is a new name in the world of first album releases. This
does not mean that he is a young, novice artist. On the contrary, he
has been very much musical honing. He started like many young
people making music at the high school of his city Minneapolis. After
completing these studies, he moved to New Orleans to urge friends of
the family to work. Friends who were the owners of the famous
Preservation Hall in the French Quarter of New Orleans. During his
stay there he received a musical bath immersion in jazz, cajun,
country blues .... In short, everything in Louisiana of styles can be
found.
For this first album, he called on a friend from Vancouver: producer
Bill Buckingham and he got help from many beautiful people from the
Canadian roots music scene. The most famous is of course Steve
Dawson, a bit of the godfather of Canada roots music. But also a
quality label. The album consists of 13 self-penned songs that contain
a multitude of styles. That's just the main asset of this record: the
diversity that makes this "Quirkophony" continues to fascinate.
The album reminds me in terms of atmosphere and playfulness also a bit
like the plates of Jimmy Buffet. The opener "I Wanna New Life" is a joyous
song with a country and gospel influence through the use of dobro and
backing vocals. Strongradio friendly song. "Man Down" will continue in the
same line: fast, exciting pace, few voices and a boogie feeling where Dr.
Of Radio 21would nod approvingly. Also cheerful, upbeat and with a big dash of
bluegrass and boogie piano in the song "Montana Man".
But they can also be a different repertoire. For example, "Red River" a
song that is more reminiscent of Little Feat. Pumping organ, backing
vocals and slide guitar are the main constituents of this song.
Furthermore, these songs definitely get a mention: "Coulda, Shoulda,
Woulda," a happy sounding song reminiscent of Lyle Lovett and Bruce
at the end where a New Orleans brass band to show up. "I Said I Do"
a song with TexMex accordion solo best Augie Meyers tradition. One of
the best songs of the album is "Treadmill" with clever guitar work of
Robbie Stieninger reminicent of Ry Cooder.
Misfits on the plate are the two final numbers. "You Do not Know Shit
From Shinola" is a swinging song with pedal steel and brass that you
can describe as honky-tonk country with a dash of New Orleans. Think
back to Lyle Lovett and Jimmy Buffet.
​
Domino Pastiche.
It has apparently taken a long time for that Bruce Gerrish his first
record but that might just strength: it is a diverse album with many
great songs and beautiful moments. Fans of roots music is cheerful,
which is not always the case in this genre, this record should definitely
give a listen.