The Shondes

The Shondes are an indie punk band from New York City.

History

The Shondes formed in 2006 after violinist Elijah Oberman and bassist Louisa Rachel Solomon's former band broke up. They recruited guitarist Ian Brannigan, a friend they had met while the three attended The New School in Greenwich Village as undergraduates, and drummer Temim Fruchter whom the three had met while protesting the Republican National Convention in 2004.

Two demo EPs were distributed on national tours in summer 2006 and spring 2007.

The Shondes self-released their debut LP "The Red Sea" on January 8, 2008. It was recorded at Studio G in Brooklyn and produced by Tony Maimone of Pere Ubu and They Might Be Giants. [Rhodes, Elizabeth. http://www.newyorkpress.com/21/2/music/music.cfm "No Shame" "New York Press" 7 January 2008] The album features guest appearances by Brian Dewan on keyboards [The Shondes. "The Red Sea", 2008. Liner notes] and was met with positive reviews. [Kiser, Matt. http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=53547330 Review: The Red Sea "CMJ"]

"The Red Sea" features the song “I Watched the Temple Fall”, one of the first songs the band wrote together, which arose from conversations about the meaning of the Jewish holiday Tisha B'Av. [Rhodes, Elizabeth. http://www.newyorkpress.com/21/2/music/music.cfm "No Shame" "New York Press" 7 January 2008] The three members of the band who are Jewish work with the New York City activist group Jews Against the Occupation, [Giovagnoli, Gavin Paul. www.spin.com/features/band_of_the_day/2008/01/080114_the_shondes/index.html Artist of the Day: The Shondes] an organization "advocating peace through justice for Palestine and Israel." [http://www.jatonyc.org/ "Our Mission" Jews Against the Occupation NYC]

Heeb Magazine said that The Shondes' mix of confrontational political punk and Jewish music created "a powerful new sound" and included Fruchter as one of "the Heeb 100" in 2007, [http://www.heeb100.com/p_temim_fruchter.html Heeb 100] while the magazine's blog asserted that in the contemporary Jewish music scene "it is quite possible that the The Shondes are making the only music that truly matters" and called "The Red Sea" "the most anticipated Jewish record of the year." [http://www.heebmagazine.com/blog/view/479 Heeb HQ.] Almost since its inception, [Torreri, Marisa. http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0624,torrieri,73489,22.html "Shame on You" "The Village Voice" June 9, 2006] the band has stirred controversy for the members' outspoken radical politics, particularly those centered around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [http://www.newyorkpress.com/21/2/music/music.cfm">"No Shame" "New York Press"January 7, 2008]

They have shared the stage with Electrelane, Erase Errata, Amy Ray, Joe Lally (Fugazi), Mecca Normal, Lesbians on Ecstasy and others.

Critical response

Complex song structures intertwined with direct, inquisitive lyrics...It's haunting and it's eerie, yet it's rousing. The Shondes are a twisted carnival film noir come true. -CMJ

"The Red Sea," is a visceral work...their moody songs are redolent of a time in the early '80s when punk fractured into something more tuneful and complex...a political band whose music is as strong as its message is a rare treat. -The Chicago Tribune

Riot grrrl radicalism wed to classically structured songs, distortion pedals, clashing vocals, and powerful lyrics. -The Village Voice

Ready for an indie break out....radical politics, inspired riffs, textured harmonies and pure sex appeal. -Curve Magazine

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.shondes.com Official Website]
*myspace|theshondes