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Shanda & The Howlers is a Rhythm & Blues revivalist band from Las Vegas, NV playing 50s-60s influenced R&B, Blues, & Soul reminiscent of the Stax Sound. Influences in their sound can be traced to such artists as Big Maybelle, Ruth Brown, Otis Redding, The Crystals, LaVern Baker, and James Brown.
In the bands’ short history, they have played on bills with such legendary acts as The Blasters, Wanda Jackson and Rev. Horton Heat. Their debut album "Trouble" delivers 11 soul seared songs that speak directly of breakups, heartaches and moving on after surviving both.
Lead singer Shanda Cisneros' raw vocals seem to claw their way through your speakers as the band locks tight behind her with gritty saxophone riffs, a Motown inspired rhythm section and the occasional slide guitar.
Rhythm and blues, lounge, soul. I’m not sure what Shanda & the Howlers do. I just know that it’s FUN and that’s reason enough to give it a listen. Besides, I gather from their Facebook page that they recently played on a bill with Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys, an absolutely great rockabilly revival band. And if they’re good enough for Big Sandy, they have to be pretty damn good.
Big Sandy was right, of course, and Shanda & The Howlers’ Trouble is both powerful and engaging. “Keep Telling Me” is a great opener and makes it immediately evident that Shanda can REALLY sing. “She Don’t Want a Man” settles into an awesome groove and will remind you of old Motown or Stax recordings. God, how I love the horns here.
If David Johanssen‘s alter-ego, Buster Poindexter, had a sister, ever wonder what she’d sound like? Give “Don’t Need Your Love” a listen. While I typically don’t gravitate toward slower songs, “Born With a Broken Heart” showcases how really great a vocalist Shanda is. This track is killer.
Shanda & The Howlers won’t hit the spot with every power pop fan. It’s a sixties revivalist thing and not every song falls neatly into a pop category. But if you like 60’s soul (not unlike last year’s Charley Faye & The Fayettes) and emotive songs executed damn near to perfection, I suggest you give Trouble a listen. I’m surely glad I did. Now there’s only one thing left to do. See them perform live...
• Shanda Cisneros - Vocals
• Luke Metz - Bass
• Trevor Johnson - Guitar
• Mich Lapping - Carr Sax
• Keith Alcantara - Drums
01. Keep Telling Me 02:32
02. She Don't Want a Man 03:53
03. Trouble's Out to Play 03:08
04. Don't Need Your Love 02:37
05. Born With a Broken Heart 04:16
06. Don't Wait Up 02:43
07. Stay Awhile 03:57
08. Mind Made Up 03:18
09. Li'l Operator 03:33
10. You're Gonna Cry 03:35
11. Bad Love 04:29
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1 comment:
Great fun album and some damn fine singing
Regards
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