Formed in 1990, the Shambles consist of life long friends Bart Mendoza (vocals/guitar) and Kevin Donaker-Ring (guitar/vocals), as well as Mark Z (bass) and Todd Woolsey (drums.) Recently Mark has decided to put his touring days behind him, with Orrick Smith (bass/guitar) and Kenny Howes (guitar/bass) stepping in to the void.
If the names of the musicians sound a bit familiar, the bands various members previously performed with such leading lights of 80s mod / garage / powerpop favorites as Manual Scan, The Crawdaddys and the Mystery Machine, while Kenny has a string of great solo albums to his credit. All "lifers' when it comes to music, the various members also moonlight in various side projects to this day. But this group is more than the sum of its parts. The quartet takes sixties pop, garage, folk and 70's am radio, and mixes it with pre 1970 Disney, soundtracks, r&b, rock, late seventies punk, and Spanish ballads, the result a collection of songs that are all about the hook and the musicianship to back it up.
The Shambles have toured extensively and performed in Mexico, Spain, England and throughout the U.S, appearing in concert as well as on TV and radio. They've also contributed to over three dozen compilation albums, and have released four albums to date. There's been a fair bit of press, from Billboard to Creem and they've even gigged with the likes of Jonathan Richman, The Rembrandts, Superdrag, The Records, OK Go, The Wondermints, Sugarplastic, Rusty Anderson, Kay Hanley, The Alarm, Robyn Hitchcock, 20/20, Graham Parker, Stew, Cindy Lee Berryhill, Anthony Meynell, The Hoodoo Gurus, The Chevelles and Stereophonics amongst many others.
Look for 2009 to see more tracks surfacing across various compilations, and a brand new album on the horizon. Also look for various reissues as well as a collection of worldwide artists covering the bands music, in English, Spanish and even Czechoslovakian.
All mere stats of course. That their discs continue to be essential listening for pop fans is a testament to their craft. But catch them live for the full spectrum effect of short sharp bursts of tunes and riffage, or even a bit of the cynical humor that tends to punctuate between tune banter. At eighteen years and counting the Shambles are at the difficult point in their musical journey, on the cusp of becoming a musical institution while at the same time just hitting their stride. Ya gotta love that.
-Alan Fleagle Sydney, Australia
You can find Shambles music at Not Lame www.notlame.com, and Jam Recordings www.jamrecordings.com. Meanwhile Get Hip Records has kept several titles in print, including the "Nadie te Quiere Ya" 7" single and "Reviving Spark", an album exclusive to Japan: www.gethip.com
Kevin Donaker-Ring / Guitars & Vocals, Bart Mendoza / Vocals & Guitar & Keys, Mark Z. / Bass, Todd Woolsey / Drums, David Lizerbram / Bass & Guitar & Vocals, Kenny Howes / Guitars & Bass & Vocals, C. Orrick Smith / Bass & Vocals
DESDE AYER (LIMITED EDITION CD)
NEW SHAMBLES CD!!! Yes, here it is at last! A brand new release with 17 wonderful power pop/mod/jangle rock songs that are certain to please the fans! THE SHAMBLES are a legendary band and for a very good reason! This San Diego music outfit makes consistently great music that touches the listener the way all great 60's and 70's music once did. The songs are heartfelt, the music is real, the sounds are pure. For fans of THE BEATLES, THE KINKS, THE WHO, SQUIRE, YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS, BIG STAR, THE ROMANTICS, THE MONKEES, 20/20, THE GRIP WEEDS, THE ELECTRIC PRUNES, THE EASYBEATS, THE STEMS, THE CHEVELLES, THE BEAT, THE PLIMSOULS, THE KNACK. THE PRETTY THINGS... LIMITED EDITION!!
20 EXPLOSIVE HITS
The Shambles are back with a new release !!! These San Diego giants have just made one of the best albums of their career. Amazingly, they are one of the best power pop bands on the planet and here on "20 Explosive Hits" the band take on all cover songs doing a superb job. They make the songs all their own covering diverse artists such as... The Monkees, The Turtles, The Who, Neil Diamond, The Raspberries, Jeremy, Oasis, The Jam, The Birds, Rain Parade, Sam Phillips, Elton John, Ringo Starr, The Beatles, The Zombies, and many others. You won't be disappointed with this album. Ironically, "20 explosive Hits" actually has 22 tracks!!! The album is crammed packed with one great hit after another done only as The Shambles can do! Buy it now while supplies last!!!!
The Shambles are featured in the current issue of Italy's Misty Lane Magazine.
Out Now! Buffalo Springfield tribute album "Five Way Street" with The Shambles version of "Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?" - on Not Lame
Out Now! - Television Personalities tribute "I Would Write A Thousand Words" with the Shambles covering "If I Could Write Poetry." from Canadian label The Beautiful Music.
Out Now! The Album "Sweet Relief" from JAM Recordings includes the bands "Wendy Never"
Out Now! The current issue of Spain's "Ansia de Color" Magazine includes a CD with the bands take on "Fixing A Hole."
Out Now! The online only Byrds tribute disc "Tymeless Flight" includes thier version of "Feel A Whole Lot Better.
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