Legendary Shack Shakers

The Legendary Shack Shakers (originally Those or Th' ) are an American rockabilly/blues band that formed in Paducah, Kentucky, United States, in the mid-1990s. They are inspired by rock and roll, country blues, old time music, carnival music, swamp rock, and other obscure Southern music genres. The band originally had a traditional rockabilly sound, but later began to rely more on its rock and roll and "southern gothic" influences.

Legendary Shack Shakers
Legendary Shack Shakers in Lexington, Kentucky 2010
Background information
OriginMurray, Kentucky, United States
Genres
Years active1995–present
Labels
Associated acts
Members
Past members

Founding member J.D. Wilkes is the band's vocalist and also plays the harmonica. Musical maverick Joe Buck joined the band in the early 21st Century and played all the upright bass, guitars, and drums on the group's first wide release, Cockadoodledon't (2003). Wilkes is noted for his theatric stage performances, which have been compared to those of Iggy Pop, David Byrne, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Joe Buck left the band in late 2003 and began touring and recording with Hank Williams III. Brett Whitacre joined the band in 2005 and is currently the second longest tenured band member. Duane Denison of The Jesus Lizard and Tomahawk joined the band in 2008, exiting in early 2012. Atlanta garage blues guitarist Rod Hamdallah replaced Denison. Longtime bassist Mark Robertson left the band in late 2015 and was replaced by The Two Man Gentlemen Band's Fuller Condon.[1] Longtime drummer Brett Whitacre left the band in late February 2016 to concentrate on his art career and family life, and was replaced by The Dirt Daubers drummer Preston Corn. Guitarist Rod Hamdallah left the band in late 2017, shortly after the release of the "After You've Gone" LP was released. He was replaced by Pere Ubu guitarist Gary Siperko.

Career

The band initially gained notoriety when GEICO used their track "CB Song" on their year-long "Sunglasses" television ad. Horror novelist Stephen King would later list the same track as among his iPod's Top Five in a 2008 Entertainment Weekly article. That same year, the Legendary Shack Shakers' tune, "Swampblood", was featured on the soundtrack for HBO's True Blood, the CD release of which went on to receive a Grammy nomination the following year.

Throughout the mid 2000s, the band regularly toured with Reverend Horton Heat, who also appears as a guest guitarist on three tracks from their 2006 album, Pandelirium. Former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra also guested on the album's opening track, "Ichabod".

In 2006, the band opened up for Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.[2]

Robert Plant is a noted Legendary Shack Shakers fan, and hand-picked the band to open for him on his 2005 tour of Europe. Plant also named "Believe" his favorite record of 2005.

The band released their sixth studio album; AgriDustrial, on April 13, 2010 on their own Colonel Knowledge record label.[3]

Occasionally, Wilkes and the Shack Shakers appear in the Danish theatrical production FUBAR, a production of Copenhagen's Mute Comp Theatre. The play, which tackles the subject of illegal gun trade around the globe, features a speaking part by Wilkes. After performing at the 2013 production of FUBAR, the band resumed their two-year hiatus. The band began touring again regularly in early 2015 and released The Southern Surreal on the Alternative Tentacles label in middle of the same year.

Tours
J.D. Wilkes of Legendary Shack Shakers crowd surfs while performing in Atlanta, Georgia in 2016

The band has toured with The Black Keys, The Damned, Robert Plant, Rancid, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, and Hank Williams III, among others. In 2003, Time Out New York Magazine said The Legendary Shack Shakers were "Among Top Ten Live NYC acts of the year". Jello Biafra of Alternative Tentacles and The Dead Kennedys called J.D. Wilkes "the last great Rock and Roll frontman." News of the World called them "The maddest, baddest, most outrageous band in America.. a rockabilly version of the Sex Pistols." The Nashville Scene called Wilkes the Best Frontman in Nashville in a 2002 vote.

Discography

Filmography

References
  1. "Mark Robertson". M.facebook.com. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  2. "Fifth Annual Marty Stuart Late Night Jam - Ryman Auditorium - June 7, 2006". Martystuart.com. June 7, 2006. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  3. "Legendary Shack Shakers Album/Tour/Free Download on JamBase". Jambase.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  4. "Th' Legendary Shack Shakers' J.D. Wilkes (March 30, 2009) : Interview". PlugInMusic.com. March 30, 2009. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  5. "Legendary Shack Shakers' Facebook post (August 14, 2015)". Facebook.com. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
  6. "Seven Signs | Raindance Film Festival 2008". Raindance.co.uk. October 12, 2008. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
Interviews and reviews
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