Shalloend-Exploring the Seasons of Rock’n’Roll
Shalloend-Exploring the Seasons of Rock’n’Roll
With their debut album, ‘No Worse for the Wear’ released, Shalloend hasn’t had much time to relax. Their self-recorded, self-produced release, explores the different seasons of rock’n’roll. From the introspective lyrics and mellow grooves of Velvet Persuasions, the raw high energy party song For the Weekend, the sexual beats of Dance for Me, to the insecure and mighty refrain of Rage Go By, the songs offer everyone something that they can relate to.
“I like to tell stories from the third-person, so I don’t sound self-loathing,” says Jeff Rohde, lead vocalist and bass player. “It allows me to be more creative and not write myself into a box. I’ll usually write a tune on my acoustic, or Mike (will) come up with a riff, and I’ll let the tune sink in for a while, then try to capture the emotion of the music with the lyrical equivalent, if that makes any sense” (laughs Jeff).
Shalloend is not a band that has jumped on the bandwagon. Sean Mitchell (drummer/percussionist) and Jeff played together for a year or so with another band, then left to form their own outfit. They needed to find a guitarist who enjoyed making good music as much as they did. A few months later Mike Menges joined the band and a fountain of music has since spewed. “From the moment I first met Mike I knew it was going to work. We were both auto technicians and he seemed really cool and down to earth, so we had a session at Sean’s and it was really cool; I mean it flowed from the get-go”, says Jeff. “Once I learned Jeff’s songs, we started writing together”. “I think Velvet (Persuasions) was the first, and when we got solid it just kind of hit me; I realized how good it was, that we really had potential. I mean it sounds so cool to hear the way the sad melody almost weeps over the groove, tells a story……(pauses) it gives me chills sometimes”, says Mike.
Since then, Mike, Jeff, and Sean have gotten much closer, and have developed a sound that is a bit retro, a bit modern, and a bit in between. “In general, its just good rock’n’roll. We finished recording our album a few months ago, and since then we’ve been playing out around Cleveland a lot, and trying to get to other cities regionally when we can. The best part is the fans. When we get good feedback it lights a fire in me. That (will) keep me warm through all the struggles in between”, says Sean. (laughs). Jeff adds, “Yeah. We’ll give out cd’s with three songs on it, and they’ll say ‘why isn’t this song on there’? (Laughs), but I guess that means they appreciate us. To be appreciated is everything. That’s awesome.”
So Shalloend continues the good fight in the night. Playing their music in a club near you, exploring the seasons of rock’n’roll.