The Shods are a band from Lowell, Massachusetts who have released five albums and an EP to date. The Shods have a loyal regional following, and remain well known in their home state.
Origins The Shods formed in 1993 in Lowell, MA with musicians Scott Pittman, Roy Costa, and music mainstay Kevin Stevenson, whose other projects included Formicide, Only Living Witness, and Duck Duck. Within a week of forming, the band produced a debut EP titled I'm in Lowell, MA. In 1995, the band released its debut full-length album Here Come The Shods on a self-created label called Poorhouse Records.
Tours After recruiting F.J. Ventre on Bass, and Dave Aaronoff on second guitar, work began at Fort Apache Studios on what was intended to be their major label release on MCA. This deal, however, fell through and the band shelved the project until 2001. Also during this time, the band toured around the northeast with fellow Bostonians, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Stevenson began playing in what became known as the Rivers Cuomo Band.
Health issues After many lineup changes during the recording of Bamboozled and Thanks for Nuthin''', The Shods were threatened to come to an end when lead guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Kevin Stevenson learned he was battling multiple sclerosis.Finch, Amy Kevin Stevenson explains what happened, The Boston Phoenix, May 21–24, 2001 Following the tragic news, the band pushed forward by releasing Tippy in 2003.*Milano, Brett, Resurrections: The Shods and Gail Greenwood resurface, The Boston Phoenix, June 20–26, 2003 Although activity has been mostly stagnant in recent years, past members have returned with founders Kevin Stevenson and Scott Pittman for reunion shows including one in support the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Dropkick Murphys in 2007.
Albums I'm in Lowell, MA - EP Here Come The Shods Bamboozled, Jilted, Hornswoggled + Hoodwinked Thanks For Nuthin' Stop Crying Tippy*Milano, Brett, Resurrections: The Shods and Gail Greenwood resurface, The Boston Phoenix, June 20–26, 2003
References
Perry, Jonathan The Shods Rocking Out 1999 Best Music Poll, The Boston Phoenix, 1999
External links The Shods Official Site "The Shods Biography" by Kerry Purcell, The Boston Herald'' Shods Info Shods Tabs Shods Fan Page