Shellshag
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Shellshag
| image =
| caption =
| origin = Brooklyn, New York, United States
| years_active = 1997–present
| label = Don Giovanni
Starcleaner Records
Mauled by Tigers
We Are Busy Bodies
Thrillhouse Records
Plan it X South
| associated_acts = 50 Million
Huffy
Kung Fu USA
Hickey
Shellhead
Static Faction
Me You and the Boy
Me You and the Boyz
Thunder Suite
| current_members = Jennifer Shagawat
John "Shellhead" Driver
}}
Shellshag is an American two piece punk rock band, formed in 1997, that have released records on Don Giovanni Records, Mauled by Tigers, We Are Busy Bodies, Thrillhouse Records, Plan it X South, Dead Broke Records and their own imprint Starcleaner Records.{{cite web|author=Photos by Jeffrey Shagawat |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/05/getting-to-know-shellshag.html |title=Getting to Know... Shellshag :: Music :: Features :: Paste |publisher=Pastemagazine.com |date=2010-05-03 |accessdate=2012-09-26}} Their first EP was recorded by Gary Young. Although they never kept careful track, it is estimated that the duo has played upwards of 1,980 shows since their humble beginnings in San Francisco's Mission District. This was achieved by near constant touring, including a year long tour.{{Cite web|url=http://shellshag.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-01-15T00:17:00-08:00&max-results=7&start=21&by-date=false|title=Shellshag|website=shellshag.blogspot.com|access-date=2019-09-29}} Shellshag has shared stages across the world with famous acts such as Iggy Pop, The Cramps, The Slits, Laura Stevenson, Ted Leo, Dos, Mike Watt + The Missing Men, The Dicks, AJJ, Kimya Dawson, Screaming Females, Japanther, and The Marked Men to name a few.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/shellshag/photos/a.326847514428/10157663188604429/?type=3|title=Shellshag|website=Facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28}}
Pop-culture and media
Shellshag's song "Face to Face" from their 2013 album Shellshag Forever is used as the theme song to Chris Gethard's podcast Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People, also known as Beautiful/Anonymous.{{Cite web|url=https://www.earwolf.com/show/beautiful-anonymous/|title=Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People podcast on Earwolf|website=Earwolf.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-28}}
Shellshag was the executive producer for the film Here To Be Heard: The Story of The Slits. Jen Shagawat also provided footage for the documentary, which she filmed while road managing a 2008 cross-country USA tour for The Slits. Shellshag toured with the reformed Slits in 2009 as well.{{Citation|title=Here to Be Heard: The Story of the Slits|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4706292/|access-date=2019-09-28}}
In early 2019, the band released a unique movie/"Visual Album" called 18 Sycamore as an accompaniment to their Double LP of the same name. The movie, filmed and edited by the band, chronicles nearly 25 years of friendship and shows. 18 Sycamore does not run with the pack in terms of past Shellshag albums: it is a stripped down, acoustic version of their sound, with one half of the double LP being Shell solo, while the other half is Shag solo.{{Cite web|url=https://shellshag.com/2019/2/22/2019/2/22/shell-shag|title=Shellshag 18 Sycamore Movie|last=|first=|date=2019-02-22|website=Shellshag|access-date=2019-09-28}} Furthermore, it is not available on any streaming or music downloading platforms other than purchase via their Starcleaner website. As their bandcamp page states, "The revolution will not be spotifyed."{{Cite web|url=https://starcleanerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/shellshag-radio-the-revolution-will-not-be-spotifyed|title=Shellshag Radio "the revolution will not be spotifyed", by Shellshag|website=Starcleaner Records|access-date=2019-09-29}}
Personal history
The pair met in San Francisco, California in 1996 at Jennifer Shagawat's DIY venue known as Starcleaners Warehouse.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dongiovannirecords.com/products/621345-shellshag-whyd-i-have-to-get-so-high|title=Shellshag - Why'd I Have To Get So High?|website=Don Giovanni Records|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28}} The Brian Jonestown Massacre played there regularly and The Dandy Warhols were signed there. Shortly thereafter, guitarist John "Shellhead" Driver, percussionist Jennifer Shagawat, and bassist Danny Lovefinger created the band Kung Fu USA.{{Cite web|url=http://www.starcleaner.com/kungfuusa.htm|title=Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website|website=Starcleaner.com|access-date=2019-09-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/05/getting-to-know-shellshag.html|title=Getting to Know... Shellshag|date=2010-04-28|website=pastemagazine.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-28}} The duo, who would later come to be known simply as "Shell" and "Shag," also played in a group with Matty Luv Hickey and Matt Powell aka The Boy called, Me, You and the Boyz. In addition, associated band 50 Million, composed of Wade Driver and Shellhead Driver, played a set with The Naked Cult of Hickey in 1996 infamously known as the Christmas recordings. This formed the temporary group known as Hickey-Million.{{Cite web|url=http://www.starcleaner.com/bsoabasoas.htm|title=Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website|website=Starcleaner.com|access-date=2019-09-28}}
Discography
=Albums=
=EPs=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Label !Format |
|---|
| 2004
|Starcleaner Records |CD EP |
| 2004
|Starcleaner Records |7" vinyl EP |
| 2009
|Shellshag Pipe Bomb Split{{cite web|url=http://www.starcleaner.com/sspbsplit.htm |title=*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~* |website=Starcleaner.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-26}} |Planit X South Starcleaner Records |7" vinyl EP |
| 2012
|We Are Busy Bodies |7" vinyl EP |
| 2012
|Lifestyle Obsession Split with Apogee Sound Club{{cite web|url=http://www.thrillhouserecords.com/sspbsplit.htm |title=*~ Thrillhouse Records ~* |publisher=Starcleaner.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-26}} |Thrillhouse Records |7" vinyl EP |
| 2019
|Fleshies/Shellshag 7" split{{cite web|url=http://www.deadbrokerecords.com/sspbsplit.htm |title=*~ Dead Broke Records ~* |publisher=Starcleaner.com |date= |accessdate=2012-09-26}} |Dead Broke Records |7" vinyl EP |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{AllMusic|id=mn0001943043|label=Shellshag}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups established in 1997