The Shys

Kyle Krone and Alex Kweskin knew each other for a long time. In high school, they met Chris Wulff, who played guitar. They played in different high school bands and semi-professional gigs. The trio then decided to form their own band.{{Cite web |last=Garrett |first=Jon |date=June 29, 2005 |title=PopMatters Now Hear This! {{!}} The Gun Shys |url=https://www.popmatters.com/music/nowhearthis/gun-shys-050629.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050630232626/https://www.popmatters.com/music/nowhearthis/gun-shys-050629.shtml |archive-date=June 30, 2005 |access-date=2024-02-29 }} Originally, they were called "The Gun Shys".{{Cite web |date=2006-09-01 |title=The Shys: Astoria, PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-shys-astoria-2495693437.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=PopMatters |language=en-US}} In 2004, they opened for The Killers in Las Vegas, and released a six-song EP on Intravenous Records. They became a four-piece band with the addition of Mike Walker.{{Cite web |date=July 17, 2006 |title=Spotlight: The Shys |url=https://www.spin.com/2006/07/shys/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=SPIN}} Later on, they were joined by Riley Stephenson and Tony Cupito.{{Cite web |last=Kindred |first=Don |date=August 1, 2007 |title=Local Band Gives It Back at The Fiesta {{!}} Celebrating Life in San Clemente |url=http://www.sanclementejournal.com/2007/08/01/40416/local-band-gives-it-back-at-the-fiesta |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=www.sanclementejournal.com |language=en}}

In 2006, The Shys performed at that year's South by Southwest Music Festival, where the Rolling Stone called them "Best Alternative to Jet".{{Cite magazine |last1=Lash |first1=Jolie |last2=Bliss |first2=Karen |date=2006-03-20 |title=South by Southwest Turns Twenty |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/south-by-southwest-turns-twenty-108223/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} They also performed at that year's Street Scene, a musical festival in San Diego.{{Cite web |last=KRAGEN |first=PAM |date=2006-05-24 |title=Kanye West, Tool to headline Street Scene |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-kanye-west-tool-to-headline-street-scene-2006may24-story.html |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}} Later that year, they released their debut album Astoria, which featured the singles "Call in the Calvary" and "Waiting on the Sun".{{Cite web |date=2006-08-14 |title=The Shys "Astoria" not saving rock 'n' roll |url=https://www.thelantern.com/2006/08/the-shys-astoria-not-saving-rock-n-roll/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The Lantern |language=en-US}} The album was met with critical acclaim and a growing, loyal fanbase. However, the album also received negative feedback, with reviews calling it "predictable, unimaginative and lacking originality."{{Cite web |last=Grischow |first=Chad |date=2006-09-27 |title=The Shys - Astoria |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/27/the-shys-astoria |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=IGN |language=en}} "Call in the Calvary" was featured in HBO’s Entourage that year.

In 2008, The Shys released a 3-song EP, She's Already Gone.{{Cite web |last=McKay |first=Conor |date=July 10, 2008 |title=The Shys: 'The Hangman' |url=https://www.npr.org/2008/07/10/92424956/the-shys-the-hangman |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=NPR}} The Shys' album You'll Never Understand This Band the Way That I Do was released on July 22, 2008, on local Echo Park indie label Aeronaut Records. The band announced that it recorded for two days in familiar territory in Los Angeles at Station House Recording Studio (Hollywood Sound) where the band made its past three albums. To finish the record, the band retreated to Palm Desert, California, and used a mobile recording studio borrowed from friends Delta Spirit. NPR described the new album as "gritty rock that is accessible, and thriving on explosive dynamics."

In 2009, The Shys played at that year's SXSW festival.{{Cite web |last= |date=2009-02-27 |title=The Shys Playing at SXSW 2009 Music Festival |url=https://filthylucre.com/the-shys-playing-at-sxsw/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Filthy Lucre |language=en-US}} Around April or May of that year, Krone decided to make his own music.{{Cite web |last=Ritter |first=Max |date=2011-06-08 |title=Introducing: Kyle Krone |url=https://beatsperminute.com/introducing-kyle-krone/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Beats Per Minute |language=en-US}} They permanently separated, and there are no plans for future performances as a band or a reunion. All members say they are still good friends, and some still perform and write music with each other regularly.{{Cite web |date=2011-06-23 |title=SONIC OC: Find Out What Local Rockers 'The Shys' Have Been up to |url=https://patch.com/california/sanclemente/sonic-oc-find-out-what-local-rockers-the-shys-have-been-up-to |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=San Clemente, CA Patch |language=en}}

• Kyle Krone (vocals, guitar)
• Chris Wulff (bass)
• Riley Stephenson (keyboards)

• Mike Walker (drums, percussion)
• Alex Kweskin (drums, electric piano)
• Tony Cupito (drums)

In 2011, Krone released three singles. He then released his own album For Those Who Think Young. He then formed another band, Casual Vice before moving away to Costa Rica, which split up that band.{{Cite web |date=February 15, 2023 |title=Interview: HOOGENBOOM |url=https://bigtakeover.com/interviews/interview-brandon-hoogenboom |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The Big Takeover |language=en}}

Wulff and Cupito worked alongside acclaimed producer Matt Squire on a project they called "The Get Back Sons". Wulff also did his own project, Collection, alongside Ben Adams. Stephenson is currently working in the financial analyst business with his father, but still plays keys whenever he gets together with his former bandmates. Kweskin toured Europe alongside Robert Francis, and also became an entrepreneur with a hotdog business. Cupito would then join another band, Beware of Darkness.{{Cite magazine |last=Luerssen |first=John D. |date=December 24, 2013 |title=Beware of Darkness Sink Hooks Into 'All Who Remain' – Rolling Stone |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beware-of-darkness-sink-hooks-into-all-who-remain-premiere-69715/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173236/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beware-of-darkness-sink-hooks-into-all-who-remain-premiere-69715/ |archive-date=2018-12-15 |access-date=2024-02-29 }}

"Call in the Calvary" continues to be the band's most popular song. The song was used in the 2008 film Prom Night, and most recently, Season 1 of Reacher.{{Cite web |title=The Shys {{!}} Tunefind |url=https://www.tunefind.com/artist/the-shys |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=Tunefind}}{{Cite web |last=Collington |first=Faefyx |date=2022-02-04 |title=Every Song In Reacher Season 1 |url=https://screenrant.com/every-song-in-reacher-season-1-soundtrack/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• http://www.myspace.com/theshysmusic

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Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles

Category:Sire Records artists

Category:2004 establishments in California

Category:Musical groups established in 2004

Category:Indie rock musical groups from California