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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

Shellshag
OriginBrooklyn, New York, United States
GenresPunk rock
Pop punk
Years active1997–present
LabelsDon Giovanni
Starcleaner Records
Mauled by Tigers
We Are Busy Bodies
Thrillhouse Records
Plan it X South
MembersJennifer Shagawat
John "Shellhead" Driver

Pop-culture and media

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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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] 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."[7]

Personal history

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The pair met in San Francisco, California in 1996 at Jennifer Shagawat's DIY venue known as Starcleaners Warehouse.[8][9] 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.[10][9] 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.[11]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Label Format
2007 Destroy Me I'm Yours[12][13] Starcleaner Records 12" vinyl LP
2010 Rumors In Disguise[14][15][16] Don Giovanni Records 12" vinyl LP, CD
2012 Fuck Society Volume 1[17] Mauled by Tigers 12" vinyl LP
2013 Shellshag Forever[12][13] Don Giovanni Records 12" vinyl LP
2015 Why'd I have to get so high?[12][13] Starcleaner Records 12" vinyl LP
2019 18 Sycamore[18] Starcleaner Records 12" vinyl double LP
2020 Follow up the Quest[19] Starcleaner Records 12" vinyl LP
Year Title Label Format
2004 Gary Young EP[20] Starcleaner Records CD EP
2004 Mission Limo Blues EP[21] Starcleaner Records 7" vinyl EP
2009 Shellshag Pipe Bomb Split[22] Planit X South Starcleaner Records 7" vinyl EP
2012 Star and Bars[23] We Are Busy Bodies 7" vinyl EP
2012 Lifestyle Obsession Split with Apogee Sound Club[24] Thrillhouse Records 7" vinyl EP
2019 Fleshies/Shellshag 7" split[25] Dead Broke Records 7" vinyl EP

References

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  1. ^ Photos by Jeffrey Shagawat (2010-05-03). "Getting to Know... Shellshag :: Music :: Features :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  2. ^ "Shellshag". shellshag.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  3. ^ "Shellshag". Facebook.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  4. ^ "Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People podcast on Earwolf". Earwolf.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  5. ^ Here to Be Heard: The Story of the Slits, retrieved 2019-09-28
  6. ^ "Shellshag 18 Sycamore Movie". Shellshag. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  7. ^ "Shellshag Radio "the revolution will not be spotifyed", by Shellshag". Starcleaner Records. Retrieved 2019-09-29.
  8. ^ "Shellshag - Why'd I Have To Get So High?". Don Giovanni Records. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  9. ^ a b "Getting to Know... Shellshag". pastemagazine.com. 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  10. ^ "Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  11. ^ "Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  12. ^ a b c Jason MacNeil 27 March 2008. "ShellShag: Destroy Me I'm Yours". Popmatters. Retrieved 2012-09-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b c "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  14. ^ "Shellshag- "Rumors in Disguise" at Wonka Vision Reviews". Wonkavisionmagazine.com. 2010-03-09. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  15. ^ "Shellshag - Rumors in Disguise". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  16. ^ "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  17. ^ "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  18. ^ "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  19. ^ "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  20. ^ "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". February 9, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  21. ^ "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". February 9, 2013. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  22. ^ "*~ Shellshag/Starcleaner Official Website ~*". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  23. ^ "We Are Busy Bodies — Shellshag". Wearebusybodies.bigcartel.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  24. ^ "*~ Thrillhouse Records ~*". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
  25. ^ "*~ Dead Broke Records ~*". Starcleaner.com. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
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Shellshag at AllMusic