Don’t be shy, check out The Shys
By Chip Midnight
With a sound that melds the current garage-rock style of bands like The Strokes with classic-rock influences like The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Stone Roses and Primal Scream, The Shys will release their debut, Astoria, on June 20 on Sire Records. However, you don’t have to wait this long to experience the group since it will be in Columbus as the unbilled band on “The Sun in The Vacation Tour.”
 |
The Shys will be playing at The Basement on Wednesday May 17th. |
Singer/guitarist Kyle Krone checked in just before departing for the road tour.
Since you’re not listed in the “The Sun and The Vacation Tour” billing, do you feel less pressure or do you feel like you have to try harder to impress?
No matter who we play with we always just throw our best game out there and try to have fun with it. Whatever happens as a result is icing on the cake.
How was touring with The Subways?
The tour was incredible. It was sold out 80 percent of the time and even when it wasn’t, it was close. The people that came to the gigs were game for a good time and we were blown away with the response we received considering we’re a relatively unknown act.
Where do you see The Shys fitting in to today’s musical landscape?
I feel like we have a lot in common with all the young bands who are having a go at making records and being a touring act. I think there are a certain group of bands that sort of exist in the same world, bands like The Colour, Coldwar Kids, Delta Spirit and Eastern Conference Champions. It’s a blast for us now with our friends who are making or have made their first record and are going on their first few tours. We feel like we are walking that same line.
How did your deal with Sire come about?
We originally went to New York City to play for another one of the majors. It was there that we met our A&R man, Craig Winkler, from Sire. Their back catalog has so many acts we are all mad for and we like the idea of a label with a small, more manageable, roster. We racked up a hefty bill of drinking in the East Village on their dime and had a good chat with them. We arranged for them to see us at a gig in Las Vegas and the rest, as they say, is history.
How difficult was it having to change your name from The Gun Shys to The Shys?
At first, it was really a frustrating ordeal. We were all throwing around other name ideas but we had a limited amount of time to choose a new one. Being that most people referred to us as The Shys for short back when we were called The Gun Shys, we felt it was a befitting name. Now I’m glad for it all, I like the name. It sounds sleek to me.
Finally, when you were a kid and lip-synching in front of your mirror, who were you pretending to be?
I was more of an air guitar and air drums kid. I was really into Hendrix early on and I remember wishing I was black all the time. In school we won the air guitar talent contest pretending to be Motley Crüe. We really just wanted an excuse to dress like lunatics at school.
The Shys will be playing at The Basement on Wednesday, 5/17. Doors open at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The Sun and The Vacation are also on the bill. For more information please call 461-LIVE or visit www.promowestlive.com online. For more information about The Shys please visit the band’s official website at www.theshys.com.
Originally Published: Issue 381 - May 10, 2006
 |
Share on Facebook |
