The Shins

Artist Image: The Shins
Attribution
Image Credit: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA (The Shins), CC BY 2.0

Biography

The Shins are an American indie rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, formed in 1996. The band consists of James Mercer (vocals, guitar), Joe Plummer (drums), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Yuuki Matthews (bass) and Richard Swift (keyboards). The band is currently based in Portland, Oregon. The Shins began in 1997 in Albuquerque, New Mexico as a side project for singer-songwriter James Mercer, whose primary band was Flake Music. Mercer had formed Flake Music in 1992 with Neal Langford on guitar, Phil Higgs and then Marty Crandall on bass, and Jesse Sandoval on drums. During the next five years Flake Music released several singles, a full-length album, and began touring largely due to the help of other bands like Modest Mouse. In 1997, Mercer began writing what would eventually become The Shins' first record. Flake Music came to an end around this time leaving Mercer with an opportunity to record, "Nature Bears A Vacuum" a 7" EP released by Omnibus Records. For their earliest shows, The Shins performed as a duo with Mercer recruiting Sandoval to play drums. "Nature Bears A Vacuum" was released with no expectations of expanding the band's following beyond Albuquerque. However, the single generated enough attention that Mercer felt it necessary to assemble a full band. Martin Crandall was brought in fold on keyboards, and Dave Hernandez (frontman of local punk legends Scared of Chaka, which had played dozens of shows with Flake Music) on bass. After a year, during which half the songs on debut album "Oh, Inverted World" (including "New Slang") were penned, Hernandez left and moved to New York City. He was replaced by Neal Langford, and the group then embarked on a tour with Modest Mouse.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1996
Number of Albums 17
Record Label Columbia
Website www.theshins.com
Wikipedia The Shins on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did The Shins form?

1997

...), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums). The band formed in 1997 , in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States as a side project of Mercer (...
What was the band's previous name?

Blue Roof Dinner

...w Mexico, United States as a side project of Mercer (previously of Blue Roof Dinner ) and drummer Jesse Sandoval, who were both members of Flake Music....
What was Sandoval's previous job?

drummer

...States as a side project of Mercer (previously of Blue Roof Dinner) and drummer Jesse Sandoval, who were both members of Flake Music. Hernandez return...
When did Hernandez return to the band?

2003

... who were both members of Flake Music. Hernandez returned to the band in 2003 , as Langford had left the band in 2001. Hernandez remained in the band u...
What was the name of the band's debut album?

Oh, Inverted World

...boardist Eric Johnson joined the band in 2006. Their debut album, Oh, Inverted World was issued in 2001 and contained the singles New Slang and Caring...
When was Oh, Inverted World released?

2001

...ed the band in 2006. Their debut album, Oh, Inverted World was issued in 2001 and contained the singles New Slang and Caring is Creepy, which were bot...
In what film was Caring is Creepy featured?

Garden State

...lang and Caring is Creepy, which were both featured in the 2004 film Garden State . The band's next album, Chutes Too Narrow was released in 2003 and f...
What was the name of the band's third album?

Wincing the Night Away

... 2003 and featured the single So Says I. The band's third album Wincing the Night Away , was released in 2007 and debuted at 2 on the Billboard 200 cha...
Who was the drummer for Modest Mouse?

Joe Plummer

...rs of The Shins. The band's new lineup included James Mercer, Eric Johnson, Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer and Grand Archives keyboardist Ron Lewis....
Who founded the Shins?

James Mercer

... rock band founded and fronted by vocalist and multiinstrumentalist, James Mercer . The Shins began in 1996 as a side project for singersongwriter Jame...
When did The Shins begin?

1996

...d by vocalist and multiinstrumentalist, James Mercer. The Shins began in 1996 as a side project for singersongwriter James Mercer, whose primary band ...
What was James Mercer's primary band?

Flake Music

...ide project for singersongwriter James Mercer, whose primary band was Flake Music in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mercer formed Flake Music in 1992 with N...
Where was Flake Music located?

Albuquerque, New Mexico

...rsongwriter James Mercer, whose primary band was Flake Music in Albuquerque, New Mexico . Mercer formed Flake Music in 1992 with Neal Langford on guita...
In what year did Mercer form Flake Music?

1992

...was Flake Music in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mercer formed Flake Music in 1992 with Neal Langford on guitar, Phil Higgs and then Marty Crandall on bass...
What was the name of the 7 EP released by Omnibus?

Nature Bears A Vacuum

...d around this time leaving Mercer with an opportunity to record, Nature Bears A Vacuum a 7 EP released by Omnibus Records. For their earliest shows, T...
Nature Bears A Vacuum was released with no expectations of expanding beyond what city?

Albuquerque

...eleased with no expectations of expanding the band's following beyond Albuquerque . However, the single generated enough attention that Mercer felt it ...
What was Crandall brought into the band?

keyboards

...cessary to assemble a full band. Crandall was brought into the fold on keyboards , and Dave Hernandez (frontman of local punk legends Scared of Chaka, ...
Who was the frontman of local punk legends Scared of Chaka?

Dave Hernandez

...e a full band. Crandall was brought into the fold on keyboards, and Dave Hernandez (frontman of local punk legends Scared of Chaka, which had played d...
Who was the drummer for the band?

Jesse Sandoval

...side project of Mercer (previously of Blue Roof Dinner) and drummer Jesse Sandoval , who were both members of Flake Music. Hernandez returned to the ba...
Who joined the band in 2006?

Eric Johnson

...1. Hernandez remained in the band until 2009. Fruit Bats keyboardist Eric Johnson joined the band in 2006. Their debut album, Oh, Inverted World was i...
What was Yuuki Matthews' previous gig?

Crystal Skulls

...The newly added members were announced as guitarist Jessica Dobson, bassist Yuuki Matthews (formerly of Crystal Skulls ) and keyboardist Richard Swift....
When did Dave Hernandez join The Shins?

2002

...Members include Marty Crandall, keyboards; Dave Hernandez (joined group, 2002 ), bass; Neal Langford James Mercer, guitar, vocals; Jesse Sandoval, drum...
How long did it take for the Shins to achieve national success?

Nine years

...s; Neal Langford James Mercer, guitar, vocals; Jesse Sandoval, drums. Nine years might seem like a long time to achieve national success, but in the c...
Who was the bassist on Flake Music?

Neal Langford

...n as a collaboration between Mercer, Crandall, Sandoval, and bassist Neal Langford in 1992. A split 7 with the band Henry's Dress had one Magnet magaz...
Which magazine reviewed Flake's 'Deluca'?

Magnet

...st Neal Langford in 1992. A split 7 with the band Henry's Dress had one Magnet magazine reviewer proclaiming, Rhythmically a galloper, Flake's 'Deluca...
When was Flake Music's 1997 album released?

Omnibus Records

..., the fuzzpop statement When You Land Here, It's Time to Return, on Omnibus Records . Though its initial release didn't have a resounding impact, fanzi...
What was the name of Flake's single that was released in 1997?

When You Land Here, It's Time to Return

... one and only full length record, the fuzzpop statement When You Land Here, It's Time to Return , on Omnibus Records. Though its initial release didn't...
Who does the singer sometimes sound like?

Robert Smith

...y, warm, and lyrically intelligent. The singer sometimes sounds like Robert Smith ; at other times he hits this falsetto high, and it's all completely ...
Who is Mercers' bandmate?

Yuuki Matthews

...up changes. The band's current lineup consists of Mercer, alongside Yuuki Matthews (bass, keyboards), Mark Watrous (guitar, keyboards), Casey Foubert ...
How many singles did Flake Music release?

two

...t to Flake Music, who were active from 1992 to 1999. Flake Music released two 7 singles and a fulllength album When You Land Here It's Time to Return ...
What label did Modest Mouse sign to when they were touring?

Sub Pop Records

...Records and were touring with Modest Mouse when they were signed to Sub Pop Records . The band's first two records, Oh, Inverted World (2001) and Chute...
When was the band's third album released?

2007

...den State. Consequently, the band's third album, Wincing the Night Away ( 2007 ), was a major success for the group, peaking at number two on the Billbo...
Which label did the Shines sign to after their third album was released?

Columbia Records

...ing a Grammy Award nomination. Following this, the Shins signed to Columbia Records and Mercer parted ways with the entire original lineup, deeming it...
What was James Mercer's job title?

guitarist

...ndie rock band Flake Music morphed into the Shins, led by vocalist and guitarist James Mercer. Subsequent touring further raised the Shins' profile, a...
The Shins released what single?

Know Yr Onion!

...hool of Industry and Red House Painters. The release of the singles Know Yr Onion! By the time the band recorded their second album, Chutes Too Narrow...
What was the name of The Shins' second album?

Chutes Too Narrow

...s Know Yr Onion! By the time the band recorded their second album, Chutes Too Narrow , Langford was replaced on bass by Dave Hernandez (ex Scared of Ch...
Who was fronted by James Mercer?

The Flake

... The Flake , fronted by James Mercer, were playing pure pop in Albuquerque (New Mexico) when the Britpop stars were enjoying world headlines. But the Fl...
When you land here was released in what year?

1999

... by the Oasis. The EP Nature Bears A Vacuum When You Land Here (Omnibus, 1999 ) and the single When I Goose Step (Omnibus, 2000) refined the new concep...
What was the name of the single that refined the new concept?

When I Goose Step

...e Bears A Vacuum When You Land Here (Omnibus, 1999) and the single When I Goose Step (Omnibus, 2000) refined the new concept. The Shins were born out ...
Who would have salivated for New Slang?

the Beatles

...eight songs that one could define original, inventive, bold. No doubt the Beatles would have salivated for New Slang, and the Beach Boys would be prou...
What would the Beach Boys be proud of?

Girl Inform Me

... have salivated for New Slang, and the Beach Boys would be proud of Girl Inform Me but substance this is not. Caring Is Creepy stands out as less pred...
Caring Is Creepy stands out as less predictable than what?

the average

...nce this is not. Caring Is Creepy stands out as less predictable than the average . One by One All Day sounds like an attemp to imitate the Byrds, circ...