Shannon & The Clams

There aren’t many bands like this Californian trio. Imagine a Frankie Avalon beach party movie produced by Tarantino: this is the band that would be playing in the happening night club. Gloriously arranged doo wop songs, featuring guitarist Cody Blanchard’s high vocals and wall of sound drums, glowed alongside the garage punk numbers where Shannon roared like Janis fronting The Sonics, while the crowd freaked out. Broken-hearted ballads such as ‘The Woodsman’ with its ‘I Was A Fool’ lament were delivered with heartbreaking harmonies and the furious set closers were topped by the perfectly chosen cover of Del Shannon’s ‘Runaway’. A faultless performance.

The Hope, 16 September 2013
Rating:
Steve Clements