The Shods are a band from

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...

who have released five albums and an EP to date. The Shods have a loyal regional following, and remain well known in their home state.

Origins

The Shods formed in 1993 in Lowell, MA with musicians Scott Pittman, Roy Costa, and music mainstay Kevin Stevenson, whose other projects included Formicide,

Only Living Witness Only Living Witness was an American metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1989 by members of dissolved thrash metal band Formicide. Across two studio albums, they developed a groove-oriented hardcore punk-influenced heavy metal sound ...

, and Duck Duck. Within a week of forming, the band produced a debut EP titled ''I'm in Lowell, MA''. In 1995, the band released its debut full-length

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

''Here Come The Shods'' on a self-created label called Poorhouse Records.

Tours

After recruiting F.J. Ventre on Bass, and Dave Aaronoff on second guitar, work began at

Fort Apache Studios Fort Apache Studios is a New England recording studio focusing on alternative rock sessions produced there since 1986. History The studio was initially built by a collective begun in 1985 by musician/producer Joe Harvard and members of a band ...

on what was intended to be their major label release on MCA. This deal, however, fell through and the band shelved the project until 2001. Also during this time, the band toured around the northeast with fellow Bostonians,

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (informally referred to as The Bosstones and often stylized as The Mighty Mighty BossToneS) were an American ska punk band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1983. From the band's inception, lead vocalist Dicky ...

, and Stevenson began playing in what became known as the Rivers Cuomo Band.

Health issues

After many lineup changes during the recording of ''Bamboozled'' and ''Thanks for Nuthin, The Shods were threatened to come to an end when lead guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Kevin Stevenson learned he was battling multiple sclerosis. Following the tragic news, the band pushed forward by releasing ''Tippy'' in 2003. Although activity has been mostly stagnant in recent years, past members have returned with founders Kevin Stevenson and Scott Pittman for reunion shows including one in support the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and

Dropkick Murphys Dropkick Murphys are an American Celtic punk band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. Singer and bassist Ken Casey has been the band's only constant member. Other current members include drummer Matt Kelly (1997– ), singer Al Barr (199 ...

in 2007.

Albums

*I'm in Lowell, MA - EP *Here Come The Shods *Bamboozled, Jilted, Hornswoggled + Hoodwinked *Thanks For Nuthin' *Stop Crying *Tippy*Milano, Brett
''Resurrections: The Shods and Gail Greenwood resurface''
The Boston Phoenix, June 20–26, 2003

References

*Perry, Jonatha

''1999 Best Music Poll'', The Boston Phoenix, 1999

External links

The Shods Biography
by Kerry Purcell, ''The Boston Herald''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shods, The Punk rock groups from Massachusetts Musical groups established in 1993