music
Shiner to embark on first European tour
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approaches music, and the (expletive) that he loves — Brainiac or Aphex Twin — has really opened us up. Not that we have any Aphex Twin or
Brainiac in us, but that side has been brought out a little bit through Josh."
Unfortunately, Shiner had already written most of the material for what would be its third effort, "Starless" by the time Gerken and Newton signed on. After demoing the new songs a number
"I honestly think we overworked it. You can sap some of the energy and life and intensity and urgency from a recording by overworking it and trying to get it perfect.
worked it," Epley says. "You can sap some of the energy and life and intensity and urgency from a recording by overworking it and trying to get it perfect. We got it so perfect, it became less per-
of times,the band members found themselves burnt out and a little too rehearsed by the time the final tracks were recorded.
- Allen Epley on 'Starless.'
"I honestly think we over-
fect."
"Starless" (like "Lula") was released by indie label Owned and Operated. Though Epley was unhappy with the label's distribution company, he's quick to credit the organization with rescuing the band.
"They gave us a hand up at that time," he says.
"We wouldn't be here if they hadn't; they saved our lives. When they got us out of the water, after they gave us CPR, they weren't able to get us running again, but we were
able to get us running again on our own."
Back to the 'Egg'
Shiner hit the ground running when it convened in Epley's basement to record the 11 tracks that comprise "The Egg." Recorded in nine days and mixed in six, the album marks a new chapter in the band's history.
"It's the best thing we've done as a band with any of the lineups," Epley affirms. "It's a pretty good reflection of where we're at, or where we were at a year ago when we began writing. We love it. It's weird because so often somebody hates it in the band, or somebody doesn't like some of it. But we were all like, 'Hev!'"
Though Shiner has never been a group that resorted to lighter-lofting choruses in order to sell a few more CDs, Epley isn't afraid of making music that appeals to a variety of fans.
"We're not trying to be all things to all people, but kind of," he says. "We have a style, but we also don't want to just do one thing so much. Our
crowd is a mishmash of people. It's people who like Tricky and people who like Creed and people who like The Promise Ring. It's a pretty diverse unit of people, which I'm OK with. I'm OK with us being an enigma to some
Our crowd is a mishmash of people. It's people who like Tricky and people who like Creed and people who like The Promise Ring.
an enigma to some extent."
but I think it's actually gonna be really great," Epley says. "I think there's some layover, more than I would even know, especially with their new
Shiner's crowd also consists of people who like Jawbox, Hum and the hundreds of other mid-level acts with whom the quartet's shared stages. Currently, Shiner is preparing for a Midwest jaunt, opening for indie it-band Death Cab For Cutie.
- Allen Epley
"I was a little concerned that it might be too much of an odd matchup for the crowd,
record. It's pretty rockin, actually."
In November, Shiner will travel abroad for its first European tour, a four-1/2 week stint back-to-back shows with no days off in-between. Though Epley has his reservations about flying at a time like this, he's focusing on the positives aspects of a dream gig.
"Since the attacks, we're all a little weirded out about the safety of everything," he says. "But we're gonna go, we're gonna tear it up, we're gonna have a great time."
- Assistant Mag editor Geoff Harkness can be reached at 832-6352.
TOPMUSIC
Singles
1. "Fallin'," Alicia Keys
2. "I'm Real" Jennifer Lopez (feat. Ja Rule)
4. "Hit 'Em Up Style"
3. "Where The Party At,"
Jagged Edge With Nelly Hit'Em Up Style
(Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)," Blu Cantrell
5. "Family Affair," Mary J.
Blige
6. "It's Been Awhile," Staind
7. "U Remind Me," Usher
8. "Let Me Blow Ya Mind."
Albums
9. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," Jay-Z
Eve (feat. Gwen Stefani)
1. "The Blueprint," Jay-Z
2. "Songs In A Minor," Alicia Kevs
4. "StrangeLittleGirls," Tori Amos
3. "Silver Side Up," Nickelback
5. "Greatest Hits," Martina McBride
6. "Gerald's World," Gerald Levert
7. "A Day Without Rain," Enya
8. "Satellite," P.O.D.
9. "The Look Of Love," Diana Kraall
10. "Hybrid Theory," Linkin Park
Modern rock tracks
2. "I Wish You Were Here," Incubus
1. "How You Remind Me," Nickelback
3. "Smooth Criminal," Alien Ant Farm
4. "Control," Puddle Of Mudd
5. "Fat Lip," Sum 41
8. "Clint Eastwood," Gorilaz
6. "Schism." Tool
7. "Fade," Staind
9. "Down With The Sickness." Disturbed
10. "Alive," P.O.D.
R&B/hip-hop singles and tracks
1. "Differences." Ginuwine
2. "Family Affair," Mary J. Blige
3. "I'm Real." Jennifer Lopez (feat. Ja Rule)
4. "Where the Party At"
Jagged Edge with Nelljv
5. "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," Jay-Z
6. "Rock The Boat,"Aaliyah
7. "Fallin'," Alicia Keys
8. "Living It Up," Ja Rule (feat. Case)
9. "I'm A Thug," Trick Daddy
10. "Contagious," The Isley Brothers (feat. Ronald Isley AKA Mr. Biggs)
Rap singles
1. "Raise Up," Petey Pablo
2. "Jump Up In The Air," Original P Introducing Hyped Up Westbound Soliaz
3. "My Projects," Coo Coo Cal
4. "Buster," Dennis Da Menace
5. "How We Do," Big Lew BKA Popeye Reds (feat.
Nonchlant)
6. "Po' Punch," Po' White Trash & The Trailer Park Symphony
7. "Grippin Grain," The Young Millionaires
8. "izzo (H.O.V.A.)," Jay-Z
9. "Let's Be Friends," Ta Ta + Brando (feat. Larry Poteat Of The Donz)
10. "All My Thugs," Young Phantom
Country singles
1. "What I Really Meant To
Say," Cyndi Thomson
2. "Where I Come From," Alan Jackson
3. "Only In America," Brooks & Dunn
4. "I Would've Loved You Anyway," Trisha Yearwood
5. "Angray All The Time," Tim McGraw
6. "Austin," Blake Shelton
7. "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight." Toby Keith
8. "Complicated," Carolyn Dawn Johnson
9. "On A Night Like This," Trick Pony
10. "Love Of A Woman," Travis Tritt
9th & Iowa-Hillcrest Shopping Center
Friday October 5th 9pm-1am TANK FARM
Saturday October 6th 9pm-1am THE ELECTRIC STONE
LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND----749-1666
4 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2001
THE MAG/LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD