Shakey Graves

THIS REVIEW IS COMING FROM A OG TRUE FAN!! I HAVE BEEN INTO HIM BEFORE ANYBODY WAS SUPPORTING HIM .. BEFORE THE PIXIES USED HIM IN THEIR VIDEO AND BEFORE HE EVEN HAD A MAJOR RELEASE. I PURCHASED REALLY RUFF RECORDS FROM BANDCAMP AND I HAD TO BASICALLY MAKE A PLAYLIST FROM LIVE YOUTUBE VIDS TO LISTEN TO HIM! HE WAS BADASS LIVE BACK THEN!! HAD THE SOLO ONE MAN BAND BOB LOG THING GOING ..REAL SOUL WAS IN IT!!! THAT IS WHY I TOLD EVERYONE ABOUT HIM! HE WAS SOLID!! DIG IT...

FAST FWD TO LAST NIGHT LIVE STL SOLD OUT SHOW!! .."STAR ON THE RISE" THEY SAY.. BEEN ON LETTERMAN GETTING THE PEOPLE TO NOTICE HIM NOW! MAJOR RELEASE! EVEN RADIO PLAY.. ALL TO BE EXPECTED!! OK SO HE BRINGS IN A DRUMMER WHICH ALOT OF PEOPLE WAS TURNED OFF BY AND NOT HAPPY WITH.. BC THE RAW VERSION HAD MORE SOUL MORE REALNESS.. I NEW HIM KEEPING UP WHAT BOB LOG III HAS DONE PERFECTLY FOR LOTS OF YEARS WOULD BE HARD TO KEEP UP, BUT TO SCRAP HIS ROOTS IN WHICH HE BASED HIS FANS FROM IN UNDER 2 YEARS THAT WAS NOT THE BEST MOVE FOR HIM!! HIS LETTERMAN PERFORMANCE WAS A TURN FOR THE WORST ... I UNDERSTAND LIVE MAJOR TV NOT BEING ONPOINT. BUT... . A PERFECT SONG" DEARLY DEPARTED" TURNED HORRIBLE..THE REVIEWS ON YOUTUBE SAY IT ALL . MOST TRY TO HANG IN THERE FOR SHAKEY BUT ALL AGREE WAS NOT GOOD! THUMBS DOWN! IT HAS BEEN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL SINCE. I DONT NO WHO ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN A FULL BAND NOW BUT THAT IS THE WORST PROFESSIONAL MOVE FOR HIM.. SO SONGS THAT WHERE AMAZING ARE LOUD TRENDY ROCK SONGS. THAT ARE NOT GOOD. PEOPLE I TURNED IN TO ARE ALL CALLING ME SAYING ITS A TRAINWRECK!! I AGREE. THE CONCERT WAS MORE OF THAT .BAD BAD LOUD ROCK VERSIONS OF THE SONGS THAT USED TO MEAN SO MUCH TO ME.. I JUST SAW DIAMOND RUGS.. 2 WKS AGO A REAL ROCK SUPER BAND THAT WAS KILLLLER SHOW.. SHAKEY CONCERT WAS A WANNABE ROCK BAND AND TRYING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY CANT DO WELL. SO IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A WANNABEE CONFUSED BAD ROCK / FOLKISH SHOW AND STAND WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO JUST FOUND ABOUT SHAKEY GRAVES.. HAVE FUN. BUT NO WHO LIKES GOOD MUSIC WILL BE THERE!!! HIS TRUE FANS WILL BE WATCHING THE OLD VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE OF WHEN HE SHOWED TALENT AND HEART!! NOT DROWNED OUT BAD VOCALS STRUGGLING TO SCREAM OVER 2 DESTORTED GTRS AND FAST ROCK VERSIONS OF WHAT WAS ONCE GOOD SONGS!!!
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND PASS ON SEEING HIM LIVE UNTIL HE TURNS HIS BRAIN BACK ON AND DROPS THE WANNABEE NERD ROCKBAND WHOM HAS DESTROYED ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS!! WAS ONCE GREAT!!!! TRUST ME I HAVE WORKED IN THE MUSIC SCENE FOR 20+ YRS !! I NO WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.. SHAKEY IF YOU READ THIS WISE UP!! U WAS ORIGINAL AND GREAT!!! AND NOW TRENDY TRYING TO BE SOMETHING YOUR NOT GOOD AT AND HORRIBLE SO BAD I HAD TO LEAVE HALF WAY THROUGH WITH LOTS OF OTHERS FELT THE SAME I SPOKE TO OUTSIDE!! ALL SCATCHING OUR HEADS SAYING WHAT HAPPENED.. ALERT HIS RECORD SOUNDS NOTHING LIKE HIS LIVE SHOW... HIS LIVE SHOW USED TO BE HIS BREAD AND BUTTER HIS RECORDS DIDNT TOUCH THE LIVE SHOW!!! NOW LIVE SHOW IS A PILE OF RUBBISH. AND THE RECORD IS ALL HE HAS!! BET HIS NEXT RECORD WILL BE A DISASTER!! STAY TUNED. AND STAY AWAY FROM THE LIVE SHOW....

Shakey is an absolutely mesmerizing performer, with every note that he plays exuding a genuine passion and love for his craft. I've seen a lot of artists perform, and I don't think a single one has matched his level of magnetic energy on stage. This guy's the real deal.

Nothing about the performance seemed forced or blasé: the songs he plays aren't just carbon copies of their recorded versions, but instead get fresh takes, while keeping the kernel of the recordings at heart. The reworking of Word of Mouth (already my favorite of his) was particularly stunning, and explored a different, more somber side of the song than what I'd heard before. It's great to see an artist that embraces the fact that live music and recorded music are two different media, and the result is an exciting sort of spontaneous feel to the performance.

The 3-piece band he played with were fantastic as well, and really helped to flesh out some of the songs. There's something magical about his solo songs though, accompanied only by his suitcase drum, and those proved to be some of the best moments of the night.

If you ever get the chance, do yourself a favor and go see him perform. I only hope he comes back to Boston sometime soon!

Shakey Graves is the singer songwriter who writes music with a whole lot of grit, with the instrumentation of just a hollow body electric guitar, and a drum kit. The sound is definitely quite a thin sound but they manage to fill a room with it regardless. Opening with the song “If Not For You” this audience are up off the feet dancing around this room and singing along to this indie sensation that is Shakey Graves. “Dearly Departed” is a little bit more lenient towards a mainstream sound even if it sounds as though it was written in the mountains. They use quite a lot of dissonance in the guitar, despite the slightly infectious sounds that they make. The humble audience really do get behind it, with smiles on their faces as they sing along. I also must acknowledge that I’ve never seen an audience with so many beards and denim shirts!

I was dragged to see Shakey Graves at Koko in Camden last night by ex-work colleague. All I knew was that he is an extraordinarily skilled guitarist and has a beautiful singing voice.

The first two numbers at his set , just him and his acoustic guitar, showcased is songwriting and were a simple joy.

However it was when he plugged in and electric guitar and was then joined by his band that things really took off. His sense of rhythm is so strong that feedback, discordant notes and broken vocals just added to the joyful romp through his back catalogue. And what a nice man.
And what a musical genius and consumate performer.
The dirty fuzz on this semi-acoustic 'picking' was my highlight.

Every time I see Shakey Graves, I become an even bigger fan. Despite some technical issues (not sure if it was the guitar, wireless guitar system, or what), Shakey Graves and his band put on a phenomenal show. His presence was charming, funny, and a joy to watch. He played songs off of his debut album, sophomore follow-up, and newest album, too. He played a few songs acoustically, some with just his electric guitar, and the rest with the backing band. The Wild Reeds were a fantastic opening act- their voices harmonized wonderfully live and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Fantastic night all around!

As his date at Islington Assembly Hall was his first time in London - ever - Shakey was very excited during his entire set. I had discovered his music through YouTube and live acoustic sessions, never actually listening to the recorded version of many of his songs so I had high expectations of this gig, and he surpassed all of them. Lovely stage presence, an intimate feel for quite a large venue for his first London date and surprises along the way. He's not your average 'play the set' musician so you shouldn't expect that, in absolutely the best way.

Shakey was absolutely AMAZING. He performed with Esme Patterson and Rayland Baxter at the Starlite Room and wow. Just WOW. The place was buzzing. All artists present were extremely talented and captivating. The whole place was stomping and clapping and singing their hearts out with Shakey. He's got a magnetic stage presence that drew everyone in and had us cheering our loudest from the first note of the first song. Best live performance I have seen THUS FAR. If you ever have the chance GO SEE SHAKEY GRAVES. You will not regret it.

Shaky has gotten me through some of the hardest times in my life. This last year was devastatin for me and he kept me going music is my life. I was curious really i wanted to see him live..well yesterday at the knitting factory Boise id I finally got my chance and he was charming and silly and sweaty amd i must say maybe even better live...it would be my dream to meet him but that was close enough and 1000% better than i couldve ever dreamed. Thank you SHAKY everyday you save me.

Great show! Shakey plays amazing music and also is a great entertainer. He should have been the headliner for this show, he played so much better than Dr Dog.
Shakey Graves was only given 45 minutes of stage time. The band did great with time they had, very engaging with the crowd and fun.
If any of you have a chance to see Shakey do it. Don't miss out on this rockin tour!
-Late July '16 U of M

Shakey Graves is the real deal. He has a great stage presence. He is talented. The concert was wonderful. My favorite was the the beginning when
He started with Roll The Bones and the end when he did acoustic Hard Wired. I would go back and see him again and again. I think his show was original!