Baby Shakes: It’s Shake, Rattle and Roll!

Baby Shakes: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Baby Shakes are a rock n’ roll-punk band from New York City. They had played Brighton earlier in the year, but they were back to deliver part 2! New songs. New Album. New Show! Brighton Shakers are growing in numbers. A blinding night of rock, roll and Tequila!

BABY SHAKES

Baby Shakes are a rock n’ roll-punk band from New York City. Mary on lead vocals and guitar, Judy on lead guitar and vocals, Claudia on bass and vocals, and Ryan on drums. With catchy melodic vocals over dirty guitars and a killer rhythm section, their influences range from The Ramones and Slade to Chuck Berry and 60’s Motown girl groups. Formed in 2005, they’ve released 5 singles, a 10” heart-shaped EP, a singles collection, and 3 full length albums. They have toured the US, Japan, China, Ireland, UK and Europe. Baby Shakes have shared the stage with The Romantics, The Boys, Shadows of Knight, The Undertones, Buzzcocks, Barracudas, Protex, Black Lips, Rubinoos, Flamin’ Groovies, Paul Collin’s Beat, Derv Gordon (The Equals), Iggy Pop, among others.

Baby Shakes: Mary and Ryan. Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Baby Shakes released their third full-length album, titled Turn It Up, in June 2017. Now they are back in the UK, and made an emergency stop off in Brighton before they head off with more dates.

The Band

Mary – lead vocals/guitar
Judy – lead guitar/vocals
Claudia – bass/vocals
Ryan – drums

A Slideshow – Meet Baby Shakes!

I first heard of these guys when they released a single in 2015 called “Summer Sun”. If you crossed The Ramones with The Ronnettes and The Crystals you get an idea of the sound these guys create. They hit Brighton in April 2018, and at the time Mary said she wanted to come back to Brighton. Well, true to her word they were back! It was very much a last minute thing and the publicity machine notched it up a gear to let everyone know that Baby Shakes were back. The result? Well, an almost full Prince Albert was ready and made a heck of a racket to welcome them!

The Set

The guys settled themselves in as they hit up What Do You want and then the mighty fine All The Pretty Things. Then THE summer song of 2018 for me is the belting Summer Sun, this was loved by the crowd as we hopped and bopped with this damn fine tune. Such a classic video for this song, and the vibe matched the Albert perfectly as Brighton was in the middle of a 30 degree heatwave. We then had Baby Blue from their new album. Some great playing, Mary and Judy picking out the cool solo slots and rhythm, Ryan slamming it out on the kit with Claudia bouncing herself, and Rickenbacker around the stage. This is a crackin’ rock and roll tune! Darn it was hot in there but these guys looked cool, no doubt thanks to the huge stage fans!

Just Another and then Heart In The City were up. These guys can seriously ramp it up and produce some great punky, rock and roll. There are infectiously loaded songs with buzzing riffs, bass guitar and all the while a pounding beat from Ryan. You really cant keep still when these guys play!

The title track from that super new album Turn It Up was up. Now it wasnt that long ago since we last all met up, but the thing is, these guys have such a strong catalogue of material it was a totally different set from their previous visit. They have three albums of great songs to choose from, and we were given a cross section of their musical output. Just stunning. Friday was up next, hell these guys were on fire. The crowd was being beaten into submission with this blistering set as it continued, we just couldn’t stand still, the packed in crowd enjoying every sweat soaked second. Heat exhaustion is usually reserved for the band, not tonight! Mary at one point jumping off the stage and launched herself into the crowd and dropped to the floor to deliver some fine fret work! These guys really are a super group.

Again just gotta give a big shout to Ryan, sat at the back working those sticks giving the band full fills and some damn fine drumming, as the guys up front cavorted and played around on the stage. Just got to love watching Claudia as she put in some hefty bass work while supplying backing vocals, and an infectious smile! Mary, now she is in charge of what goes on. She again played some great guitar whilst delivering an point vocal performance, she is also equipped with the most beguiling smile as she nailed leads, and riffs. On the other guitar, she works equally hard, was Judy and also delivering vocal support, and a heart warming smile for everyone. Great job guys!

When these guys work together, it is something special. And when they hook up for harmonies they could melt an iceberg! Mind you it was so hot in there we could of done with one of those – even a small one!

The set came to a close, we had more fine tunes, Sugar High, Crazy, Baby Blue and I Wanna Be loved. As the band unhooked, unplugged it became clear that the crowd were not gonna let them go. “Mooooooore!”. Baby Shakes thankfully gave us another couple of songs. Nope! No way were the crowd satisfied – we wanted more! Neil – the promoter climbed up, and I think there was some bribery involved as shots of Tequila appeared, and he asked for one more. Baby Shakes are just fabulous and they agreed and pulled another song for us from their repertoire!

And Finally…

I got to spend some time with Baby Shakes after the gig. It was great to chat with them. Mary said they hoped to be back in Brighton but not sure when. I hope its soon as the number of Baby Shakes fans based in Brighton is growing fast! They were delighted at how the evening had gone and were thrilled to see so many people come to see them play. I think every person who had been there left The Prince Albert with a smile on their face and the Merch stand was very busy. Claudia – I totally agree with you on the new album, its fabulous – thank you! Also everyone signed a vinyl edition of the Starry Eyes for me – thank you x. I think we all made new friends that night. They are a great band and on top of that they really are such a warm, friendly and personable. Ah, what the hell, they are all adorable and they totally rock! They have also started a new Albert trend – its gonna be called Tequila Tuesday from now on! Even now stories are surfacing of Baby Shakes hitting the town after the gig! Some fine Urban Legends springing up!

Baby Shakes are on Facebook

Baby Shakes are on the WWW

Guests:

Support for the night came from Brighton garage punk troubadors, Thee Sherbert Peardrop Explosion

They crawled from the surf…back to the garage! Featuring members from Surfin’ Lungs, Los Fantasticos, The Squadron Leaders and The Delmonte 3. Taking you on a trip back to the seedier side of the 60’s to play some of their favourite garage punk bubblegum rock’n’roll songs from that era. Yeah baby!

The Band

William ‘Bongo Sherbert’ the Third on drums.
Sir Clive Sherbert Fontana on Teardrop, tambourine and vocals.
Django Sherbert Dib-Dab on guitar, sonic effects and vocals.
Steven Psycho Sherbert on bass and vocals

As always these guys give you a set of foot tappin classics, a hand full of inter-band banter. Usually there is a shot of Tequila involved. When the sun is up and surf is down these Brighton based guitar slingers and bongo bashers head for the seedier side of the 60’s to plunder the vaults of rock’n’roll to play you their favourite garage, psychedelic bubblegum tunes! Some great tunes delivered in their own unique style, such as a Little Bit Of Sole and we were introduced to Freddy Mercury’s tambourine for that. Fabulous. I saw a couple of Baby Shakes shakin’ it for California Sun. Always a joy to see these guys as they are damn fine musicians, each very proficient in what they do.  And then you hear them squabble about the best song ever, great guys. And lovin’ that new buzz added to the overall tone.

Thee Sherbert Peardrop Explosion are on Facebook

STAY SICK!

Stay Sick are promoters based in Brighton. They have been around for a while now.  Great night and well organised Thank you Stay Sick.

Established in 2008, now a Brighton institution for the ones in the know, these Cramps obsessed guys have put on such greats as Billy Childish, Kid Congo from the Cramps, Monotonix, Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster and Thee Oh Sees. With bands from Japan, Germany, USA, France and even Croatia (to name but a few), STAY SICK has made it their mission to track down, kidnap and present you with the best bands from all over the globe.

Stay Sick are on Facebook

Please note all original images / video are copyright, please do not copy. If any of the featured artists/promoters/venues want copies of the images – or more if available – please just get in touch.

All original pictures / video – copyright to IANB/MEDIA WORKS/ SCENE SUSSEX – Ian “The Lens” Bourn 2018.

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