Introducing :: Shame

Words: Linn Branson

'Furry Freaks (Sunrise)' is the first release from a young bunch of south Londoners called Shame. We're not sure how representative the above illustration is, but the five 17-year-olds from Brixton are certainly making an impression.

We do have to make an admission here, however. Whilst the 'Furry' one has grown on us, we have heard a further four tracks these ruffians have squirrelled away for a later rainy day, and a couple of which at least, are far more fuzzy and ferocious, and do kind of appeal to us a little more.

That said, 'Furry Freaks (Sunrise)' has started to grow. It starts on a little groove that for a few seconds you think might be leading into a trop pop groove, until Charlie Steen's rock raw vocal kicks in and the guitar riffs turn it into a bit of punky grunger.

Citing influences such as The Cigarettes, Nirvana, Pixies, The Stooges and Butthole Surfers, Shame started out earlier this year, in fact sharing a rehearsal room with the Fat White Family, as drummer Charlie Forbes explains.

"The Fat Whites squatted in a room in a south London pub for quite a while, which is we started practising and writing in July this year. We met all of them and used their stuff a lot, so we became mates, and while the line-up of Shame was a still a bit shaky and unsure, they often pitched in to help write parts of our songs, and some other bits and pieces. We put on a few gigs with them, including playing the Queens Head drag night which had basically the whole rota of Trashmouth Records playing. We also supported their side project Warmduscher recently."

We just hope these young dudes haven't been influenced too heavily by Lias and his motley crew, insofar as feeling the urge to dangle those private bits in public!

Shame are: Charlie Steen - vocals, Eddie Green - rhythm guitar, Sean Coyle-Smith - lead guitar, Josh Finerty - bass, Charlie Forbes - drums.

FACEBOOK