Words do not do Shim justice. Only Shim can do Shim justice.

Shim is, quite simply, the best independent band I’ve ever heard. At this year’s Bumbershoot, I caught their set and was completely blown away (as reported in this here blog post by Travis Hay) at the power of their rocktitude. And the best part? They’re from Wenatchee. Yup, that’s right. The band that may hold the future of rock and roll in its hands is three-quarters born and bred in the Valley.

But that’s not why Shim rocks. Shim rocks because that’s all Shim knows to do. The Seattle-based band’s latest self-produced record Feel Like A King is absolutely chock full of rifftastic rock that gives AC/DC a run for it’s money. “Animal” and “You Walked In Like You Owned the Place” both sport fun shout-along choruses, “The Highway” is (appropriately) a perfect driving song, and “We Got Guns” is purely menacing. It’s very rare for an “indie” band to put out a quality record from front to back, but Shim has put together one of those rare albums that is void of a skipable song (Zeppelin II-style).

Lucky for people like myself, Shim has no problem breaking out a solo or two, with co-guitarists/vocalists Ragan Crowe and Mike Notter both capable of tickling the tiny strings with great proficiency. “Little Girl” sees them trading licks like they’re the new Thin Lizzy, “Made For This World” waits just long enough to unearth its screeching solo, and the harmonized leads on “The Highway” sound like Iron Maiden with a touch of the blues.

Crowe and Notter also switch off on vocals, and since they both have similar timbres to their voices, they pleasantly harmonize with regularity.

Shim’s debut In the Veins also boasts some quality tracks, like the aggressive “Satisfied” and the pounding “Man From the Desert,” but some songs lean too far on the 80s metal-side for myself.

If hard rock is your bag, Shim is probably your new favorite band. At least that was the case for me.

Shim – Satisfied

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