Baby Shakes

Did You Know?

• Their 2007 EP 'Tell Me Now' was released on heart-shaped red vinyl via Rob's House Records.
• The band's third album 'Turn It Up' was released in May 2017 on LP/CD self-published/Chewy Records, with a cassette version on Burger Records.

History

Baby Shakes were founded in 2005 in New York City by Mary Blount, Judy Lindsay, and Claudia Gonzalez, and they first performed as a group in February 2005. The band has toured the U.S., U.K., Europe (September 2007, November 2009, September 2015, July 2016, October 2016, Fall 2017), China (July 2016), and Japan (February 2009, February 2016, March 2017). Their second full-length album, Starry Eyes, was released in August 2015, and their third full-length album, Turn It Up, came out in May 2017.

The current permanent drummer, since 2015, is Ryan McHale of New York. Former drummer Dave Rahn from Atlanta (Gentleman Jesse & His Men, Carbons) played drums on all Baby Shakes recordings prior to 2016. Travis Ramin (Nikki Corvette, Fevers) was their drummer during the February 2009 Japanese tour, and Shingo Nishimaru drummed for their 2009 European tour. According to the band's biography, Baby Shakes are a rock n' roll-punk band from New York City, with Mary on lead vocals and guitar, Judy on lead guitar and vocals, Claudia on bass and vocals, and Ryan on drums.

Their influences range from The Ramones and Slade to Chuck Berry and 1960s Motown girl groups. They have released five singles, a 10-inch heart-shaped EP, a singles collection, and three full-length albums, and have shared the stage with acts such as The Romantics, The Boys, Iggy Pop, Shadows of Knight, The Undertones, Barracudas, Protex, Guitar Wolf, Black Lips, and Paul Collin's Beat.

Reception

Mark Deming of AllMusic, reviewing The First One, described Baby Shakes as three good-looking women who write great pop tunes with punk rock energy and girl group harmonies, calling their songs refreshing like lemonade on a hot day. He noted that the production by Dave Rahn could use more body but concluded the music is good enough to play two or three times in a row without wearing out its welcome. J. Edward Keyes of Rolling Stone called the group the new sound of old punk.