Shehehe, from Athens, GA, deliver a powerful sound that’s part rip-roarin’ rock ‘n’ roll, and equal part Ramones. It’s as classic as it gets in a way, while still feeling like a unique band that’s doing their own thing. Throw in a dose of DIY grit, and you’ve got their general sound. It’s punk rock from the heart, where you can tell the band is having just as much fun playing it as you are listening to it. The song structures are predictable, but filled with energetic vocal tradeoffs, singalong choruses, and the occasional guitar solo -- just enough of them to keep it interesting and unpredictable.
I’ll take the hint, since they named the record Namedroppers, and try to keep the comparisons to a minimum. I only have one more namedrop planned, still to come. Namedroppers (the record) has 18 songs, the majority running about two minutes each. There are singalong poppy jams like the lead track “Elton John” or the first single, “Love Wins,” and the clap-along, Southern rock-tinged “Get On My Lawn,” but also vocal tradeoff songs like “Movin’ On” or “Alfredo Hernandez” and the big pop rockers “Mid Life Vices” or “Simplify Your Life.” I get shades of Big Eyes in “The Lakeshark.”
If I have a gripe about the record it’s the production. I think the raw sound fits the band well and counters their poppy side well, but it also lacks a little kick. The title track is such a good example of “The Shehehe Experience” -- a raw and rough rock instrumental track with powerful shrieks melodically mixed in -- but the song feels toned tone, with its primal force somewhat muted compared to its stage presence. With 18 fast tempo songs, there’s also a bit of repetitiveness on the record, though it goes by fast enough that you’ll hardly notice. To flip my script about the production, the low-power broadcast vibes are perfect for “Local & Beyond,” seemingly a love song to college radio (especially fitting given their Athens home).
In so many ways, this is just classic, no frills rock’n’roll like it’s meant to be: full of positive themes and unbridled energy. The themes on Namedroppers include the power of music, love songs, making your own rules, and eternal youth.
