Shook Ones

Shook Ones

Shook Ones play melodic hardcore that take me back to the mid and late nineties when bands like Kid Dynamite, Lifetime and Good Riddance got me amped up to go skate and destroy. Their latest offering “Facetious Folly Feat” is melodic, furious and fun. The record has been in constant rotation at my house since I’ve received it and I was psyched to get the chance to ask Shook Ones guitarist Kelly Aiken about the new album. -Chris

Diatribe: First of all, for those who don't know, who is Shook Ones and how did you get started?

Kelly: Shook Ones is a band from Seattle, WA. It started out with Funds and Scott practicing together in their basement in Bellingham and continued on from there. 8 members and 2 years later and here we are. Just some dudes trying to make some good music. Same old, same old.

Diatribe: What's the band up to right now? Touring? If so, with who and how is that going?

Kelly: Not so much touring, actually. We're getting ready to record some songs this weekend for a split we're doing with this sweet Japanese band, Easel. Daiki at Alliance Trax is putting it out in Japan, and it's going to coincide with a tour we're doing over there in April, which will also involve Easel. Daiki is a rad dude, Easel is a rad band, and we're stoked to see Japan.

Diatribe: I've heard you guys have a healthy respect for Lifetime, and I seen on Revelations website that you're playing three shows with them in February…what are your thoughts on that?

Kelly: My thought is that it's going to be fucking awesome. When they first announced those dates, I was just trying to figure out how I was going to get down there to see them, so having them ask us to play, beyond being an enormous compliment, is extremely convenient. Obviously, we like that band a lot, so it's sweet to a) get to see them, b) for free, and c) meet/hang out/bro down with them.

Diatribe: Speaking of Lifetime…I was and am a huge fan of that band and when I first heard Shook Ones, I immediately heard that influence within your music. Shook One's music is very akin to Lifetime/Kid Dynamite but you guys have your own sound. I would describe your sound as melodic hardcore…. how would you describe your sound?

Kelly: Melodic hardcore. Aggressive pop punk. Goofy dudes playing goofy music. Classifications are convenient and make things easier, but they don't really define anything, at least not for us. We think self-deprecation is hilarious, so we most frequently describe our band as 'really shitty'.

Diatribe: What are you currently listening to?

Kelly: I've been listening to the new Brand New a lot. Right now, there's Motion City Soundtrack playing in the background at the teen center where I work

Diatribe: What were some of the first bands that you got into and what bands made you want to be in a hardcore band?

Kelly: Blink 182. Seriously. Not like they were the first 'punk' band I got into (I'm not even going to get into whether they're punk or not), but they're the first time I remember thinking to myself "you know what? I could totally do this."

Diatribe: What are two records you think everyone should own?

Kelly: Prince – “Purple Rain” and The Smiths – “Louder Than Bombs”.

Diatribe: Any plans for major touring in 2007, and more importantly are you coming to Ohio?

Kelly: The answer to both those questions is "not yet". We're not very good at planning, so that doesn't mean it won't happen, just means we haven't figured it out yet.

Diatribe: What is your craziest/oddest tour memory? Craziest thing you've ever done?

Kelly: Anything/everything from our show at the Jersey shore. Those kids are crazy, and not all of it was necessarily legal or ethical, so I'm going to refrain from actually printing it. We're not really 'wild' or 'crazy' dudes, though. Funds sold out on our European tour, does that count?

Diatribe: "Facetious Folly Feat" made my top five best albums in 2006 list. Make some statements about the album.

Kelly: Thanks. People seem to be into it. It was a very stressful experience to write and record it so quickly, but we're relatively pleased with the results. Like any recording, there are little bits and pieces that we'd change if given the choice, but it's mostly things no one would ever notice. A bit of trivia: every member of Shook Ones played guitar at some point on the record.

Diatribe: Alright…right now we're trying to get everyone's top five best albums of 2006…those would be?

Kelly: Owen – “At Home with Owen”

Brand New – “The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me”

End of a Year – “Sincerely”

Sinking Ships – “Disconnecting”

Gracer – “Voices Travel”

Diatribe: Thanks for taking the time to do this. Any final words in closing? Shout outs or shit talk?

Kelly: Thank you! Fuck Eric Wallace. He's too charming.

Check out Shook Ones new album “Facetious Folly Feat” out now on Revelation Records. Then rock the fuck out.