Biography

The Shondes (pronounced Shahn-duhs) are a four-piece indie rock group based out of the western Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope. They rock a unique sound that combines '90s queercore and riot grrrl power with traditional Jewish music and dramatic, rich vocals. It's the sound of distortion, melody, feminism, and sociopolitical concerns being mixed and pumped passionately out of cranked-up amps, and it earned the group comparisons to Sleater-Kinney and other likeminded acts. Guitarist/vocalist Ian Brannigan, violinist/vocalist Elijah Oberman, and bassist/vocalist Louisa Rachel Solomon all met while studying at Manhattan's New School, and they came across drummer/vocalist Temim Fruchter while protesting the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. By 2006, the four had formed the Shondes, taking their name from the Yiddish word for "shame" or "disgrace." The band's live performance was a big part of its existence from early on; the group took part in festivals like Canada's North by Northeast and Olympia, WA's Homo A Go Go, in addition to crossing stages with groups like Electrelane, Joe Lally (of Fugazi fame), Erase Errata, and the Saints. The Shondes self-released their debut album, The Red Sea, in early January 2008, which was recorded at Brooklyn's Studio G with Pere Ubu's Tony Maimone at the controls. In November 2008, Brannigan left the band to be replaced by guitarist Fureigh. My Dear One followed in 2010. ~ Corey Apar, Rovi