Before The Shake took the stage at Public Assembly on Thursday night, I saw lead guitarist Eliad Shapiro holding his guitar in front of the stage, absentmindedly picking away at unamplified licks. This is either a good sign or a bad sign, I thought to myself. Either he just really loves playing music or he’s desperately still practicing. Luckily it was the former – The Shake are the kind of high energy band that play rock and roll for the love of the game.
Playing as part of Deli Magazine’s Best of NYC Festival, The Shake put together a fun set of good old fashioned rock and roll. Bathed in that hot red rock club light, the foursome treated a ready-to-go crowd to upbeat guitars and tasty bass. Turning to his bandmates after a few songs, lead singer Jon Merkin said simply, “Let’s make them dance.” And dance they did.
“Got No Soul” was a contagious romp on stage that quickly spread to the pit, getting the crowd moving and – dare I say it - shaking. The band built on the audience’s energy, launching into a funky cover of “Stayin’ Alive” that played with the song’s iconic bassline. While that was a familiar treat, it was telling that the band’s original songs got a bigger reaction from the crowd; this is the type of rock band that you want to hear express themselves.
The Shake found themselves at the Deli Magazine gig after being named NYC’s Best Emerging Alt Rock Band by that publication last year. While I’m not entirely sure what that genre even is anymore, it’s a somehow fitting box for these boys. This is a straight-up rock band that bends the rules by incorporating bluesy riffs and funky breaks in their tunes. And the emerging part it dead on, too. While The Shake’s stage show is a good balance between loose frivolity and tight instrumentation, it has a certain quality that shows the band in a formative stage. They are emerging as a charismatic live act as we speak, and it’s fun to watch.
