Shannon and the Clams Thrill Webster Hall Crowd with New Music
October 20, 2021
Shannon and the Clams Thrill Webster Hall Crowd with New Music
Shannon and the Clams – Webster Hall – October 20, 2021
Singer Shannon Shaw and her band members, better known as Shannon and the Clams, infuse an aura of a bygone era, which seems refreshingly necessary as we slowly climb out of a year that would be better forgotten. Blending ’60s doo-wop with flourishes of punk, the Californian-based foursome released their sixth studio album, Year of the Spider, after a string of tragedies that hit close to home from the fire at the hallowed Ghost Ship DIY space to the fires raging in Napa Valley earlier this year. Themes of death and disease fill the lyrics of their latest album and rocked the walls of Webster Hall on Wednesday night.
After an effusive “I fucking love you” from an emphatic fan, Shaw commenced the performance with the album opener, “Do I Wanna Stay.” She would share vocal duties with caped guitarist Cody Blanchard throughout the night, ping-ponging to his falsetto for the Roy Orbison–like guitar riffing of “I Leave Again.” Not to be left out, keyboardist Will Sprott contributed witty commentary, as well as an inspired flowery outro for “The Bog.” By the midpoint of the set, a group of rambunctious revelers formed a mosh pit to bounce along to the crescendos.
Shaw dedicated the title track to “those who survived the last year or two,” as the barreling bodies seemed to push away the traumas and hardships of the past. For “Snakes Crawl,” Blanchard requested green lights, which added to the already spooky stage setup of a snake face on the keyboard stand and a spider-embellished drum kit. With Halloween around the corner, Sprott would return to the stage for the encore dressed as Johann Sebastian Bach and touring drummer Chris Icasiano as a can of SPAM. Oldie but goodie “Ozma” concluded the set as the disco ball sparkled the crowd into the night. —Sharlene Chiu | @Shar0ck
(Shannon and the Clams play Royale in Boston on Friday.)
(Shannon and the Clams play Union Transfer in Philly on Saturday.)