Yes. It is true. At the party to celebrate the release of their second full length album, appropriately titled Feel Like A King, SHIM removed all doubt as to whether 2008 would be their year. By 9 o’clock the Tractor was sold out and local bars were eagerly collecting the droves of disappointed show goers being turned away at the door. When the gentlemen of SHIM stepped on stage, to a wall of cheers, they truly must’ve been feeling like kings.

Debonair warmed things up and announced they’ve got a new record coming out soon as well. From the first moments all I could think of was “Pedro the Lion going electric.” Abbey agreed with me right away. The voice, the phrasings and even the lyrics had an early Bazanesque meter and lilt to them that was undeniable, but where PTL was a sad bastard, Debonair is much more of a lighthearted pop affair. I still say that the best way to discover a new band you might like is by seeing them open at a show you would go to. It’s so much more personal than a listening station and you can usually get a record right there at the show if you like it. I got sidetracked and wasn’t able to pick up one of the new records, but you can be assured well be talking more about these gents in the near future.

After a multi-month break from performing it was truly SHIM’s night though, and I could sense the excitement building as the night went on. SHIM has a truly elaborate stage setup with two smoke machines, two triangle strobe light frames facing the crowd (which could be seizure inducing to some), and four strobe lights on the front edge of the stage pointed back at the band for effect. It’s an arena ready light show to go with the arena sized rock of SHIM’s new album.

Playing essentially the entire new album, SHIM not only exhibited the confidence and chops of their stadium rock forbearer’s, but also the perfectly coiffed hair prized so highly by those spandex-clad performers. (SHIM, thankfully, was not spandex clad.) I sensed a swagger in their demeanor that I hadn’t seen before, and they played with an practiced intention and grit that I thought was missing in my last encounter. “Animal” is one helluva song. This is how a slow rock song should be. “Love me like an animal, purring in the cool moon light!” lead singer Ragan Crowe intones, “Want me like a cannibal, cause it’s feeling like a full moon night!” It’s meant to appeal to our basest human urges, with it’s slow thumping rhythm and thinly-veiled erotic screaming in the background at times. And it does. All I can think about when listening to this song is hot, sweaty sex.

Jordan of Ice Age Cobra said it first, and I have to agree with him about it: if SHIM can’t get signed by someone for this record (and their act!), there is something very wrong going on this side of the Mississippi.

No matter how you slice it, Slender Means is a great band. These guys make it look easy and fun at the same time. Good songwriting, great singing and pristine pop are all on the menu in a Slender Means set. “Telepathic Lovesick Heart” is a ridiculously good song that stood out as great live choice and early set starter. I’m partial to “Painless Life” as well. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t got their latest stuff so I didn’t recognize a number of the songs, but I left more impressed than last time around, and thinking maybe I will finally pick up that latest LP.

SHIM will next be playing in Seattle at the newly opened King Cobra on Capitol Hill on March 7, and the Wig Bash at the High Dive on March 28.

Debonair

SHIM

Slender Means

Flickr: Slender Means, SHIM, Debonair at the Tractor Tavern February 9, 2008