Shake City Shake City
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
The Hollywood hair metal scene in the mid to late 80’s has at least one thing in common with the NWOBHM scene from the beginning of that decade, and that’s the sheer quantity of bands that were active at the time. Just when you think you have a pretty good handle on the scene, you come across another band or album that you didn’t even know existed in the first place. Case in point: the new collection by Shake City.
Shake City was a Hollywood rock band with more than a few ties to the (much) better known Warrant. Vocalist Adam Shore was actually Jani Lane’s predecessor in Warrant before getting sacked and forming Shake City, and guitarist Michael Blair was Erik Turner’s cousin. The bands also had very similar sounds. Shake City was part of the hair metal scene that tended towards the more polished, melodic style rather than emphasizing the sleaze. They were less like Faster Pussycat and L.A. Guns and more like, well, Warrant. It’s a great sound, and Adam Shore has a hell of a voice for this kind of music. The songwriting is also better than average, and includes contributions from Erik Turner, Jani Lane, and Black n’ Blue’s Tommy Thayer.
With the number of bands that got a record deal at the time, it’s a wonder Shake City was never signed. Judging from the material on this collection, the band had a lot more to offer than a lot of bands that did get their shot. At least we now have a chance to hear the band’s recordings. The Shake City CD features eleven songs recorded between 1990 and 1991. The song “Game of War” is a particularly interesting inclusion, as it was written by Jani Lane for Warrant and appears (in demo form) on that band’s Cherry Pie reissue. The songs have been digitally remastered, and sound as good as most of today’s releases. If you’re a fan of the Hollywood hair metal scene, the Shake City collection is absolutely worth checking out.
Label: Eonian Records
Track Listing:
1. One Good Reason
2. Hot Love
3. Betty Blue
4. Get It While It’s Hot
5. Submarine
6. Little Lianne
7. Lust & Love
8. Psychedelic Ride
9. Sweet Dreams
10. Can’t Get Over You
11. Game of War
12. Bad on Wheels
Lineup: Adam Shore – Lead Vocals
Don Sachs – Guitar, Vocals
Michael Blair – Guitar
Ray Bailey – Bass, Vocals
Jaycee Cary – Drums
Online: www.myspace.com/shakecity11
HRH Rating: 7.5/10