Interview with Mayhaw Hoons of the Shaky Hands
Portland based band-to-watch The Shaky Hands are coming to the 7th Street Entry on the night before Halloween to open for The Acorn. Already in the midst of a cross country tour, bassist Mayhaw Hoons found some time to field some questions from Culture Bully’s Jon Behm on their live shows, Portland, and what’s playin’ in the tour van.
Jon Behm: You guys have a reputation around the Pacific NW for really great live shows – what is it about your live set that you think people have been drawn to?
Matthew Hoons: The only way I can answer this is to think back to before I was in the band. When I saw TSH at their first show I couldn’t get over how much fun they were having, how quick the set was and how good the songs were. They didn’t have just one or two songs that stuck out in the set. The whole set was amazing. Now, shit, I dunno. Maybe our solos?
JB: Your recent LP, Lunglight, has been lauded for taking the band in a slightly darker, more introspective direction. What inspired that particular change in between your debut release and this one?
MH: We didn’t think about if it was darker or not. It just ended up sounding like that. We recorded the first album in the winter and it was called a summertime album. Lunglight was recorded in the summer and it’s darker sounding. I think we were just to hot or something and we got fussy.
JB: Portland only has about a half million people, but supports a terrific music scene. Are musicians drawn there from other places, or is there something in the water that makes babies be born with guitar picks in their hands?
MH: Man I dunno about this one. I moved here from Hood River because I hate windsurfing and don’t like apples. I think people move here because it’s nice and mellow and cheap and they get time to play more than work.
JB: Your cross-country tour leaves in a few days, what music are you bringing along in the tour bus?
MH: Dead Moon is the main band we got in the van. Also Willie Nelson, Elvis and the Wipers are on the list.
JB: What is your favorite choice of on-stage beverage?
MH: Kombucha