David Lynch, meet Molly Shannon, Molly Shannon

Dear Mr. Lynch,

I am writing to introduce you to a new band out of the great Northwest. Their name is Molly Shannon, Molly Shannon (MSMS). From time to time, we have local bands contact us at NW Music Blog to check out and possibly write a review of their latest recordings. MSMS is one such band. Upon visiting their site for the first time, I was a bit taken aback thinking this must be a brainchild of yours Mr. Lynch. The eerie sounds that were emanating from my computer and images flashing of 2 bare chested guys with creepy material-made masks left me wondering “huh?” That’s when I promptly clicked “x” to close the browser. Shortly thereafter I started thinking that there had to be more to it than what I just experienced so I went back to MSMS’s website and I’m glad I did. What I discovered is that Molly Shannon, Molly Shannon has created a very complete and complex, not to mention darkly alluring, record: You think yr the Doctor, I think I’m the Sheriff.

I think you will find with their freshman attempt very enticing and to your liking. To get you started, the following tracks were my favorites: Jane Cannary, Evelyn Ay, Yvonne Craig and Bianca Montale. When listening for the first time, you just might think you’re hearing Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse fronting a very raw lo-fi sounding Radiohead. While other tracks like Alice Liddell, and Debbie ‘Debra’ Gibson have a more ambient and entrancing feel that I believe would greatly succeed in a place where music and sound are featured in enhancing the visual art experience. Whether it be the backdrop to create the tone and mood of an intricate slow moving indie film, such as one of your own Mr. Lynch or possibly Mr. Kubrick’s if he was still around, to the background music at a soho art gallery opening accompanying darker avante garde art to further your perception and understanding of the piece.

Sounds pretty cool so far, don’t you think? Well, here’s a little more for you from the band “Molly Shannon, Molly Shannon is Michael Donovan & Christopher Newton, recording, writing, making, & switching. When building an entire body, Joseph Martin, Erin Phillips, & Scott Thiessen complete the action–live & otherwise–bowing, clicking, banging, & strumming. MSMS just now happened in the awful, awful winter of 2007 & 2008, via attrition, paranoia & a small Colorado label called Fir Traders Union kind enough to release our album. MSMS really wants to keep doing this–because of all that we just talked about–oh, & is ready. ‘Whatever lurks ahead of grievous abominations & disorder, you and me walk into it together like always.’” See? Sounds like a match made in heaven to me! The other thing that intrigued me so, were the clever and unique titles of their songs. I don’t know if you noticed from above, but each song title is a woman’s name. Now try as I might, I still have yet to figure out the connection other than they are google-able and span centuries apart. From Alice Lidell who was the inspiration for the children’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Emilie Du Chatelet, an 18^th century French mathematician and physicist to pop culture icons Nichelle Nichols and Yvonne Craig (Lt. Ahura from Star Trek and Batgirl respectively). And then there’s Debbie “Debra” Gibson… How are all of these ladies connected?? Very clever.

So now it’s time for you to go check’em out for yourself. Just go to www.mollyshannonmollyshannon.com or if you’re visiting the Seattle area and want to see one of their upcoming shows, just visit their myspace page.

Cheers,

Jules

Photography by Kyle M. Peterson