Listen
to Shibboleth and download the band's songs from QuickDFW.com's JuQbox
Dallas three-piece Shibboleth knows just how to sell itself. Its
laughter-inducing press packet includes gloriously cheesy publicity
photos and statements like "these instrumentals will pin you to your
chair and restyle your hair."
But enough about that – the music's what matters, and we're afraid that
the only word to describe Shibboleth's sound is "groovy." The vocal-free
songs on the group's self-titled debut CD go anywhere from '60s Brit
rock to unabashed elevator Muzak to the score of The Brady Bunch.
The music is either frighteningly uncool or the coolest thing ever
conceived – it's hard to tell.
We talked to Shibboleth guitarist Don Cento to gain some insight:
Q: Describe your music in 10 words or less.
A: Does "soul-crushing" count as one word or two?
Q: If a "shibboleth" is defined as a saying or belief, what is
Shibboleth's shibboleth?
A: There is no such thing as a bass solo.
Q: What do you have against lyrics?
A: We have no cause to promote. Secondly, it increases our
chances of never being on American Idol. Thirdly, none of us are
what you would call "strong singers," although we've been known to belt
out a rousing chorus of "Oklahoma!" at inappropriate times.
Q: What's the weirdest reaction from an audience member you've
received when playing live?
A: Clapping.
Q: If you could write the music for any sitcom (still on the air or
not), which would it be and why?
A: Three's Company because I just got a new wah-wah pedal,
or Rango, the Tim Conway Western which ran for a single season in
1967, because we've never seen it.
Q: Does your keyboardist really smoke a pipe or is that a prop for
photo shoots?
A: Nope, that's a prop. It was the photographer's idea. The
guitars and keyboards were our idea.
Q: What's the band's writing process?
A: It's more of a whittling process. One of us will bring a tune
to rehearsal and we'll add or remove bits as a band.
Q: Do your song titles match the feel of the music or are they just for
humor's sake?
A: After repeated listenings the music and titles seem to
converge, but this may be a beer-related consequence.
Hunter Hauk
DETAILS
Shibboleth will play from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Standard & Pours,
1409 S. Lamar. Admission is free.
