THE SHIVAS | Duck Club Presents

The Shivas have been called “the hardest working band in show business”. While that is
impossible to measure, it’s also not far from the truth.
Since their humble beginnings as high-school best friends almost two decades ago (the band
formed in 2006), they have been grinding away tour after tour – visiting over 25 countries – and
album after album – this is their 10th LP. Their sound has always evolved as they have grown,
and worked with different labels and producers, but it has always stayed true to the psychedelic
vision those kids had years ago at the very beginning.
They say their new album Can’t Stop Coming Around (Tender Loving Empire Records) is their
favorite, and represents their sound the best of any in their discography. It makes sense
considering they recorded it themselves at their home studio ‘FFF’ in Portland, Oregon. Teaming
up with Collin Hegna (Brian Jonestown Massacre, Federale – someone the band has worked
with on and off since 2010), they say this is the closest they’ve ever come to hitting the bullseye
in the studio.
Now with Can’t Stop Coming Around slated for release this summer, the band will embark on
tours of Europe (one in June and another in September), then in the USA hitting the West Coast
in July and August, and the East Coast later this fall.
As a group that has always tried to lead with honesty and to shake off any airs of pretense, The
Shivas have come into their own. They know who they are, and here they are showing us
clearly that they’re not slowing down any time soon.

ARTIST DETAIL

Family Worship Center

Origin Story

In a time when he was spiritually and artistically aimless, Family Worship Center’s shamanistic figurehead Andy Krissberg took a brief hiatus from creating music. He embarked on a freewheeling, soul-searching journey inspired by the late ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax. Krissberg visited remote places across the country, creating field recordings of musicians he met straight to vinyl on a 1940s record lathe.

His adventures led him to fleabag motels, sketchy back alleys, lonely restaurants, and dive bars. His crusade had him rummaging through old record stores, antique stores, swap meets for long forgotten albums, singles, artwork, and books. On one of his expeditions, in a now-defunct record store in Nashville, Tennessee, Krissberg stumbled upon a 21-page bible for a strange cult-like collective that billed themselves as Family Worship Center.

Leafing through the yellowed pages, he felt a strange resonance with the Family’s communal quest for Groove enlightenment. Family Worship Center proposed a simple prescription to achieve a utopian existence: Surrender material possessions. Walk to the beat. Never hurt another Family Member. In a private mystical moment, Krissberg vowed to adhere to these beliefs, and is now eager to share the message with others through song as the band, Family Worship Center.

The Music

Family Worship Center specializes in a strain of redemptive, 1970s-styled rock n’ roll that recalls the Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, The Band, and Delaney & Bonnie. The band formed in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee founded by prophetic visionary, singer-songwriter and keyboardist Krissberg, but it has since relocated to Portland, Oregon. In 2020, Family Worship Center released the EP Sunday A.M. (2020) recorded by Grammy-winning producer Eddie Spear (Rival Sons, Blackberry Smoke, Lukas Nelson), and featuring musicians associated/who have played with The Band, Deer Tick, Ringo Starr, James Brown, Keith Richards, and Foxygen, among others. The Family’s latest offering—released September 2023—Kicked Out Of The Garden, features a core band of devoted musicians, and was produced by Portland go-to producer Cameron Spies (Spoon Benders, Shivas) who specializes in what he calls “mid-fi.” Kicked Out Of The Garden was tracked in Portland with additional recording done in Philadelphia and Ukraine. Kicked Out Of The Garden topped the NACC 200 college radio charts for 8+ weeks, was featured on the nationally syndicated NPR program Live Wire Radio, landed on multiple 2023 “Best Of” lists, and has gained hundreds of thousands listeners worldwide.

Aka Belle

“AKA BELLE ARE ROCK N ROLL WARRIORS SUMMONING THE POWER OF THE COSMOS!

Following their muse has made Aka Belle hard to categorize over the years – defying genres with a magical blend of esoteric psych-folk; sultry, retro tropicalia jazz vibes; guitars infused with feedback wizardry; and heart-warming protest pop, topped off with meteor shower vocal harmonies – they’re anything but predictable. Throughout their organic transformations, and the urge to push their own boundaries, Aka Belle have become known for their energetic live shows; evocative, sometimes ceremonial, always powerful.

At the core, Aka Belle remains the same (Catherine Merrick, vocals, guitar, vibraphone; and Sam Merrick, guitar, vocals); disco-ball safety-helmet wearing Jake Stigers on drums and vocals; and the ever smiling Anthony Mulparry on upright bass.

After a chance meeting at a Boise State University Music Business Panel in December 2023 (and a few other synchronistic experiences), Christine Nygard followed the call of the Universe and joined the band. Christine sings, plays guitar and quickly adopted the lonely theremin that had been sitting in the band’s rehearsal space – a sound that you’ll hear in the upcoming release, “Radiant, Baby.”

Aka Belle have often appeared or recorded with a rolling cast of characters who add to their eclectic on and off stage antics/personalities – past accomplices include Gina Gregerson of Dirt Fishermen; Troy Wright of Treepeople/Sugar Pox; Mollie Long Williams of We Are You; Gia Trotter of Roller Dome; Jenn Sutkowski of Trippy Hearts; various members of Hillfolk Noir; Curtis Stigers; Brett Netson of Earth/Caustic Resin/Snakes/Built to Spill – just to name a few).

“Don’t be afraid of time or change – it’s constant-” Aka Belle sing in their 2021 release, “New Highs in Leadership;” clearly acknowledging and prophesying their metamorphoses as they explore their own universe and beyond.”