Music is a family affair for the Andy Shaw Band, which will bring its mix of reggae, rock, pop and blues to Athens tomorrow.
The band, which has been together for two years, is composed of Andy Shaw (guitar, vocals); his brother, Chris Shaw (drums, guitar, vocals); their father, Jim Shaw (keyboard) and Kenny Caterer (bass, lead guitar).
The whole point of (our music) is we want the people who are listening to it to feel that it's okay to express yourself and it's OK to have feelings and to get that out
said Andy Shaw, who does much of the band's writing.
The project was kick-started when Andy Shaw moved home to Columbus in 2004, leading to his brother and father playing with him.
Chris Shaw, whose first exposure to the reggae-infused sound adapted by the band came from his older brother, said playing with his family members is beneficial.
We just kind of have a built-in chemistry. ... And the harmonies are a lot better he said.
Andy Shaw agreed. It's weird when you're not playing with your sibling or your parent. ... There's an extra wave length that you're on that you don't get with normal band mates he said.
Both brothers said playing with each other and their father has improved their relationship.
We've spent a lot more time together because we're playing together
and we have a lot more to communicate
Andy Shaw said. It's weird because communicating in a musical sense is different than communicating through a conversation; but it's more rewarding sometimes because you're creating communication together.
The band's music is influenced by reggae, but also borrows from other types of music.
What's happened over the years is we've created our own sound by combining those other genres and dismissing what we think is wrong about them. ... We take an idea that we're inspired by and say
'Well here's another way to teach that idea
' or
'here's a way to make that sound not like the (original) group
but like us
' Andy Shaw said.
The Andy Shaw Band will play at 10 p.m. tomorrow at Jackie O's Pub and Brewery, 24 W. Union St.
