Shoeshine Blue

Shoeshine Blue began as a lo-fi literary blues act. Songwriter, Michael Apinyakul’s uncanny abilities with a cassette 4-track earned him critical praise from both the press and studio engineers with the 2007 release, “Talk Real Slow”. Since then, Shoeshine Blue has evolved into something else entirely. Falling somewhere between classical and blues, folk and gospel, old time and indie. As a solo act, Apinyakul displays a fast, dark, and emotive finger picking style, as if Mississippi John Hurt listened to The Melvins, but more often Shoeshine Blue consists of a larger lineup of violinist Shawn Mclain (Blind Pilot), bassist William Joersz (Nick Jaina, Run On Sentence), singer Ali Wesley (Super XX Man), singer Ezza Rose, and drummer John Vecchiarelli (of his own lovely songs, plus Portland Cello Project, Justin Powers, and numerous others). This bare bones combo produces wistful backdrops for lyrics full of political fervor, high romance, and heartland poetics.

ABOUT HIS NEW ALBUM HOWL AT THE WOODEN MOON:

“Howl At The Wooden Moon” is an album written and recorded during a period of war, broken love, sketchy loans, and automated joy. All a songwriter needed to do was build a good mirror, hold it up, and let the world writhe in the ecstasy of its own truth. But it’s not easy in the high stakes game of good songwriting, there’s no room for lies or lazy observations. “Howl At The Wooden Moon” is Shoeshine Blue’s best and most honest contribution. It is a love letter to the natural world, a love story between two people, and a keen eye on the moment. In other words, a monument to all things doomed and beautiful.

Recorded to half inch 8-track at Telltale Studios in Portland Oregon, and engineered by Antreo Pukay, the album has a honey-glow sound, reminiscent of the great folk and psychedelic albums of the 60’s and 70’s. Lyrically sharp, simply layered, powerfully performed, and accidentally gospel.