THE SHAMS

Quilt

The Shams sing beauty parlor soul of the highest order. (One of their best-loved early songs was called "Beauty Parlor Rag"-- O dear Shams, where's that Rag???) Sexiness, naturally, is one of the elementary qualities of beautyshop soul (along with loyalty, unpretentiousness, humor, self-respect, barbecue, and hair rollers), and I consider the Shams to be the sexiest group in music today. The kind of sexiness you either want to marry or defile or emulate, depending on your personality type. They're the perfect solution to all the confusion between Madonna and whore. (And they do kind of arouse a religious feeling. I see them in halos, painted on black velvet.) Their logo says it all: a sort of burning subway token with wings that's labeled "the SHAMS NYC", above a little banner that forever promises "right or wrong."

These three friend-girls had actually been singing together for seven years in New York, but they started very slowly, performing Christmas carols only for their closest pals and favorite charities. They enjoy rehearsals so much they decided to extend them year 'round, and thus: the Shams. Amy McMahon Rigby (formerly of the Last Roundup), who's originally from Pittsburgh, wrote most of the songs and played acoustic guitar; Sue Garner (Run On, formerly of Fish & Roses), who's from Georgia, played bass; and Amanda Uprichard (proprietor of Living Doll clothing designs, and also briefly with Last Roundup), from Florida, created much of their clothes and graphics. How did they get their name? Well, it's partly that they're imitation Shaggs -- and partly they're just humble.

In trying to figure out what makes the Shams so original, what comes to mind is that their songs deal with the things that women discuss amongst themselves, from the smile and pump handling skills ("he makes my motor run") of the attendant "Down at the Texaco" to the woman who "is a victim of the men that she is dressed to kill" ("Dressed to Kill"). This, itself, is rare enough, but when it's done with good will, intelligence, humor, and three-part harmonies, as it is by the Shams, the result is unique.

It's a true thrill and a privilege to be able to hear them.

-- Richard Hell
September, 1992

Sedusia CD5

Three more songs that'll bring out the man in you if you are a boy, the boy in you if you are a man, the woman in you if you are a girl...you get the picture...