Having met on the first day of college in the fall of 2007, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Oedel, drummer Matt Addison, and bassist Max Currier bonded over their common love of good music and bad beer. Acoustic jam sessions and impromptu sing-alongs soon became collaborative songwriting sit-downs and electrified noisefests. When second guitarist Jon Markson joined the band in 2010, Shake the Baron refined their sound palette and pooled resources to produce a full-length album in their college’s small recording studio. After building local hype in the burgeoning music scene of New London, Connecticut, Shake the Baron signed with NYC-based Super Duper Records. Their album’s 10 overdriven, propulsive tracks were taken to the venerable Avatar Studios in New York and mixed by engineer extraordinaire Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend, Weezer). This collaboration yielded the sound of the band’s self-titled debut: rabblerousing guitar pop that pins soaring vocal hooks atop a wash of chorus-infused guitars and enormous rock beats.

Combining the driving riffage of post-millennial Sonic Youth and the jangling simplicity of Pavement’s Brighten the Corners with a brash barroom rambunctiousness, Shake the Baron’s take on guitar rock feels both fresh and familiar. Oedel’s lyrics lightheartedly spin narrative from his struggles with romance and adulthood, conveyed with a pure yet colorful delivery akin to Ezra Koenig or Ben Bridwell. Shake the Baron‘s rhythmic acrobatics trick its listeners into dancing– a side effect unique to the feel-good energy of its creators. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, the band is continuing to write and record new music.

Press:

“Ghost Hits doesn’t find Shake the Baron succumbing to a sophomore slump, instead strengthening the elements that made their self-titled debut so winsome … Shake the Baron is a band with a tight grasp on dynamic songwriting and Ghost Hits proves it. Don’t be surprised if you start hearing their name more sometime soon.” – Pop Matters

“[Shake the Baron's] self-titled debut displays the band’s talent for layering harmonies and creating an unmistakably good vibe throughout … [it] has the polished, established feel of a sophomore or junior album. Shake the Baron’s sound is particularly catchy, and sure to spark many toes tapping and heads bobbing across the city.” – The Deli Magazine

“Ideological holdouts from the college rock culture that defined 90s indie, the quartet spent much of their college years cultivating the sort of scene-centric local love that qualifies them for ‘Hometown Hero’ status. It shows. Their self-titled debut LP … is consistent and cohesive. As far as songcraft goes, they’ve clearly put in the hours.” – The College Voice

“Obviously bred from the sweat of an indie brow, Shake the Baron’s self-titled album explores both the melancholy and upbeat … you’ve got a lot to love from this debut. Take notice of this band and album.” – The Album Project