Shinyribs

Shinyribs began in 2007 as a solo side project of singer/guitar player Kevin Russell, then of longtime Austin band The Gourds.^[1] At first "Shinyribs" referred to Russell personally in connection with his solo shows, but Russell later performed under the name "Shinyribs" in a band with other musicians, such as Gourds bandmate, drummer Keith Langford. "Shinyribs" then transitioned to be the name of the band as well.^[2] The name derives from something called out to Russell by a transient woman to whom he had previously given a plate of ribs.^[3]

After the Gourds went on hiatus in 2013, Shinyribs became Russell's and Langford's primary vehicle.^[4] By 2016, Shinyribs included bass guitar, keyboard, horns (Tijuana TrainWreck Horns), and backing singers (Shiny Soul Sisters).^[5]

Shinyribs' sound is a combination of many styles and influences.^[6] Russell calls it "country-soul" and "swamp-funk."^[7] The ultimate decisions on Shinyribs' musical direction are based on Russell's vision for the band.^[8] Live performances generally feature Russell dancing on stage^[9] or in a conga line extending through the venue.^[10]

"Shinyribs is flamboyant and has completely no rules.... He’s free and is dancing like no one’s watching. He’s all about love and having fun and celebrating life."^[2]

In addition to playing its original music, Shinyribs covers songs like "Waterfalls" (TLC), "Pony" (Ginuwine), "Buy U a Drank" (T-Pain), "All About That Bass" (Meghan Trainor), "Golden Years" (David Bowie), "I Gave Up All I Had and Sorry You're Sick" (Ted Hawkins), "Me and Paul" (Willie Nelson), "Hey Pocky A-Way" (The Meters), "The Wind Cries Mary" (Jimi Hendrix), "Heart of Stone" (The Rolling Stones), "No Diggity" (Blackstreet), and "Baby Don't You Do It" (Marvin Gaye/The Band).^[11][12][13]

Shinyribs' Kevin Russell produced Cold and Bitter Tears: The Songs of Ted Hawkins with Jenni Finlay and Brian T. Atkinson for Austin-based label Eight 30 Records. The album features Shinyribs ("Who Got My Natural Comb"), James McMurtry ("Big Things"), Kasey Chambers (the title track), and Mary Gauthier ("Sorry You're Sick").

• Kevin Russell - lead vocals, guitar, ukulele, mandolin
• Keith Langford - drums, percussion
• Mason Hankamer - bass guitar, upright bass, tuba
• Daniel "Tiger" Anaya - trumpet
• Mark Wilson - tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute
• Eric Baker - keyboards
• Marty Muse - pedal steel, lap steel, dobro, bongos
• Kellee Fuller - backing vocals, percussion
• Mars Wright - backing vocals, percussion

• Alice Spencer - backing vocals, percussion
• Kelley Mickwee - backing vocals, percussion
• Winfield Cheek - keyboards
• Jeff Brown - bass guitar
• Danny Levin - violin
• Jay Stiles - keyboards, melodica
• Courtney Santana - backing vocals
• Sally Allen - backing vocals
• Mike Stewart - bass guitar, "skwanga"

Shinyribs provided the theme song, "Our Game", for Lone Star Law, a series about game wardens within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which premiered on Animal Planet on June 2, 2016.^[14]