The Shins
The Shins – dose of Americana.

– The Shins – live at Enmore Theatre, Sydney – August 9, 2007 – Triple J Radio –

Over to Australia this morning for a 2007 concert by The Shins, playing to a sold out (and pretty jazzed) audience as Enmore Theatre in Sydney and recorded for posterity by the venerable Triple J Radio.

The Shins is the project of singer-songwriter James Mercer, who served as the band’s sole constant member throughout numerous line-up changes. The band’s current line-up consists of Mercer, alongside Yuuki Matthews (bass, keyboards), Mark Watrous (guitar, keyboards, lap steel), Patti King (keyboards), and Jon Sortland (drums).

Having worked on The Shins for nearly a decade, Mercer felt exhausted and ready to quit the band by 2008. “Mainly I was tired of being right in the middle and everything sort of revolving around me, including the friendship dynamics-slash-bandmate dynamics and the creative aspect”, Mercer explained in 2012. Noting that the band had never been bigger, some aspects of the limelight made him uncomfortable. Mercer was approached by Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) around this same period regarding a possible collaboration on a new project, which became Broken Bells. Enjoying the fresh approach with Broken Bells in regard to meeting new musicians, Mercer desired to continue that feeling. Mercer parted ways with longtime bandmates Dave Hernandez, Martin Crandall and Jesse Sandoval, terming it “an aesthetic decision”. Sandoval instead told The Portland Mercury he was “unequivocally fired” from the group by Mercer. Mercer would later relate that his decision was “tremendously difficult”, but instead wished to view it as a new phase.

This morning it’s a glimpse back at the band from 2007; a time when The Shins were achieving household name status.

Crank this one up – the Triple J disc-jockeys get a bit chatty from time to time, but at least they’re into it, so you really can’t blame them.

Enjoy the week – it’s only Monday – pace yourself.