Shotwell

A San Francsco based political punk band originally known on their first 7" 1995 single release as Shotwell Coho, they later shortened the name to just Shotwell. The band has released numerous tracks via CD & vinyl through various small indie labels, the most widely distributed being Broken Rekids. The main consistent member has been frontman Jimmy Broustis, an ex- member of both Strawman and X-tal, for whom he also served as guitarist and occasional singer on those band's early 90's records.

In 2008 the band released it's latest full length vinyl LP & CD "Patriot" on Thrillhouse Records, compiled from several recordings done over a 3 year period in Emeryville CA.

The earliest incarnation of the Shotwell was notable for featuring drummer & zine editor/writer Aaron Cometbus, who at the time, lived in the band's rehearsal space, and has played in numerous bands ranging from Crimpshrine and Pinhead Gunpowder to more obscure one off acts. The first Shotwell Coho show took place in December 1994, opening for Sublime at Komotion, a collectively run warehouse studio performance center in San Francisco's Mission District.

In 1997 the band put together "Celery, Beef & Iron", a CD/10" vinyl releae on Broken Rekids which was compiled from 2 studio recordings, one done with drummer Steve Moriarty ( The Gits, as well as tracks made in Wisconsin with drummer Pete Simonelli (now singer of the Enablers). Also playing on both sessions of that release were bassist Greg Snyder (ex-Bedlam Rovers) and Tony Rojas (ex-FLOPhOUSE).

Jimmy formed other line ups, and developed an underground aesthetic which saw the band avoiding conventional nightclubs & bar shows, often playing gigs in house parties, record stores, and often on the streets and demonstrations by utilizing generators, or tapping into power sources located in bus shelters. They also toured extensively playing a DIY circuit that occasionally saw them pairing up with bands like J Church, and Jack Palance Band.

Other releases included a split release with Miami for which the Shotwell side was known as "Geneva Ave Fallout". Those lo-fi recordings made by Matty Luv of Hickey (R.I.P) were 4 track efforts and came out via a split vinyl LP/CD in 2000.

They later made "The Devil Has Its Day", first available on Plan-It-X records and later through self pressings. These guys sell their stuff at shows, and regular distro outlets are scarce hence it is hard to find their several compilations & split 7" releases.

Unlike the Epitaph/Fat/Victory scenesters, these guys never made pretensensions of professionalism, and are unconcerned about radio play, selling merch, or getting onto the corporate Warped Tour circuit. Influenced by Anarchism, sloppy Johnny Thunders era punk & The Clash, this not the suburban shtick that's put on radio & television to sell lifestyle apparel. Shotwell make pure punk for not-so-now people. They are a true non-commercial D.I.Y punk band.






http://thrillhouserecords.com/Shotwell LP info.html