All over but the shoutin’ — Shaker Hoods are done

Local motorcycle rockers the Shaker Hoods are callin’ it quits. The trio, led by bassist and singer Jon Freeman, had been blasting local clubs with balls-out guitar rock for about a year and a half. Pitch contributor Richard Gintowt profiled the band back in April 2008. Freeman announced the break-up and offered bitter advice to the music scene in a MySpace bulletin last night. Read it and weep:

“Hey all,

I don’t know if anybody reads these anymore but I think I’ll make an official announcement anyway. The Shaker Hoods are done. We’ve officially broken up.

The reason…doesn’t matter.

However, let me just say this. Thanks to ALL of you that supported what we did and there were several of you. Thanks especially to Swede from FatCat Radio who really believed in this band and aired us nearly every week on the Big Show which has listeners Worldwide. Thanks to all the clubs that let us borrow your stage and rock!! Thanks to those of you that bought our CD’s and merch. Thanks to Jud Kite for being a bad ass designer and also believing in this band. Thanks to the Marchman’s parents for letting us make a LOT of noise in their home on a weekly basis. Thanks to Marcy from P. Ott’s for keeping Sunday night rock alive as long as possible and sincerely digging our CD. Thanks to you boys up in Larryville that spun us on your local show – a bunch. Thanks to Jason Nivens. Thanks to Danny Alexander and the other good reviews we received on the record. Thanks to Richard Gintowt and The Pitch for giving us a half page of your paper to promote the band. Thank you… EACH and every one of you that positively shined a light on us— because nobody owes us anything.

And now for a bit of venting…

Bands…when you have a show DO help promote it. Not just for own band but for the others. Help the music scene thrive. Best it can. Things kinda suck right now with the economy but musicians in this town are seriously WAY too lazy WAY too often and it affects everything. Promoters — PROMOTE the show. It’s your job. If you don’t want to do it – don’t call yourself a promoter. Do something else. I get the finger pointed at me FAR too often when a crowd isn’t there for MY band. I can’t MAKE people show up and I can’t make ANYONE else support live music. I can’t make anyone do their job. One thing I can guarantee you though is that I’ve done a LOT to promote the shows I’ve been a part of. Ask Sherrie at the Brick, ask Chris Meck @ Davey’s, ask Tim @ The Riot Room if I’ve ever attempted to promote the shows I’m a part of. I also try to help promote the other bands, best I can.

I’m tired now. Tired of watching shit happen. I hope to play music in this city again. I really do. If you’re reading this and you’re a part of the KC music scene…do something that positively impacts it. For everyone.

Sincerely,

—Jon Freeman”