Little Hits is a Record Label!
The Shebangs - Maybe Yes, Maybe No
(Little Hits Records 45, 2007)
The Shebangs are absolutely an inspiration to everyone who has unwisely neglected their rock and roll dreams. Three thirty-something women (Vocalist/bassist Tamyra Heim, Guitarist Anne Tangeman, Drummer Kit Cole) decide to learn instruments and form a rock band because…well…because they’d always wanted to. After a few get-togethers and some flailing about, the band discovers that bassist Tamyra Heim, drawing on years of fandom/obsession, writes spiffy little garage toons, and sings ‘em well too. A token boy (Bret Dillingham) is added to beef up the guitar sound. Anne leaves to pursue other interests. Gigs are played. Mo’ better songs are written.
Summer 2005. On a day that has seen a number of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, the Shebangs play a very sparsely attended gig at the Booby Trap in Topeka. Trust me, you’d a’ liked to been there. Relaxed and confident, the band rips through a batch of Heim originals and cool covers (Saints, Nasty Facts). Meanwhile, Jon stands in the audience, thinking that this is about the most punk rock thing he’s ever seen and grinning so hard his face hurts. When they launch into “Maybe Yes, Maybe No,” Jon realizes that this cannot be the best of all possible worlds unless and until the Shebangs have a 45 out.
A few months later, in an abandoned beauty shop in Kansas City, Chris Wagner readies his trusty eight-track tape machine (and mono mixdown deck) and the Shebangs plow through a few beers and songs. Chris tweaks and conjures, and a fine time is had by most. A few weeks later Jon, Kit and Chris mix at the same beauty shop until, due to a heater on the fritz and high temperatures in the teens, their fingers can no longer move. One more session with Peter Buxton fine-tuning the mix, and we’re ready to go.
Then a long wait ensues as Jon drags his ass for months. I’m sure most Little Hits watchers are familiar with this kind of thing.
But we’re not here to dwell on the events of the past. We’re here to celebrate the arrival of Little Hits LH45-01. And I do mean celebrate. “Maybe Yes, Maybe No” with its cool R & B shake and freakbeat-inspired guitar solo hearkens back to the 60s, but ultimately remains tough and timeless rock and roll. The flip, a cover of the Saints “A Minor Aversion,” is just as stunning; a cool folk-punk arrangement, and a rather amazing vocal performance by Tamyra Heim.
I’m proud of the Shebangs. I’m proud of this record. It sits in my drawer right between 45s by Sandie Shaw and the Sheep (AKA the Strangeloves). That seems eerily appropriate.
This record is available for $3.50 postage paid in the US, $6.50 worldwide. Inquiries can be made at the address on the “About” page. Please buy this so I can do another.
After a lengthy hiatus, the Shebangs again return to the Lawrence stage with a show at the Jackpot on February 3 with the Time Flies + band to be named later.
Disclosure statements. The drummer, Kit Cole, is my wife. Kit and I often play cards with Bret and his wife, Aimee. Tamyra and I sometimes have beers and talk about the Church and Echo and the Bunnymen. The Time Flies is my new band.
-Jon Harrison
