Shiner

Allen Epley - guitar
Jason Gerken - drums
Paul Malinowski - bass
Josh Newton - guitar

Shiner was given the gift of life in October of 1992 in Kansas City, Missouri with original members Allen Epley (guitar), Jeff Brown (drums), and Shawn Sherrill (bass). In spring of 1993, Tim Dow (Season to Risk) replaced Jeff on drums. The band soon began playing many shows, often getting the prime spot when national acts such as Shudder to Think, Sunny Day Real Estate, Girls Against Boys, The Jesus Lizard, and Jawbox came to town. Indeed, it was Jawbox who first “discovered” the prodigious talent of this band. DeSoto Records offered the band the chance to record a 7” on their esteemed label, at which they jumped. All the while the band continued to do small tours and many local shows.

The 7” on DeSoto went very well, so well in fact that Kim & Bill Barbot gave them the opportunity to do a full length album on their label. This was special to Kim & Bill also because it was DeSoto’s first full length release. Bob Weston was recruited to record the band at Steve Albini’s home studio in Chicago. The album was recorded the first five days of January 1995, and was subsequently dubbed Splay. From here on, the band toured extensively and successfully with much mirth in their hearts.

Later that year the band went through a few more line-up changes, bringing in Mike Harbin to play bass on their tour before finally settling on Paul Malinowski (Season to Risk) as a permanent bass guitarist. After Paul’s arrival, the band’s tours continued to be increasingly successful and the gospel of Shiner seemed to be spreading like a virus.

Friend and record mogul Ken Waagner offered the band the chance to do a full length on HitIt! Recordings. Shiner went into the Chicago Recording Company in June of 1996, and gave birth to an 11 song piece of work and called her Lula Divinia. Malinowski mixed Lula Divinia after the first mix was scrapped - the production is mentioned by fans almost as much as the music itself. Lula Divinia reached the hands of Subpop guru, Jonathan Poneman, who loved it and asked the band to do a two song 7”. Shiner pumped out Sleep it Off and Half Empty, which was released December of 1997.

At the end of February 2000, the newest Shiner record, "Starless", will be released on OWNED AND OPERATED RECORDS. The label is run and owned by Bill and Stephen from the Descen- dants and All. Shiner will be on tour between April and June.

Releases:

Starless full length CD - Owned and Operated Records, April 2000

Making Love EP CD - 4 live songs, October 1999

Sleep It Off/Half Empty 7"- SubPop Records, 1997

Lula Divinia full length CD - Hitit! Recordings, 1997

HeShe CD Kansas City Misery Compilation - Red Decibal Records, 1995

Floodwater/Cowboy 7"- Hitit! Recordings, 1995

Splay LP CD - DeSoto Records, 1995

Crush/Exhaust Split 7" w/ Molly McGuire- Hitit! Recordings, 1994

Brooks/Released 7" Desoto Records, 1994