For some people, Eureka, California is somewhere on the way between San Francisco and the Great NorthWest. Some drive through without stopping, and that might be a wise choice, because the ones who do stop inevitably find they don’t want to leave. It’s a fairly gorgeous place, with access to forests, and the ocean, and a very vibrant culture that seems to take the sleepy town possibilities and turn it into a source of endless inspiration. With a nearby university, there is always something happening, and the whole things adds up to a very well-kept secret.
If there are any defining characteristics here, it’s the lack of adherence to any defining characteristic. These are individuals, but not necessarily of the rugged sort. It has a laid-back atmosphere that makes it a perfect place to stop and spend time in the hotels. Eureka has a way of charming its visitors, and the long-time residents also seem to feel that pretty keenly. In terms of a musical identity, the field is well-populated, and also still very wide open. One can see acts representing the far north of California, but also work from the sister cities like Portland make their way down. One of the acts that seems to capture a new kind of sound that seems to make sense here is the Shook Twins .
They have played with Michele Shocked, along with Soul Asylum, and the Bodeans. Their list of inspirations is also very well-pedigreed, but they are certainly originals. Like so many things that happen in Eureka, to hear them play one might wonder why more people don’t know their music. But there’s a deep suspicion that soon everyone will, so for now it’s best to just enjoy the intimacy of it while it happens here. They are indeed twins, Katelyn and Laurie , and they’ve been playing together for 5 years. At only 25 years old, they have a sound that is remarkably developed, and one that could only come from people who have spent some time in the same womb.
One of their most startling tricks is the electronic loop. It’s nothing new in contemporary music, but it is interesting, and in their hands it’s a tremendous instrument. They already have the same vocal chords, and when these are further doubled, their harmonies reach geometric heights that are mathematically and artistically blissful.
