There is an elusive sweet spot at the crossroads where soul music, country, and rock’n’roll intersect, and the Austin, TX-based band Shurman hits that bulls-eye dead on. The band has gained a reputation as a “must see live act” built on their sweat-drenched live shows and relentless touring schedule. Underneath the raw energy and grit of the band’s performance lie memorable songs that breathe the truths of unrequited love, life experiences, and emotions both familiar and haunting.
At the heart of Shurman is the songwriting and voice of Aaron Beavers, who founded the band in Los Angeles in 2001. Since then, he has built a dedicated grassroots following over the course of three self-released EPs, and 4 full-length recordings. In 2008, Aaron returned to his native state of Texas from the West Coast to “retune the band” with musicians from the vibrant Austin music scene. Now a dream team of such killer players as bassist Mike Therieau, lead guitarist Harley Husbands, and Clint Short on the drum kit behind Beavers, the group stands ready to fulfill All Music Guide’s prediction that its “songwriting and synchronicity will carve out a distinct place for the band on the contemporary music scene.”
In 2011, Beavers spent the year on the road as a member of Grammy-winning artist John Popper’s Duskray Troubadours but somehow, Shurman still found time to make 3 full-length recordings. The first of the releases, A Shurman and Family Holiday Album Vol.1, was released on 12/1/12 on the band’s label, Teletone Records to much critical acclaim. It features the band performing with a handful of their good friends who happen to be members of bands like the Mother Truckers, Stonehoney, Roger Clyne’s Peacemakers & Blues Traveler. The records were mixed in the New Mexico mountains north of Santa Fe by fellow Duskray Troubadour, Jono Manson, who also guests on a song. Shurman’s highly anticipated studio release, Inspiration, was released in late 2012 on German label Blue Rose Records with a very special Shurman Live at Roadhouse Rags to follow in fall 2013.
Currently the band is finishing up demos and readying for a 30-date European tour that kicks off on November 13, 2013 and stretches through mid December. In January 2014 the band will be entering the studio with award-winning songwriter and producer Ray Wylie Hubbard to record their 7th studio album to be released later this summer. In the words of the LA Weekly’s music editor Gen Starkey “I defy anyone not to love this