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The Shondes Are Queer Rock Joy Bombs

[caption id="attachment_46439" align="aligncenter" width="607" caption="The Shondes serve violin realness"][/caption]

When I first heard their music, I didn't know anything about The Shondes. I didn't know they were a queer, Jewish rock band. I didn't know their third album Searchlights was written as an affirmation of life while their guitarist was treated for cancer. I didn't know they believe the violin can a be vital rock instrument.

I just knew their music brought me joy. Like, I need to put down this ice cream cone and start dancing right now because those drums are kicking my ass and that sunny guitar is adding playfulness to the beat. I'd better start spinning around the street because singer Louisa Solomon is channeling The Go-Gos and Sleater-Kinney, and when she wails out, there's just no chance of being sad. Ever. Even in prison.

Listen to The Shondes' song "Are You Ready" and see what I mean...

I know right?!?!? It's punk and pop combined, but more importantly, it's effortlessly alive.  "Are You Ready" is a well-crafted, well-executed ditty, but it still sounds spontaneous, like a rock explosion that just happened to be recorded.

Even if they promoted illiteracy and kitten violence, I'd like The Shondes' music. It's a bonus, then, that they also seem cool. And that they're unapologetically queer. And that they write thoughtful songs about their radical Jewish politics. (The band's name is the Yiddish word for "disgrace.") They're clearly a band that will reward me if I dig deeper into their lyrics and their back catalog.

I look forward to learning more about the band and what they do, but I can't right now because I have to go dance around my room to "Are You Ready." And then I have to bump the song "Give Me What You Got" at top volume until everyone on my block comes over for a party.

Mark Blankenship has written about pop music for The New York Times and NPR. He tweets as @IAmBlankenship. He hopes his boyfriend likes this music, because he's been playing it for an hour.

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