Bio
The four-piece has been energetically slinging a piano, double bass, guitar and drum kit all around London for a couple of years now. And with their brand of piano bashing cockney ska, their authentic rock’n’roll sound and eminently catchy feel-good songs, they have already established a large fan-base across the capital and beyond, not to mention the recording of a magnificent debut album entitled “Our Night Out”, released Autumn 2009.
Buster Shuffle’s line-up consists of Jethro Baker, on piano and lead vocals, “the best drummer you could find” Terry Mascall, on drums, Tim Connell aka Popeye Doyle, on double bass and James Stickley on guitar and backing vocals.
Since the release of their debut album “Our Night Out”, the boys have left their beloved London to go on the road supporting The Holloways on their recent UK tour, as well as to play a number of select live dates with the likes of The Wombats, The Paddingtons, The Rifles and White Lies. The boys also showed their never-say-die spirit when they embarked a (truly unplugged) ten-gigs-in-a-day marathon during the “Play Me I’m Your Festival” based around a number of pianos strategically placed by the Mayor at various landmarks around London — miraculously evading arrest and much to the delight and amusement of thronging crowds.
When they supported Goldie Looking Chain, a member of the Welsh rapping band told the boys: “Don’t take this the wrong way but my Mum would really like you and so would my girlfriend.” But that’s alright because this is the charm of the band; piano stomper Jethro was also told by another fan that, “Everyone’s got a bit of Buster Shuffle in them.”
You can’t fail to have a good time at one of Buster Shuffle’s gigs with beer-swilling-in-the-air-tunes like, “Me, Myself and I”, “You’re Alright” and “I’ll Get My Coat”. It doesn’t matter whether young or old, it is virtually impossible not to start dancing/moving when you hear the band play.
It was their hugely entertaining and energetic live shows, coupled with Baker’s no-nonsense, unpretentious lyrics and well-crafted tunes that initially caught the eye and ears of Art Brut guitarist Ian Catskilkin, who produced the album. Buster Shuffle decided to follow in the footsteps of American bands like Vampire Weekend and The Fleet Foxes, who also put together homemade albums. Jethro says: “We did two days in a studio to get all the drums and the backing tracks down, nailed it and then spent two weeks in my bedroom in my sleeping bag – used as a sound-booth, gaffa-taped to the roof.”
The result is “Our Night Out”, an eclectic mix of high-spirited, rocking songs that tell stories about everyday life aimed to make their audience laugh at the simple things in life and the world around them instead of taking things too seriously. Arguments, bus journeys, cats, relationships, mates, America, political love affairs, dirty older women, anti-social behaviour, fish’n’chips—you name it, they’ll sing about it! Their latest video for their new single for instance tells a witty and all too familiar tale of how a normal nights always seem to go wrong — accompanied of course by Buster Shuffle’s characteristically infectious ska beat and relentless energy.
At times they seem more English than The Queen, which is reflected in their music and the kind of venues they used to play, such as The King’s Head in north London, The Dolphin in Hackney and the Bethnal Green Working Man’s Club, where the debut video for the splendid ‘Me, Myself and I’, was filmed. And the sharp arrangements and superbly crafted songs on the album translate well into the live context, which is why Buster Shuffle have been playing regular slots at London’s top indie club night “This Feeling”, as well as numerous shows at premier London club nights, such as Proud Camden and 93 Feet East.
Buster Shuffle, with their young, talented team of various independent music industry heads around them, are nothing if not intrepid, going it alone come what may, because that’s what they do best. And it seems to be working. They have had already had Radio 1 play by Steve Lemacq and Gary Crowley BBC Radio London and received several rave reviews, including 4/5 Stars in Uncut to add their growing reputation as a live band.