Hide and Shine

The songs of Hide and Shine seem unusual but feel so familiar—like nostalgia that you can’t quite put your finger on. The band’s first description was “An Art Death Indie Post-Punk Country Rock Alternative.” Record store addicts determined that the music had the raw, literary punk of The Replacements, the sweet monstrous attack of Dinosaur Jr., the dark introspection of Radiohead, and noticeable nods to grunge, classic metal, classic country and classic rock. The music is “laden with a punk attitude, but nonetheless spiritually inclined.” The lyrics often hint at esoteric themes. There is also a deep note of social empathy, but it never emerges as “political.” It’s more concerned with humanity and buried under poetry. The work began in 2022, when songwriter Chris Kelly received another "psychic download" of 50 song ideas. He shared them with drummer Michael Chambers after meeting at a party. The concept of “band” was not in the consciousness of these veterans of New York City’s 90s/2000s post-punk/art rock/alt-country scene. But a powerful feeling of energy and movement came with the songs—like they wanted to say something and go somewhere. The decision to form a band brought the arrival of Chris Ferguson and the band recorded its debut album, Soft Machines (2024). The late, legendary Steve Albini mixed the raw material into its final state of cohesive magic. In 2025 the band released its second album, The Red Core, and welcomed David Andersen as the new bassist.