The Shames

The Shames

The Shames are a 1960s garage band from Ipswich, Massachusetts, formed in 1964. The group includes Denis Trudel on lead vocals, Joey Amerault on drums, James “JB” Amero on lead guitar, Patty “Beetle” Germoni on keyboards, and Gerard Trudel on bass. They are also associated with the names The Dimensions and The Cryin’ Shames.

Style and background

The band is described as part of the New York tradition associated with acts such as the Velvet Underground, the Ramones and the Strokes, while still retaining its own identity. Their music is linked with a New York “state of mind” rather than direct imitation of those bands. The track “The Transmigration Of Timothy Archer” is noted for having a rough surface and a softer core, and the closing song “Feel So Sad” is presented as a pop-rock piece marked by bitterness, heartache and hope.

Notable material

“Feel So Sad” is singled out as a classic pop song in the band’s catalogue, and is described as comparable in spirit to the sound of Loaded and Is This It. The song is mentioned as the closing track on The Transmigration Of Timothy Archer.