"The Sharpies Self-Titled first release is hands-down, by far, one of my all-time favorite albums."
-Seth Sharp
Bio-
Seth and Whitey Sharp were raised on the 70's and 80's Rock of their dad in the little town of Cut and Shoot, TX. In a small town their gang 'The Sharpies (named after their surname and the Australian gang of the 70's) never amounted to more than breaking bottles and sneaking into clubs. When it was time to move Seth and Whitey headed West and picked up soul guitarist Horatio Pickett and a smokin drummer named Starlit. The Sharpies quickly took on new meaning as a high-energy stripped down rock band. They're not angry or tortured, they're just fun - really fun! And making sure their audience has as much fun as they do is their sole purpose in playing.
Since moving Reno/Tahoe they've played shows throughout the Bay area, and opened for bands such as Lit, The Sounds and Morningwood. They've had several local Radio and TV spots and their first CD was recently released, but it will be tough to replace their live show. So The Sharpies are hitting the road this summer for a quick tour of the west coast. For more information go to thesharpies.com or myspace.com/thesharpies
Jeremy Smith - Program Director KRZQ
"The sharpies have more energy, kitsch, talent and panache than any band to come out of this area, ever. Good things are definitely going to happen for this outfit"
Nina Ski - Artist/Promoter
"Drag Racing is the closest thing I know to sex, but The Sharpies are pretty close to drag racing!"
The Lowdown - July 2005
Tahoe Rock Sensation - The Sharpies
"To describe The Sharpies sound would be like describing Superman's powers. To have someone explain it to you does it little justice; you need to see the show for yourself."
Action Magazine 1/2004 - Tripp Mickle
Garage Rockers Mark Up Scene-
"...expect a classic garage rock sound laced with punk and blues influences. It's not heavy, it's not pop. It's really just high-energy, fun, stripped-down rock n' roll."
The Bot - Summer/2003 - A Miss Merry Zine
"They all sport bleached denim jackets with The Sharpies spray painted on their backs. But hey! Enough about the grand image that is The Sharpies. Let's get into the rock. These guys are definitely musicians. The lyrics are just so.... "Hi, I'm from Texas. I like to rock 'n' roll." You'll find them irresistible, infectious and just fun. Check them out. You'll understand."
Reno News and Review - 11/27/2003
Permanent mark
The Sharpies - by Brad Bynum
"The Sharpies" is a great rock 'n' roll band name. It evokes everyone's favorite brand of felt tip marker--a tool used for mundane activities like package-labeling and casual acts of graffiti. It's a common household object that, after all, has a weird name and the potential to be used for subversive expression. The name reminds one of sharp-thinking, but it also sounds a bit dumb. It has something of a cutting edge. It's a band name that's so obviously good, it's surprising it hasn't been used before.
"People often think it's a clever name--but it's really not," says singer-guitarist Seth, whose last name is the same as his brothers and band-mates Eddie and Whitey: Sharp. "It was really an obvious choice."
In addition to being blessed with a fortuitously rocking surname, this band of brothers hails from a town likewise blessed: Cut and Shoot, Texas. But the band is now based in Truckee and has been enjoying rocking all over northern California, including the Bay Area. Now, they're planning on bringing the rocking good times to Reno.
The band has a classic garage rock sound: minimal, dirty, attitudinal fun with just a touch of punk and blues influences. The songs sound like classic rock fist-pumpers dressed up in dirty punk clothing. The songs rock, but are much more danceable and infectious than ferocious or noisy. The tunes exude a bit of cooler-than-thou rock 'n' roll arrogance, but the band is humble, good-humored and casual about their energetic music.
"We're a rock 'n' roll band," says Seth. "Our only rules for songs are that they can't be too serious and they all have to be fun and high energy." The band is essentially out to have a good time and to create a good time for their audiences, who should no doubt appreciate their brotherly charms.
"It's like the Partridge family or something--but what are you going to do?" says drummer Eddie.
The song "Bomb Drop" seems to have both lyrical and musical allusions to AC/DC. It's built around a "Thunderstruck"-like riff and Seth, singing in a garage band yelp, mentions "TNT" and "dynamite."
The pyromaniac seduction song "On Fire" highlights the band's rhythm section. Whitey's bass lines are propulsive and overdriven, and Eddie swings and blasts and isn't afraid to use a cowbell.
"Ladies love a cowbell," he says, laughing.
Seth's guitar solos, which start out dramatically and veer toward the edge of falling apart before returning to big sloppy rock riffs, are another of the band's strengths. He points to classic early Kinks singles like "You Really Got Me" as a big influence on the band as a whole and his guitar-playing in particular.
The band has an EP, CSCR, and has plans to record a full-length soon. They have a nice Web site, with pictures and audio files, at www.thesharpies.com but this is a band that's primarily about playing live and making sure drunken people go home with big grins and ringing ears. So their upcoming Reno shows will be the place to catch them--because the band is looking forward, as Eddie puts it, "to rocking out in Reno."
This article can be viewed at the following location:
http://www.newsreview.com/issues/reno/2003-11-27/music.asp
The Union 10/22/03
When RocknRoll Dons Denim-
It's time to put on jeans, bleach your denim jacket, and hit the streets because The Sharpies are coming to town! The trio of brothers who all sport bleached denim jackets with "the Sharpies" spray-painted on their backs put on a show that's all RocknRoll. These guys are so Tom-Cruise-Risky-Business it boggles the mind! said one writer for 'The Bot' referring to the 1980's movie. Weather it's Eddies antics, Seth's guitar playing, or the fact that the bassist looks and plays like Lurch from the Addam's family! - 'They're guaranteed to raise a smile.'
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