Music: The Shanks

By Mike Breen for CityBeat

Toronto-based The Shanks’ classics-influenced Rock & Roll rumble draws all of its power and thunder from just two musicians — frontman/singer/songwriter/bassist Pistolwhip von Shankenstein and drummer/singer Colonel Crankshaft. Like Death From Above 1979, the duo — which was founded in 2005 — creates a whirling dervish of Rock sounds with distorted bass and expansive drumming but more resembles a thunderous, modern-day Blue Oyster Cult (mixed with a little Johnny Thunders swagger) than DFA’s Punk and Metal break-neck mayhem.

The duo — which has previously drawn attention from college radio and scored an album of the year nomination from Exclaim! magazine — is currently working with the Cincinnati-based Counter Rhythm Group promo organization to break the States. Things really picked up for the twosome in 2011 and the group’s recent three-track “Feel the Holes” digital single provides a hint of great things to come. The title track was issued in conjunction with a powerful music video, filmed in Cincinnati as a tribute to the 1979 concert tragedy when 11 fans were trampled to death waiting to see The Who in concert at Riverfront Coliseum (check citybeat.com’s music blog for a look at the cool clip).

The Shanks play The Comet (4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside) Saturday as part of the free, 10 p.m. release party for the new split LP featuring local bands Swear Jar and Knife the Symphony. Visit cometbar.com for venue details.