The Shamaniacs

Band members:

The history

The Shamaniacs have been together in one form or another since August 1992. Jon and Dave are the creators of the Shamaniacs, and have been in for the long haul. Dominic has been with us for several years, and supplies the rhythmic drive behind the Shamaniacs sound. Dave Kaplan has been playing lead guitar recently, and his versatile, creative style meshes well with the Shamaniac sound.

Peter is occasionally lead guitarist, and brings with him his own alternative sound and original songs. Peter has been primarily in New York, but he returns annually to play in the Freemont Solstice Parade.

Ths Shamaniacs have made several trips to Greenwich Village in New Your to play the local clubs, and were fortunate to perform at CBGB's before it closed. They have been out of sight for a while, but now they are performing live once again, and working on their CD.

The Music

It sounds a little cliché, but the music of the Shamaniacs defies classification. The creative endeavors of three song-writers with diverse interests weave a far-reaching web of influences. The majority of the music is rhythmic and dance-able, and its roots are in rock/pop, but there are also hints of funk, swing, folk rock, world beat, Gothic and grunge. The Shamaniacs have played a number of public performances mostly through grass roots connections.

Their music pulses with powerful rhythms which bring the audience to their feet and onto the dance floor. As rhythmic as they are, the songs are vocally oriented with two and three part harmonies for flavor. The diverse personalities of the members come through in the lyrics. Jon is a builder of community and the founder of the Healing Earth vegan food company. His songs express the trial of personal growth and a perennial hope for the future and all of our, as of yet unrealized, possibilities. Dave is a quiet mystic, an explorer of alternative life-styles, and physicist. Although his songs are often a little strange, they tend to center around the immediate personal experiences we all share. Peter has over twenty years experience in the NYC music scene, holding his own with Mayhem, the Fourth Floor (opening for Kiss and playing Woodstock II) and playing in countless other acts. His alternative rock sound balances nicely with the group as a whole. Nick drives the music's infectious grove with his artful drumming; he is undeniably on his way towards his goal of becoming a master drummer.

The CD

The Shamaniacs have been working on their CD. Soon some demo songs will be available on this site, including short excerpts from the CBGB show. These precursors of the final CD will offer a taste of the Shamaniacs sound.

Tentative titles from HUNGRY:

Upcoming Shows

Contact