The Shins Tickets

The Shins News and Information The Shins are a Portland, Ore., band that has successfully fused a number of eclectic genres, including alternative, country, pop and folk.

Singer/guitarist/songwriter James Russell Mercer, keyboardist/guitarist/bassist Martin Crandall, bassist/guitarist Dave Hernandez and drummer Jesse Sandoval came together in 1997 as a side project of Mercer. The bands first tour was with Modest Mouse, where they met a Sub Pop music label representative who helped them to release their debut.

In 2001, the band released "Oh, Inverted World,” which was featured heavily in the film indie "Garden State.” The collection was a critical success, due mainly to its innovative pop sound. "Chutes Too Narrow” was the next release in 2003, and was a hit among indie rock fans.

A number of years passed before the band released "Wincing the Night Away” in 2007. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart after selling 118,000 copies in its first week - the highest position for any Sub Pop act.

The band has certainly been progressing as a live act. In the summer of 2006, they performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with fellow indie rockers Belle & Sebastian. The show was electric, with lots of instrument swaps throughout - both bands have said that the show was a career highlight.

The Shins are surely thriving on the indie circuit - they were nominated for three mtvU Woodie Awards: "Woodie of the Year,” "Alumni Woodie” and "Viral Woodie.”

Ever since their "Garden State” appearance, the group has been blowing up on the scene - and they will surely only be getting bigger!