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m →Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Sarah and Eric started the Disarmers in 2014 not 2013. They were still playing as the Devil in 2013 and the Dirty Hands in late 2013/early 2014.
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{{short description|American country music singer-songwriter}}
{{short description|American country singer}}
{{distinguish|Sarah Snook}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sarah Shook
| name = River Shook
| image =
| alt =
| alt =
| caption =
| caption = River Shook- photo by Brett Villena
| birth_name = Sarah Marie Shook
| birth_name = Sarah Marie Shook
| background = solo_singer
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1985}}
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1985}}
| birth_place = [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], [[New York (state)|New York]] [[United States|U.S.]]
| birth_place = [[Rochester, New York]] U.S.
| origin = [[Chatham County, North Carolina|Chatham County]], [[North Carolina]] [[United States|U.S.]]
| origin = [[Chatham County, North Carolina]] U.S.
| genre = Country
| genre = [[Alternative country]], [[indie rock]]
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| instrument = Vocals<br/>Guitar
| instrument = Vocals, guitar
| years_active = 2005–present
| years_active = 2005–present
| label = [[Bloodshot Records]]
| label = [[Bloodshot Records]]<br />[[Thirty Tigers]]<br />[[Kill Rock Stars]]
| associated_acts = Sarah Shook & the Disarmers<br/>Sarah Shook & The Devil
| current_member_of = Sarah Shook & The Disarmers<br/>Mightmare
| past_member_of = Sarah Shook & The Devil<br/>Sarah Shook & The Dirty Hands
}}
}}
'''Sarah Marie Shook''' (born September 15, 1985) is an American country music singer-songwriter from North Carolina.<ref name=AuntieBellum-Profile-2016>{{cite news|last1=Kane|first1=Meeghan|title=Sarah Shook on Hellholes, Homes, Writing Music, and Southern Women|url=http://auntiebellum.org/mag/sarah-shook-on-hellholes-homes-writing-music-and-southern-women/|work=Auntie Bellum Magazine|date=28 June 2016}}</ref><ref name=Fader-NothinFeelsRight-2017>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Duncan|title=Meet Sarah Shook, Country Music's Radical And Ordinary Hero|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/04/sarah-shook-interview-sidelong-video|work=[[The Fader]]|date=4 May 2017}}</ref> Their "high lonesome" style incorporates [[Cowpunk|country-punk]] and [[twang]], with shades of [[outlaw country]].<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Ferguson|first1=Maeri|title=Sarah Shook Gives No F***s|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/sarah-shook-gives-no-fs|work=[[No Depression (magazine)|No Depression]]|date=1 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-May-2017>{{cite news|last1=Cholst|first1=Rachel|title=Deadly Accuracy With Sarah Shook and the Disarmers|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/deadly-accuracy-sarah-shook-and-disarmers|work=[[No Depression (magazine)|No Depression]]|date=8 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=Glide-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Christian|first1=Trevor|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers' Give New LP 'Sidelong' Plenty of Pull & Punch (Interview)|url=https://glidemagazine.com/184322/sarah-shook-disarmers-give-new-lp-sidelong-plenty-pull-punch-interview/|work=Glide Magazine|date=8 May 2017}}</ref>
'''River Shook''' (born September 15, 1985), known professionally as '''Sarah Shook''', is an American [[Country music|country]] singer-songwriter from [[Chatham County, North Carolina]].<ref name=AuntieBellum-Profile-2016>{{cite news|last1=Kane|first1=Meeghan|title=Sarah Shook on Hellholes, Homes, Writing Music, and Southern Women|url=http://auntiebellum.org/mag/sarah-shook-on-hellholes-homes-writing-music-and-southern-women/|work=Auntie Bellum Magazine|date=28 June 2016}}</ref><ref name=Fader-NothinFeelsRight-2017>{{cite news|last1=Cooper|first1=Duncan|title=Meet Sarah Shook, Country Music's Radical And Ordinary Hero|url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/04/sarah-shook-interview-sidelong-video|work=[[The Fader]]|date=4 May 2017}}</ref> Their "high lonesome" style incorporates [[Cowpunk|country-punk]], [[twang]], and [[outlaw country]].<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Ferguson|first1=Maeri|title=Sarah Shook Gives No F***s|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/sarah-shook-gives-no-fs|work=[[No Depression (magazine)|No Depression]]|date=1 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-May-2017>{{cite news|last1=Cholst|first1=Rachel|title=Deadly Accuracy With Sarah Shook and the Disarmers|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/deadly-accuracy-sarah-shook-and-disarmers|work=[[No Depression (magazine)|No Depression]]|date=8 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=Glide-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Christian|first1=Trevor|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers' Give New LP 'Sidelong' Plenty of Pull & Punch (Interview)|url=https://glidemagazine.com/184322/sarah-shook-disarmers-give-new-lp-sidelong-plenty-pull-punch-interview/|work=Glide Magazine|date=8 May 2017}}</ref>


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Shook was born in [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. They were homeschooled and grew up in a [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist Christian]] family where music was restricted; they were permitted only to listen to [[Classical music|classical]] and [[Contemporary worship music|worship music]].<ref name=TheBoot-Years-2018>{{cite news|last1=Stefano|first1=Angela|title=Interview: Sarah Shook & the Disarmers Come Armed With Country Melodies, Biting Wit on 'Years'|url=http://theboot.com/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-years-interview-2018/|work=[[The Boot (website)|The Boot]]|date=6 April 2018|language=en}}</ref> When Shook was 9 years old they taught themselves [[piano]],<ref name=AmSongwriter-Years-2018>{{cite news|title=Instant and Total Catharsis: A Q&A with Sarah Shook|url=http://americansongwriter.com/2018/04/instant-total-catharsis-qa-sarah-shook/|work=[[American Songwriter]]|date=17 April 2018}}</ref> and in high school they taught themselves [[acoustic guitar]].<ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015 />
Shook was born in [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], [[New York (state)|New York]]. They were homeschooled and grew up in a [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist Christian]] family where music was restricted; they were permitted only to listen to [[Classical music|classical]] and [[Contemporary worship music|worship music]].<ref name=TheBoot-Years-2018>{{cite news|last1=Stefano|first1=Angela|title=Interview: Sarah Shook & the Disarmers Come Armed With Country Melodies, Biting Wit on 'Years'|url=http://theboot.com/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-years-interview-2018/|work=[[The Boot (website)|The Boot]]|date=6 April 2018|language=en}}</ref> When Shook was 9 years old they taught themself [[piano]],<ref name=AmSongwriter-Years-2018>{{cite news|title=Instant and Total Catharsis: A Q&A with Sarah Shook|url=http://americansongwriter.com/2018/04/instant-total-catharsis-qa-sarah-shook/|work=[[American Songwriter]]|date=17 April 2018}}</ref> and in high school they taught themself [[acoustic guitar]].<ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015 />


The family moved often when Shook was young. In July 2005, when they were 19 years old, they and their family moved to [[Garner, North Carolina|Garner]], [[North Carolina]].<ref name=AuntieBellum-Profile-2016 /><ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015 />
The family moved often when Shook was young. In July 2005, when they were 19 years old, they and their family moved to [[Garner, North Carolina|Garner]], [[North Carolina]].<ref name=AuntieBellum-Profile-2016 /><ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015 />
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In 2010, Shook started their first band, Sarah Shook and the Devil. The band was made up of Shook on vocals and guitar, Jon Baughman on [[Bass guitar|bass]], Phil Sullivan on [[Lap steel guitar|lap steel]], and Eric Peterson on guitar. The band released a seven-song EP, 2013's ''Seven''<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-2015>{{cite news|last1=Britt|first1=Grant|title=Hard Core Shook Country|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/hard-core-shook-country|work=[[No Depression (magazine)|No Depression]]|date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=GrafWV-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Cutler|first1=Joey|title=Sarah Shook & the Disarmers hit the roadi|url=http://www.grafwv.com/page/content.detail/id/506818/Sarah-Shook---the-Disarmers-hit-the-road.html?nav=5017|work=GrafWV.com|date=31 May 2017}}</ref> but disbanded later the same year.<ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015>{{cite news|last1=Hill|first1=Corbie|title=Sarah Shook is a single mother and a tough country singer with a reckless side. She is keeping both ends up.|url=https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/sarah-shook-is-a-single-mother-and-a-tough-country-singer-with-a-reckless-side-she-is-keeping-both-ends-up/Content?oid=4813996|work=[[Indy Week]]|date=14 October 2015|language=en}}</ref>
In 2010, Shook started their first band, Sarah Shook and the Devil. The band was made up of Shook on vocals and guitar, Jon Baughman on [[Bass guitar|bass]], Phil Sullivan on [[Lap steel guitar|lap steel]], and Eric Peterson on guitar. The band released a seven-song EP, 2013's ''Seven''<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-2015>{{cite news|last1=Britt|first1=Grant|title=Hard Core Shook Country|url=http://nodepression.com/album-review/hard-core-shook-country|work=[[No Depression (magazine)|No Depression]]|date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=GrafWV-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Cutler|first1=Joey|title=Sarah Shook & the Disarmers hit the roadi|url=http://www.grafwv.com/page/content.detail/id/506818/Sarah-Shook---the-Disarmers-hit-the-road.html?nav=5017|work=GrafWV.com|date=31 May 2017}}</ref> but disbanded later the same year.<ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015>{{cite news|last1=Hill|first1=Corbie|title=Sarah Shook is a single mother and a tough country singer with a reckless side. She is keeping both ends up.|url=https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/sarah-shook-is-a-single-mother-and-a-tough-country-singer-with-a-reckless-side-she-is-keeping-both-ends-up/Content?oid=4813996|work=[[Indy Week]]|date=14 October 2015|language=en}}</ref>


⚫
In 2013, Shook formed the band Sarah Shook and the Dirty Hands, with Devil bandmate Eric Peterson. They played regionally, mostly in North Carolina, for around a year.<ref name=GrafWV-Sidelong-2017 /> Shook then started a new band called Sarah Shook & the Disarmers in mid to late 2014. The band started as a recording project, with Eric Peterson on guitar, and John Howie Jr. ([[Tift Merritt|Two Dollar Pistols]], John Howie Jr. & the Rosewood Bluff) on drums, Jason Hendrick on bass fiddle, and Phil Sullivan on lap steel.<ref name=PopMatters-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Whitelock|first1=Ed|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers: Sidelong|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-sidelong/|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=26 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=Paste-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Salmon|first1=Ben|title=Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Years Review|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/04/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-years-review.html|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=5 April 2018|language=en}}</ref>
In 2013, Shook formed the band, Sarah Shook and the Dirty Hands, with Devil bandmate Eric Peterson. They played regionally, mostly in North Carolina.<ref name=GrafWV-Sidelong-2017 />


⚫
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers released their first full-length album ''Sidelong,'' on October 16, 2015, at the [[Cat's Cradle (venue)|Cat's Cradle]] Back Room in Chapel Hill, NC, with a re-release in 2017.<ref name=VICE-Noisey-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Domenighini|first1=Annalise|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers Are Drinking Mainstream Country Under the Table|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-are-drinking-mainstream-country-under-the-table|work=Noisey|publisher=[[VICE Media]]|date=24 April 2017|language=en-us}}</ref> ''Sidelong'' was produced by Ian Schreier at Manifold Recording Studios, which is near the [[Haw River]] in North Carolina. The record was tracked and recorded live in April 2015.<ref name=WSJ-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Jurgensen|first1=John|title=Sarah Shook Tries Out the Boozy Ballad|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sarah-shook-tries-out-the-boozy-ballad-1493550003|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=30 April 2017}} {{closed access}}</ref> The band found regional and national success with the record. Shook signed with Kathie Russell of RedKats Artist Management, which led to their signing with Chicago's [[Bloodshot Records]] in January 2017.<ref name=RollingStone-10toKnow-2016>{{cite news|last1=Partthemon|first1=Chris|title=10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: July 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-new-country-artists-you-need-to-know-july-2016-20160701/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-20160630|work=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|date=1 July 2016}}</ref><ref name=Noisey-Years-2018>{{cite news|last1=Domenighini|first1=Annalise|title=Sarah Shook Has Words for the Rich-Ass Motherfuckers of Pop Country|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/ywxb8m/sarah-shook-has-words-for-the-rich-ass-motherfuckers-of-pop-country|work=[[Noisey]]|publisher=[[Vice Media]]|date=4 April 2018}}</ref>
=== Sarah Shook & the Disarmers ===
⚫
Shook started a new band called Sarah Shook & the Disarmers in mid to late 2014. The band started as a recording project, with Eric Peterson on guitar, and John Howie Jr. ([[Tift Merritt|Two Dollar Pistols]], John Howie Jr. & the Rosewood Bluff) on drums, Jason Hendrick on bass fiddle, and Phil Sullivan on lap steel.<ref name=PopMatters-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Whitelock|first1=Ed|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers: Sidelong|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-sidelong/|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=26 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=Paste-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Salmon|first1=Ben|title=Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Years Review|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2018/04/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-years-review.html|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=5 April 2018|language=en}}</ref>

⚫
Sarah Shook and the Disarmers released their first full-length album ''Sidelong,'' on October 16, 2015, at the [[Cat's Cradle (venue)|Cat's Cradle]] Back Room in Chapel Hill, NC, with a re-release in 2017.<ref name=VICE-Noisey-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Domenighini|first1=Annalise|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers Are Drinking Mainstream Country Under the Table|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-are-drinking-mainstream-country-under-the-table|work=Noisey|publisher=[[VICE Media]]|date=24 April 2017|language=en-us}}</ref> ''Sidelong'' was produced by Ian Schreier at Manifold Recording Studios, which is near the [[Haw River]] in North Carolina. The record was tracked and recorded live in April 2015.<ref name=WSJ-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Jurgensen|first1=John|title=Sarah Shook Tries Out the Boozy Ballad|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/sarah-shook-tries-out-the-boozy-ballad-1493550003|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=30 April 2017}} {{closed access}}</ref> The band found regional and national success with the record. She signed with Kathie Russell of RedKats Artist Management, which led to their signing with Chicago's [[Bloodshot Records]] in January 2017.<ref name=RollingStone-10toKnow-2016>{{cite news|last1=Partthemon|first1=Chris|title=10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: July 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-new-country-artists-you-need-to-know-july-2016-20160701/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-20160630|work=[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]|date=1 July 2016}}</ref><ref name=Noisey-Years-2018>{{cite news|last1=Domenighini|first1=Annalise|title=Sarah Shook Has Words for the Rich-Ass Motherfuckers of Pop Country|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/ywxb8m/sarah-shook-has-words-for-the-rich-ass-motherfuckers-of-pop-country|work=[[Noisey]]|publisher=[[Vice Media]]|date=4 April 2018}}</ref>


The records was number 2 on ''[[Indy Week|Indy Week's]]'' top 25 best albums of 2015.<ref name=IndyWeek-Top25Albums-2015>{{cite news|last1=Currin|first1=Grayson Haver|title=Listen up: The Triangle's 25 best albums of 2015|url=https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/listen-up-the-triangles-25-best-albums-of-2015/Content?oid=4958928&showFullText=true|work=[[Indy Week]]|date=23 December 2015|language=en}}</ref> Sarah Shook and the Disarmers were listed as one of 10 New Country Artists to Know in July 2016.<ref name=RollingStone-10toKnow-2016 /> Also in 2016, [[BuzzFeed]] Community listed Shook as one of five women country artists who are impacting music,<ref name=BuzzFeed-5Women-2016>{{cite news|last1=KitRedd|title=5 Women Who Are Kicking Country Music's Ass|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kitredd/untitled-draft-1460420106-2ae7x|work=[[BuzzFeed]] Community|date=11 April 2016}}</ref> and the album received positive reviews.<ref name=Paste-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Zimmerman|first1=Lee|title=Sarah Shook & The Disarmers: Sidelong Review|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/04/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-sidelong-review.html|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=24 April 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name=WCQS-Sidelong-2016>{{cite news|last1=Loeb|first1=Jeremy|title=Country Singer Sarah Shook Talks 'Sidelong' and HB2|url=http://wcqs.org/post/country-singer-sarah-shook-talks-sidelong-and-hb2#stream/0|work=[[WCQS]]|publisher=Western North Carolina Public Radio|date=28 April 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref name=WUNC-Sidelong-2015>{{cite news|last1=Hodge|first1=Eric|title=Sarah Shook Sings About Whiskey, Bad Luck, And Healing on 'Sidelong'|url=http://wunc.org/post/sarah-shook-sings-about-whiskey-bad-luck-and-healing-sidelong#stream/0|work=[[WUNC (FM)]]|date=4 December 2015|language=en}}</ref>
The records was number 2 on ''[[Indy Week|Indy Week's]]'' top 25 best albums of 2015.<ref name=IndyWeek-Top25Albums-2015>{{cite news|last1=Currin|first1=Grayson Haver|title=Listen up: The Triangle's 25 best albums of 2015|url=https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/listen-up-the-triangles-25-best-albums-of-2015/Content?oid=4958928&showFullText=true|work=[[Indy Week]]|date=23 December 2015|language=en}}</ref> Sarah Shook and the Disarmers were listed as one of 10 New Country Artists to Know in July 2016.<ref name=RollingStone-10toKnow-2016 /> Also in 2016, [[BuzzFeed]] Community listed Shook as one of five women country artists who are impacting music,<ref name=BuzzFeed-5Women-2016>{{cite news|last1=KitRedd|title=5 Women Who Are Kicking Country Music's Ass|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kitredd/untitled-draft-1460420106-2ae7x|work=[[BuzzFeed]] Community|date=11 April 2016}}</ref> and the album received positive reviews.<ref name=Paste-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Zimmerman|first1=Lee|title=Sarah Shook & The Disarmers: Sidelong Review|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/04/sarah-shook-the-disarmers-sidelong-review.html|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=24 April 2017|language=en}}</ref><ref name=WCQS-Sidelong-2016>{{cite news|last1=Loeb|first1=Jeremy|title=Country Singer Sarah Shook Talks 'Sidelong' and HB2|url=http://wcqs.org/post/country-singer-sarah-shook-talks-sidelong-and-hb2#stream/0|work=[[WCQS]]|publisher=Western North Carolina Public Radio|date=28 April 2016|language=en}}</ref><ref name=WUNC-Sidelong-2015>{{cite news|last1=Hodge|first1=Eric|title=Sarah Shook Sings About Whiskey, Bad Luck, And Healing on 'Sidelong'|url=http://wunc.org/post/sarah-shook-sings-about-whiskey-bad-luck-and-healing-sidelong#stream/0|work=[[WUNC (FM)]]|date=4 December 2015|language=en}}</ref>


In April 2018, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers released their second record, which was called ''Years,'' on [[Bloodshot Records]]. Shook and the band worked on the songs while touring heavily.<ref name=RollingStone-Years-2018>{{cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Jon|title=Country Punk Sarah Shook Talks New LP 'Years,' Finding Strength in Humor|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/features/sarah-shook-on-disarmers-new-lp-years-w518818|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=6 April 2018}}</ref> Shook also focused on learning vocal techniques as a way to control and release their vocals, which led to what many reviews cite as a crisper vocal sound.<ref name=Noisey-Years-2018 /> Music critic [[Greg Kot]] compares their vocals to those of [[jazz]] vocals, noting that Shook and the band, who have toured together for years, are ferocious.<ref name=SoundOpinions-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=DeRogatis|first1=Jim|last2=Kot|first2=Greg|title=Show 646: The Legend of Captain Beefheart, Opinions on Kacey Musgraves & Sarah Shook|url=http://www.soundopinions.org/show/646|work=[[Sound Opinions]]|date=13 April 2018|language=en|format=Audio radio talk show and podcast}}</ref> The song, "Good as Gold," was chosen as one of ''[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone's]]'' 10 best country and Americana songs of the week in March 2018.<ref name=RollingStone-BestSong-GoodAsGold-2018>{{cite news|last1=McKenna|first1=Brittney|title=10 Best Country, Americana Songs of the Week: Brent Cobb, Sarah Shook|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/lists/best-country-americana-songs-to-hear-now-brent-cobb-sarah-shook-w517955/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-good-as-gold-w517958|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=16 March 2018}}</ref> ''Years'' has received positive reviews.<ref name=SoundOpinions-Years-Review-2018 /><ref name=PopMatters-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Whitelock|first1=Ed|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers Have Made a New Country Classic with 'Years'|url=https://www.popmatters.com/sarah-shook-disarmers-years-2555931671.html|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=4 April 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name=WideOpenCountry-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Sawyer|first1=Bobbie Jean|title=Sarah Shook Talks Resilience, Drinking Songs and Making Her Own Rules|url=http://www.wideopencountry.com/sarah-shook-talks-resilience-drinking-songs-and-making-her-own-rules/|work=Wide Open Country|date=5 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=ChicagoTrib-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Kot|first1=Greg|title=Sarah Shook sings with sharpened clarity on 'Years'|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/sc-ent-sarah-shook-review-0406-story.html|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
In April 2018, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers released their second record, titled ''Years,'' on [[Bloodshot Records]]. Shook and the band worked on the songs while touring heavily.<ref name=RollingStone-Years-2018>{{cite magazine|last1=Freeman|first1=Jon|title=Country Punk Sarah Shook Talks New LP 'Years,' Finding Strength in Humor|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/features/sarah-shook-on-disarmers-new-lp-years-w518818|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=6 April 2018}}</ref> Shook also focused on learning vocal techniques as a way to control and release their vocals, which led to what many reviews cited as a crisper vocal sound.<ref name=Noisey-Years-2018 /> Music critic [[Greg Kot]] compared their vocals to those of [[jazz]] vocals, noting that Shook and the band, who have toured together for years, are ferocious.<ref name=SoundOpinions-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=DeRogatis|first1=Jim|last2=Kot|first2=Greg|title=Show 646: The Legend of Captain Beefheart, Opinions on Kacey Musgraves & Sarah Shook|url=http://www.soundopinions.org/show/646|work=[[Sound Opinions]]|date=13 April 2018|language=en|format=Audio radio talk show and podcast}}</ref> The song "Good as Gold" was chosen as one of ''[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone's]]'' 10 best country and Americana songs of the week in March 2018.<ref name=RollingStone-BestSong-GoodAsGold-2018>{{cite magazine|last1=McKenna|first1=Brittney|title=10 Best Country, Americana Songs of the Week: Brent Cobb, Sarah Shook|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/lists/best-country-americana-songs-to-hear-now-brent-cobb-sarah-shook-w517955/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-good-as-gold-w517958|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=16 March 2018}}</ref> ''Years'' went on to receive multiple positive reviews.<ref name=SoundOpinions-Years-Review-2018 /><ref name=PopMatters-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Whitelock|first1=Ed|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers Have Made a New Country Classic with 'Years'|url=https://www.popmatters.com/sarah-shook-disarmers-years-2555931671.html|work=[[PopMatters]]|date=4 April 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name=WideOpenCountry-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Sawyer|first1=Bobbie Jean|title=Sarah Shook Talks Resilience, Drinking Songs and Making Her Own Rules|url=http://www.wideopencountry.com/sarah-shook-talks-resilience-drinking-songs-and-making-her-own-rules/|work=Wide Open Country|date=5 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=ChicagoTrib-Years-Review-2018>{{cite news|last1=Kot|first1=Greg|title=Sarah Shook sings with sharpened clarity on 'Years'|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/sc-ent-sarah-shook-review-0406-story.html|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=6 April 2018}}</ref> The Disarmers at the time was made up of Eric Peterson on guitar, Aaron Oliva on bass, Jack Foster on drums, and Adam "Ditch" Kurtz on pedal steel.<ref name=Bandsintown-Years-2018>{{cite news|last1=Irwin|first1=Taylor|title=Bandsintown Big Break: Meet Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, The Beautifully Defiant Force Country Music Needs|url=https://news.bandsintown.com/view-article/2018/04/18/bandsintown-big-break-meet-sarah-shook-the-disarmers-the-beautifully-defiant-force-country-music-needs|work=[[Bandsintown]]|date=18 April 2018}}</ref>


⚫
A documentary, ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7423972/ What it Takes: film en douze tableaux]'' by director [[Gorman Bechard]], premiered at the [[Independent Film Festival Boston]] on 29 April 2018, and was released to DVD on November 9, 2018. The film follows Shook as they wrote and recorded ''Years''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gormanbechard.wordpress.com/tag/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers/|title=sarah shook and the disarmers {{!}} Guy With Typewriter|website=gormanbechard.wordpress.com|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=What it Takes: film en douze tableaux|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7423972/|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Films|first=What Were We Thinking|title=What it Takes: film en douze tableaux - TRAILER|date=2018-01-06|url=https://vimeo.com/249948294|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref> The music blog ''If It's Too Loud'' commented, "Film documentaries are typically put out by a record company as a way to cash in on an artist and are little more than fluff pieces, or they focus on drama within a band. ''What it Takes: film en douze tableaux'' doesn't do any of that. While Bechard is an obvious fan of his subject, he shows them as is, and doesn't try to show them glossed over or hyped up."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ifitstooloud.com/2018/05/film-review-what-it-takes-film-en-douze.html|title=Film Review: What it Takes: film en douze tableaux|website=www.ifitstooloud.com|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref>
The Disarmers is made up of Eric Peterson on guitar, Aaron Oliva on bass, Jack Foster on drums, and Adam "Ditch" Kurtz on pedal steel.<ref name=Bandsintown-Years-2018>{{cite news|last1=Irwin|first1=Taylor|title=Bandsintown Big Break: Meet Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, The Beautifully Defiant Force Country Music Needs|url=https://news.bandsintown.com/view-article/2018/04/18/bandsintown-big-break-meet-sarah-shook-the-disarmers-the-beautifully-defiant-force-country-music-needs|work=[[Bandsintown]]|date=18 April 2018}}</ref>


In December 2018, ''Years'' was included in the best-albums-of-2018 year-end lists of ''[[PopMatters]]'' (32nd)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-20 |title=The 70 Best Albums of 2018, PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/best-albums-of-2018-2622492661.html |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=PopMatters |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''[[Louder Than War]]'' (39th).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Babey |first=Ged |date=2018-12-09 |title=Albums of the Year 2018 : The Top 25 |url=https://louderthanwar.com/albums-of-the-year-2018-the-top-25/ |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=Louder Than War |language=en-GB}}</ref>
⚫
A documentary, ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7423972/ What it Takes: film en douze tableaux]'', from director [[Gorman Bechard]] premiered at [[Independent Film Festival Boston]] 29 April 2018, and was released to DVD on November 9, 2018. The film follows Shook as they wrote and recorded their album ''Years''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gormanbechard.wordpress.com/tag/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers/|title=sarah shook and the disarmers {{!}} Guy With Typewriter|website=gormanbechard.wordpress.com|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=What it Takes: film en douze tableaux|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7423972/|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Films|first=What Were We Thinking|title=What it Takes: film en douze tableaux - TRAILER|date=2018-01-06|url=https://vimeo.com/249948294|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref> As the ''If It's Too Loud'' music blog says, "Film documentaries are typically put out by a record company as a way to cash in on an artist and are little more than fluff pieces, or they focus on drama within a band. ''What it Takes: film en douze tableaux'' doesn't do any of that. While Bechard is an obvious fan of his subject, he shows them as is, and doesn't try to show them glossed over or hyped up."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ifitstooloud.com/2018/05/film-review-what-it-takes-film-en-douze.html|title=Film Review: What it Takes: film en douze tableaux|website=www.ifitstooloud.com|language=en|access-date=2018-09-09}}</ref>


In November 2021, Shook announced a third album, ''Nightroamer'', to be released on February 18, 2022 via [[Thirty Tigers]] (following the sale of Bloodshot Records, which had caused the album to be delayed). In addition to returning members Peterson, Oliva, and original pedal steel player Phil Sullivan, [[Will Rigby]] joins on drums and there are additional tracks from [[organist]] Skip Edwards, with longtime [[Dwight Yoakam]] collaborator [[Pete Anderson]] producing. Shook said of the album, "I think this record is different than ones we’ve done in the past. It feels every bit as expansive as I wanted it to feel. I didn’t want there to be a shocking, jarring difference, but I definitely wanted it to feel like things are opening up. It’s a bigger feeling experience.''”''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coroneos|first=Kyle|date=2021-11-04|title=Sarah Shook Announces New Pete Anderson-Produced "Nightroamer"|url=https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/sarah-shook-announces-new-pete-anderson-produced-nightroamer/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-09|website=Saving Country Music|language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2021, Shook announced a third album, ''Nightroamer'', which was released on February 18, 2022 via [[Thirty Tigers]] (following the sale of Bloodshot Records, which had caused the album to be delayed). In addition to returning members Peterson, Oliva and original pedal steel player Phil Sullivan, [[Will Rigby]] joined the band on drums. There were also additional performances from [[organist]] Skip Edwards, with longtime [[Dwight Yoakam]] collaborator [[Pete Anderson]] producing the album.

In May 2022, Shook announced a new [[indie rock]] side project called Mightmare. They are joined in the band by Ash Lopez on bass, Blake Tallent on guitar, and Ethan Standard on drums. The band's debut album, ''Cruel Liars'', was released on October 14, 2022, via [[Kill Rock Stars]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mightmare |url=https://www.mightmare.net/}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Shook has a son.<ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015 /> Shook is non-binary and uses [[Singular they|they/them]] pronouns.<ref name="CountryQueer-2020">{{Cite web |title=Bi/Pan Artists You Need to Know, Pt. 3: Sarah Shook |last1=Brothers |first1=Eryn |last2=Geist |first2=Dale |work=Country Queer |date=September 26, 2020 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |url= https://countryqueer.com/stories/list/bi-pan-artist-you-need-to-know-pt-3-sarah-shook/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1280741192683094016|user=sarahshook|title=I knew I was genderqueer when I was about 9 (right around the time I developed and had to conceal my first crush) and from that point on I accepted that I never completely identified as a girl.|date=July 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sarah Shook on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/sarahshook|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shook|first=Sarah|date=Oct 6, 2021|title=Thank you for using my pronouns! Can’t tell you how affirming this is. So appreciated|url=https://twitter.com/sarahshook/status/1445775999321313285|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref>
Shook has a son.<ref name=IndyWeek-Sidelong-2015 /> Shook is [[non-binary]] and uses [[Singular they|they/them]] pronouns.<ref name="CountryQueer-2020">{{Cite web |title=Bi/Pan Artists You Need to Know, Pt. 3: Sarah Shook |last1=Brothers |first1=Eryn |last2=Geist |first2=Dale |work=Country Queer |date=September 26, 2020 |access-date=November 17, 2020 |url= https://countryqueer.com/stories/list/bi-pan-artist-you-need-to-know-pt-3-sarah-shook/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1280741192683094016|user=sarahshook|title=I knew I was genderqueer when I was about 9 (right around the time I developed and had to conceal my first crush) and from that point on I accepted that I never completely identified as a girl.|date=July 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sarah Shook on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/sarahshook|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shook|first=Sarah|date=Oct 6, 2021|title=Thank you for using my pronouns! Can't tell you how affirming this is. So appreciated|url=https://twitter.com/sarahshook/status/1445775999321313285|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cholst |first=Rachel |date=2024-03-27 |title=River Shook Stands for Themself on ‘Revelations’ |url=https://www.nashvillescene.com/music/features/river-shook-sarah-shook-disarmers-revelations-3rd-lindsley-nashville/article_14ca4eb0-eaf6-11ee-bf80-837738618a90.html?ref=rainbowrodeomag.com |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Nashville Scene |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=Sarah Shook & the Disarmers {{!}} I knew I was genderqueer when I was abo… |url=https://archive.today/20241211165459/https://www.instagram.com/sarahshooksdisarmers/p/CCXsSMmHdXT/?img_index=1 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=archive.ph}}</ref>


Shook grew up in a deeply religious environment and is an [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref name=DailyTarHeel-Sidelong-2016>{{cite news|last1=Rhodes|first1=Davis|title=Q&A with rocker mom Sarah Shook|url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2016/06/qa-with-rocker-mom-sarah-shook|work=[[The Daily Tar Heel]]|date=16 June 2016}}</ref> Shook identifies as [[Bisexuality|bisexual]],<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-May-2017 /> and is politically active in supporting [[LGBT]] and [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] causes.<ref name=DailyTimes-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Wildsmith|first1=Steve|title=Outlaw country becomes a vehicle for gender activism by Sarah Shook|url=http://www.thedailytimes.com/entertainment/outlaw-country-becomes-a-vehicle-for-gender-activism-by-sarah/article_5e9b608e-11f7-5f29-a91f-910e5a61fec8.html|work=[[The Daily Times (Blount County, Tennessee)|The Daily Times]]|date=24 May 2017|language=en}}</ref> Along with fellow musician and activist Erika Libero (Henbrain),<ref name=IndyWeek-Activism-2016>{{cite news|last1=Hussey|first1=Allison|title=Sarah Shook and Erika Libero Mark Progressive Territory With Rainbow Decals and Amplify Women's Voices|url=https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/sarah-shook-and-erika-libero-mark-progressive-territory-with-rainbow-decals-and-amplify-womens-voices/Content?oid=5094465|work=[[Indy Week]]|date=14 December 2016|language=en}}</ref> they won the 2016 Indy Arts Award for their work with [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina|Chapel Hill]]-based Safe Space initiative, which was an effort to get local businesses to put up stickers that offered [[safe space]]s for people needing it, and for their work putting on a two-day music festival, Manifest, which includes bands that have at least one female or [[Non-binary gender|non-binary]] member.<ref name=SheShreds-TheNail-2017>{{cite news|last1=Ludwig|first1=Jamie|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers on Outlaw Country and Safe Spaces. Listen to "The Nail" Now!|url=http://sheshredsmag.com/interview-sarah-shook-disarmers-listen-nail-now/|work=She Shreds Magazine|date=11 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=WideOpenCountry-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Sawyer|first1=Bobbie Jean|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, a Renegade Outlaw Country Band from North Carolina|url=http://www.wideopencountry.com/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-band-to-watch/|work=Wide Open Country|date=8 June 2017}}</ref>
Shook grew up in a deeply religious environment, but is now an [[Atheism|atheist]].<ref name=DailyTarHeel-Sidelong-2016>{{cite news|last1=Rhodes|first1=Davis|title=Q&A with rocker mom Sarah Shook|url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2016/06/qa-with-rocker-mom-sarah-shook|work=[[The Daily Tar Heel]]|date=16 June 2016}}</ref> Shook is [[Bisexuality|bisexual]],<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-May-2017 /> and is politically active in supporting [[LGBT]] and [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] causes.<ref name=DailyTimes-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Wildsmith|first1=Steve|title=Outlaw country becomes a vehicle for gender activism by Sarah Shook|url=http://www.thedailytimes.com/entertainment/outlaw-country-becomes-a-vehicle-for-gender-activism-by-sarah/article_5e9b608e-11f7-5f29-a91f-910e5a61fec8.html|work=[[The Daily Times (Blount County, Tennessee)|The Daily Times]]|date=24 May 2017|language=en}}</ref> Along with fellow musician and activist Erika Libero (Henbrain),<ref name=IndyWeek-Activism-2016>{{cite news|last1=Hussey|first1=Allison|title=Sarah Shook and Erika Libero Mark Progressive Territory With Rainbow Decals and Amplify Women's Voices|url=https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/sarah-shook-and-erika-libero-mark-progressive-territory-with-rainbow-decals-and-amplify-womens-voices/Content?oid=5094465|work=[[Indy Week]]|date=14 December 2016|language=en}}</ref> they won the 2016 Indy Arts Award for their work with [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina|Chapel Hill]]-based Safe Space initiative, which was an effort to get local businesses to put up stickers that offered [[safe space]]s for people needing it, and for their work putting on a two-day music festival, Manifest, which includes bands that have at least one female or [[Non-binary gender|non-binary]] member.<ref name=SheShreds-TheNail-2017>{{cite news|last1=Ludwig|first1=Jamie|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers on Outlaw Country and Safe Spaces. Listen to "The Nail" Now!|url=http://sheshredsmag.com/interview-sarah-shook-disarmers-listen-nail-now/|work=She Shreds Magazine|date=11 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=WideOpenCountry-Sidelong-2017>{{cite news|last1=Sawyer|first1=Bobbie Jean|title=Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, a Renegade Outlaw Country Band from North Carolina|url=http://www.wideopencountry.com/sarah-shook-and-the-disarmers-band-to-watch/|work=Wide Open Country|date=8 June 2017}}</ref>


== Discography ==
== Discography ==
;with The Devil
;EP
* 2013: ''Seven'' (self-released, as Sarah Shook and the Devil<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-2015 />)
* 2013: ''Seven'' EP (self-released<ref name=NoDep-Sidelong-2015 />)

;LP
;with The Disarmers
* 2015: ''Sidelong'' (self-released, re-released on [[Bloodshot Records]] in 2017<ref name=PopMatters-Sidelong-2017 />)
* 2015: ''Sidelong'' (self-released, re-released on [[Bloodshot Records]] in 2017<ref name=PopMatters-Sidelong-2017 />)
* 2018: ''Years'' (Bloodshot Records)
* 2018: ''Years'' (Bloodshot Records)
*2022: ''Nightroamer'' ([[Thirty Tigers]])
* 2022: ''Nightroamer'' ([[Thirty Tigers]])
* 2024: ''Revelations'' (Thirty Tigers)

;with Mightmare
*2022: ''Cruel Liars'' ([[Kill Rock Stars]])


== References ==
== References ==
Line 62: Line 71:
== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://disarmers.com/ Sarah Shook & the Disarmers]
* [https://disarmers.com/ Sarah Shook & the Disarmers]
* {{Discogs artist|5277412}}
* [https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/sarah-shook-disarmers Sarah Shook & the Disarmers] at [[Bloodshot Records]]
* [https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/sarah-shook-disarmers Sarah Shook & the Disarmers] at [[Bloodshot Records]]
* {{Twitter}}
* {{Twitter}}
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[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:American atheists]]
[[Category:Bisexual musicians]]
[[Category:American LGBTQ singers]]
⚫
[[Category:American non-binary musicians]]
[[Category:American bisexual musicians]]
⚫
[[Category:Bisexual singers]]
[[Category:Non-binary singers]]
[[Category:Non-binary bisexual people]]
[[Category:Bloodshot Records artists]]
[[Category:Bloodshot Records artists]]
[[Category:People from Garner, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Musicians from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Musicians from Rochester, New York]]
[[Category:Musicians from Rochester, New York]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:People from Garner, North Carolina]]
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[[Category:LGBT singers from the United States]]
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[[Category:Genderqueer people]]
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[[Category:Non-binary musicians]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Thirty Tigers artists]]

Latest revision as of 12:53, 1 January 2025

Not to be confused with Sarah Snook.

River Shook
Birth nameSarah Marie Shook
Born1985 (age 39–40)
Rochester, New York U.S.
OriginChatham County, North Carolina U.S.
GenresAlternative country, indie rock
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active2005–present
LabelsBloodshot Records
Thirty Tigers
Kill Rock Stars
Member ofSarah Shook & The Disarmers
Mightmare
Formerly ofSarah Shook & The Devil
Sarah Shook & The Dirty Hands

River Shook (born September 15, 1985), known professionally as Sarah Shook, is an American country singer-songwriter from Chatham County, North Carolina.[1][2] Their "high lonesome" style incorporates country-punk, twang, and outlaw country.[3][4][5]

Early life

[edit]

Shook was born in Rochester, New York. They were homeschooled and grew up in a fundamentalist Christian family where music was restricted; they were permitted only to listen to classical and worship music.[6] When Shook was 9 years old they taught themself piano,[7] and in high school they taught themself acoustic guitar.[8]

The family moved often when Shook was young. In July 2005, when they were 19 years old, they and their family moved to Garner, North Carolina.[1][8]

Career

[edit]

In 2010, Shook started their first band, Sarah Shook and the Devil. The band was made up of Shook on vocals and guitar, Jon Baughman on bass, Phil Sullivan on lap steel, and Eric Peterson on guitar. The band released a seven-song EP, 2013's Seven[9][10] but disbanded later the same year.[8]

In 2013, Shook formed the band Sarah Shook and the Dirty Hands, with Devil bandmate Eric Peterson. They played regionally, mostly in North Carolina, for around a year.[10] Shook then started a new band called Sarah Shook & the Disarmers in mid to late 2014. The band started as a recording project, with Eric Peterson on guitar, and John Howie Jr. (Two Dollar Pistols, John Howie Jr. & the Rosewood Bluff) on drums, Jason Hendrick on bass fiddle, and Phil Sullivan on lap steel.[11][12]

Sarah Shook and the Disarmers released their first full-length album Sidelong, on October 16, 2015, at the Cat's Cradle Back Room in Chapel Hill, NC, with a re-release in 2017.[13] Sidelong was produced by Ian Schreier at Manifold Recording Studios, which is near the Haw River in North Carolina. The record was tracked and recorded live in April 2015.[14] The band found regional and national success with the record. Shook signed with Kathie Russell of RedKats Artist Management, which led to their signing with Chicago's Bloodshot Records in January 2017.[15][16]

The records was number 2 on Indy Week's top 25 best albums of 2015.[17] Sarah Shook and the Disarmers were listed as one of 10 New Country Artists to Know in July 2016.[15] Also in 2016, BuzzFeed Community listed Shook as one of five women country artists who are impacting music,[18] and the album received positive reviews.[19][20][21]

In April 2018, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers released their second record, titled Years, on Bloodshot Records. Shook and the band worked on the songs while touring heavily.[22] Shook also focused on learning vocal techniques as a way to control and release their vocals, which led to what many reviews cited as a crisper vocal sound.[16] Music critic Greg Kot compared their vocals to those of jazz vocals, noting that Shook and the band, who have toured together for years, are ferocious.[23] The song "Good as Gold" was chosen as one of Rolling Stone's 10 best country and Americana songs of the week in March 2018.[24] Years went on to receive multiple positive reviews.[23][25][26][27] The Disarmers at the time was made up of Eric Peterson on guitar, Aaron Oliva on bass, Jack Foster on drums, and Adam "Ditch" Kurtz on pedal steel.[28]

A documentary, What it Takes: film en douze tableaux by director Gorman Bechard, premiered at the Independent Film Festival Boston on 29 April 2018, and was released to DVD on November 9, 2018. The film follows Shook as they wrote and recorded Years.[29][30][31] The music blog If It's Too Loud commented, "Film documentaries are typically put out by a record company as a way to cash in on an artist and are little more than fluff pieces, or they focus on drama within a band. What it Takes: film en douze tableaux doesn't do any of that. While Bechard is an obvious fan of his subject, he shows them as is, and doesn't try to show them glossed over or hyped up."[32]

In December 2018, Years was included in the best-albums-of-2018 year-end lists of PopMatters (32nd)[33] and Louder Than War (39th).[34]

In November 2021, Shook announced a third album, Nightroamer, which was released on February 18, 2022 via Thirty Tigers (following the sale of Bloodshot Records, which had caused the album to be delayed). In addition to returning members Peterson, Oliva and original pedal steel player Phil Sullivan, Will Rigby joined the band on drums. There were also additional performances from organist Skip Edwards, with longtime Dwight Yoakam collaborator Pete Anderson producing the album.

In May 2022, Shook announced a new indie rock side project called Mightmare. They are joined in the band by Ash Lopez on bass, Blake Tallent on guitar, and Ethan Standard on drums. The band's debut album, Cruel Liars, was released on October 14, 2022, via Kill Rock Stars.[35]

Personal life

[edit]

Shook has a son.[8] Shook is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns.[36][37][38][39][40][41]

Shook grew up in a deeply religious environment, but is now an atheist.[42] Shook is bisexual,[4] and is politically active in supporting LGBT and civil rights causes.[43] Along with fellow musician and activist Erika Libero (Henbrain),[44] they won the 2016 Indy Arts Award for their work with Chapel Hill-based Safe Space initiative, which was an effort to get local businesses to put up stickers that offered safe spaces for people needing it, and for their work putting on a two-day music festival, Manifest, which includes bands that have at least one female or non-binary member.[45][46]

Discography

[edit]
with The Devil
  • 2013: Seven EP (self-released[9])
with The Disarmers
  • 2015: Sidelong (self-released, re-released on Bloodshot Records in 2017[11])
  • 2018: Years (Bloodshot Records)
  • 2022: Nightroamer (Thirty Tigers)
  • 2024: Revelations (Thirty Tigers)
with Mightmare

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Kane, Meeghan (June 28, 2016). "Sarah Shook on Hellholes, Homes, Writing Music, and Southern Women". Auntie Bellum Magazine.
  2. ^ Cooper, Duncan (May 4, 2017). "Meet Sarah Shook, Country Music's Radical And Ordinary Hero". The Fader.
  3. ^ Ferguson, Maeri (May 1, 2017). "Sarah Shook Gives No F***s". No Depression.
  4. ^ a b Cholst, Rachel (May 8, 2017). "Deadly Accuracy With Sarah Shook and the Disarmers". No Depression.
  5. ^ Christian, Trevor (May 8, 2017). "Sarah Shook and the Disarmers' Give New LP 'Sidelong' Plenty of Pull & Punch (Interview)". Glide Magazine.
  6. ^ Stefano, Angela (April 6, 2018). "Interview: Sarah Shook & the Disarmers Come Armed With Country Melodies, Biting Wit on 'Years'". The Boot.
  7. ^ "Instant and Total Catharsis: A Q&A with Sarah Shook". American Songwriter. April 17, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d Hill, Corbie (October 14, 2015). "Sarah Shook is a single mother and a tough country singer with a reckless side. She is keeping both ends up". Indy Week.
  9. ^ a b Britt, Grant (December 10, 2015). "Hard Core Shook Country". No Depression.
  10. ^ a b Cutler, Joey (May 31, 2017). "Sarah Shook & the Disarmers hit the roadi". GrafWV.com.
  11. ^ a b Whitelock, Ed (April 26, 2017). "Sarah Shook and the Disarmers: Sidelong". PopMatters.
  12. ^ Salmon, Ben (April 5, 2018). "Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: Years Review". Paste.
  13. ^ Domenighini, Annalise (April 24, 2017). "Sarah Shook and the Disarmers Are Drinking Mainstream Country Under the Table". Noisey. VICE Media.
  14. ^ Jurgensen, John (April 30, 2017). "Sarah Shook Tries Out the Boozy Ballad". The Wall Street Journal. Closed access icon
  15. ^ a b Partthemon, Chris (July 1, 2016). "10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: July 2016". Rolling Stone.
  16. ^ a b Domenighini, Annalise (April 4, 2018). "Sarah Shook Has Words for the Rich-Ass Motherfuckers of Pop Country". Noisey. Vice Media.
  17. ^ Currin, Grayson Haver (December 23, 2015). "Listen up: The Triangle's 25 best albums of 2015". Indy Week.
  18. ^ KitRedd (April 11, 2016). "5 Women Who Are Kicking Country Music's Ass". BuzzFeed Community.
  19. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (April 24, 2017). "Sarah Shook & The Disarmers: Sidelong Review". Paste.
  20. ^ Loeb, Jeremy (April 28, 2016). "Country Singer Sarah Shook Talks 'Sidelong' and HB2". WCQS. Western North Carolina Public Radio.
  21. ^ Hodge, Eric (December 4, 2015). "Sarah Shook Sings About Whiskey, Bad Luck, And Healing on 'Sidelong'". WUNC (FM).
  22. ^ Freeman, Jon (April 6, 2018). "Country Punk Sarah Shook Talks New LP 'Years,' Finding Strength in Humor". Rolling Stone.
  23. ^ a b DeRogatis, Jim; Kot, Greg (April 13, 2018). "Show 646: The Legend of Captain Beefheart, Opinions on Kacey Musgraves & Sarah Shook" (Audio radio talk show and podcast). Sound Opinions.
  24. ^ McKenna, Brittney (March 16, 2018). "10 Best Country, Americana Songs of the Week: Brent Cobb, Sarah Shook". Rolling Stone.
  25. ^ Whitelock, Ed (April 4, 2018). "Sarah Shook and the Disarmers Have Made a New Country Classic with 'Years'". PopMatters.
  26. ^ Sawyer, Bobbie Jean (April 5, 2018). "Sarah Shook Talks Resilience, Drinking Songs and Making Her Own Rules". Wide Open Country.
  27. ^ Kot, Greg (April 6, 2018). "Sarah Shook sings with sharpened clarity on 'Years'". Chicago Tribune.
  28. ^ Irwin, Taylor (April 18, 2018). "Bandsintown Big Break: Meet Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, The Beautifully Defiant Force Country Music Needs". Bandsintown.
  29. ^ "sarah shook and the disarmers | Guy With Typewriter". gormanbechard.wordpress.com. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  30. ^ What it Takes: film en douze tableaux, retrieved September 9, 2018
  31. ^ Films, What Were We Thinking (January 6, 2018), What it Takes: film en douze tableaux - TRAILER, retrieved September 9, 2018
  32. ^ "Film Review: What it Takes: film en douze tableaux". www.ifitstooloud.com. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  33. ^ "The 70 Best Albums of 2018, PopMatters". PopMatters. December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  34. ^ Babey, Ged (December 9, 2018). "Albums of the Year 2018 : The Top 25". Louder Than War. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  35. ^ "Mightmare".
  36. ^ Brothers, Eryn; Geist, Dale (September 26, 2020). "Bi/Pan Artists You Need to Know, Pt. 3: Sarah Shook". Country Queer. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  37. ^ @sarahshook (July 8, 2020). "I knew I was genderqueer when I was about 9 (right around the time I developed and had to conceal my first crush) and from that point on I accepted that I never completely identified as a girl" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ^ "Sarah Shook on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  39. ^ Shook, Sarah (October 6, 2021). "Thank you for using my pronouns! Can't tell you how affirming this is. So appreciated". Twitter. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  40. ^ Cholst, Rachel (March 27, 2024). "River Shook Stands for Themself on 'Revelations'". Nashville Scene. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  41. ^ "Sarah Shook & the Disarmers | I knew I was genderqueer when I was abo…". archive.ph. December 11, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  42. ^ Rhodes, Davis (June 16, 2016). "Q&A with rocker mom Sarah Shook". The Daily Tar Heel.
  43. ^ Wildsmith, Steve (May 24, 2017). "Outlaw country becomes a vehicle for gender activism by Sarah Shook". The Daily Times.
  44. ^ Hussey, Allison (December 14, 2016). "Sarah Shook and Erika Libero Mark Progressive Territory With Rainbow Decals and Amplify Women's Voices". Indy Week.
  45. ^ Ludwig, Jamie (April 11, 2017). "Sarah Shook and the Disarmers on Outlaw Country and Safe Spaces. Listen to "The Nail" Now!". She Shreds Magazine.
  46. ^ Sawyer, Bobbie Jean (June 8, 2017). "Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, a Renegade Outlaw Country Band from North Carolina". Wide Open Country.
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