Pistolwhip von Shankenstein and Furious Homecooked ( Photo Provided )
Unlike most modern rock bands, The Shanks, a two-member band from Mono, Ontario divide their time between making loud rock music, sheep farming, social work, architecture and spending time with their families.
The members of the band, Ian Starkey (bass and vocals) and Luke Allen (drums) who prefer to be known as Pistolwhip von Shankenstein and Furious Homecooked, respectively, met five years ago, when Shankenstein first moved to a sheep farm.
“I thought I was leaving music forever, but then I moved to the country and realized that music was all around me,” said Shankenstein.
“It’s so much easier now, you can play whenever you want. Nobody cares how late at night you play. Animals know our music better than anyone. There is something poetic about that.”
In fact, the name of the band is inspired by the members’ experiences with sheep farming and refers to their favorite part of a sheep’s anatomy, the shank.
The Shanks’ music has been described as reminiscent of 80s underground punk, however the band considers their music to be simple rock music with some punk and metal influences.
“I think we try to play as loud as we can at all times,” explains Homecooked.
Their music is “about transmitting joy to the people and animals that want to listen to it,” Shankenstein adds.
Since their formation in 2004, the band has released two EPs titled Here Come the Shanks and The Valley of the Shadow of the Shanks and one full record called Welcome to the Camp of the Dark Meat Fantasy. The lyrics of their songs, such as “Mother Is It Easy,” are inspired both by their personal life experiences and draw on those of other people.
“I hope what we’re doing has literary value,” Shankenstein explains.
Although both Shakenstein and Homecooked agree that being in a two-piece band is a challenge in terms of the amount of work that each member has to do, Shankenstein reveals that the challenges have proved beneficial.
“We have found out what works and what doesn’t. I’d like to think that we’ve gone closer to the core of music making and played more from the heart.”
Aside from making music the band is diverse in their many other passions. Homecooked is committed to social work and spends a lot of time working with homeless people. Shankenstein is an architect who specializes in contemporary architecture. Both men also have families who share their love of rock music.
Currently on their first-ever tour, the band is travelling all over southern Ontario and performed at Irene’s Pub in Ottawa May 23.
Shankenstein said before the performance, “I love playing shows more than anything. It is such a huge honor to drive somewhere to bring joy to people. It’s the best job in the world.”
As the band continues their tour they are already looking ahead, with a tour of Germany set as their goal and the operations for their upcoming Christmas release, The Nutcracker, firmly underway.