GONE TOO SOON: Harlem Shakes (2006 – 2009)
Harlem Shakes were an indie rock group out of Brooklyn, NY that disbanded in late 2009 following the release of their debut full length, Technicolor Health. The band had just started to get the buzz they deserved, after a couple of years of constant gigs in Brooklyn and New York. I had the fortunate opportunity to catch probably a dozen Shakes shows and every time they would put on a great performance of songs that were new, but still felt familiar. Their sound could be viewed as similar to bands like Vampire Weekend, Tokyo Police Club, and Passion Pit (without the electronic parts). The news of their break up was a bummer because I had followed them since their start and know they would have been successful had they continued to tour and make new music. Harlem Shakes time together may have been a brief few years, but they were part of the soundtrack to those years for me. While we will likely never hear from these guys again, Technicolor Health, along with their two prior self-released EP’s, will forever be labeled as classics in my book.
September 2, 2011 at 3:13 pm
[...] believe their selection for 2009. It’s a perfect choice. I’ve already expressed my admiration of the defunct Brooklyn indie rockers Harlem Shakes. “Strictly Game” was on their [...]