Somewhere deep inside the music of the Visible Shivers beats the heart of Merle Haggard. Funny thing is, he's apparently been out drinking with Tom Petty and Lou Reed.
    The Shivers shake up a mixed bag of influences just fine on their latest CD, Little Noises. Among the band's three singers, David Simpkins is by far the standout; sounding eerily like Lou Reed drunk on Pabst Blue Ribbon. Simpkins contributes heavily to the band's punk aesthetic, his "Velvet" vocals providing both the album's best singing and its most intriguing elements.
    Bandmates Lee and Kirsten Worley shine best on their instrumental work: Lee chomps down on both guitar and mandolin, and Kirsten deftly delivers keyboards, accordion, and guitar.
    This isn't the best alt-country album you'll hear, but it has a distinct flavor. Much of Little Noises comes off rather like the theme music to a Western movie ("Shooting Star," "Firetown," "Lessons," "Something New"); you can decide for yourself whether this is a good or a bad thing. But the band departs from this desperado spirit occasionally with considerable charm. "Southern Hospitality" sets the toes tapping with fiery slide guitar work.
    "The Fear Inside," a catchy, Connells-esque tune (easily the CD's most memorable) is the perfect vehicle for Simpkins' talents. The best cut, however, is "Flow," a true Americana number, highlighted perfectly by tasteful guitar licks and Kirsten's bonny accordion accents.
    Overall, not a brilliant album, but a satisfying listen for those with an off-beat country bent. No doubt the Shivers would be a blast to catch live if they ever mosey down our way. Meanwhile, all you eclectic cowboys can slake your country urges with a few Little Noises. The self-released CD is available at www.visiblehshivers.com

Visible Shivers
Little Noises
Independent
    Visible Shivers, besides having a great band name, have a great grasp on that whole new alt-country, folk-inspired sound. Or as they like to call it, "Americana." Whether it be strong-armed acoustic guitars accompanying sturdy Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen-inspired vocals ("Little Noises," "Shooting Star") or mellowed out Lou Reed-meets-Joe Cocker reminiscing ("The Fear Inside," "Flow"), these guys have that sound nailed down pat. Hell, if that scene was as big as Hollywood, I'd say give them their own plaque in the walkway.
    And variety is the spice of life, and a tasty seasoning for this band. Patti Smith influenced tunes, both depressing and sweet ("Firetown," "Chill in the Air") offset feet stomping, upbeat tracks ("Southern Hospitality", "Jaded") which sound like Billy Joel with a ten-gallon hat or Randy Travis thumping a piano, possessed with Little Richard's soul. Not to mention the lyrics read like they were written with TS Eliot hanging over their shoulders. I'm not even going to give a sample of their symbolic brilliance… just listen up.
    I can find very few flaws with this album, outside of their sound being a bit mellow for most expectant alternative, country, "roots rock," or "Y'alternative" fans. But these guys are seriously talented; they swelter all their tracks with loving and sweet atmosphere, they are great mood setters, and never over-indulgent, knowing just how much emotion and passion to put into a song before it boils over into cheap shots. It's plain to see, as they say in their bio notes, "The Visible Shivers were playing this kind of music long before it had a name."
    Any one of these songs would suffice as the perfect soundtrack to any romantic drama you've ever seen or ever will see. These pieces are timeless, not only as love songs, but as renditions of the heart. If you can't sense any of the wonderful musicianship and feeling that went into this album, just keep numbing yourself to Fear Factory or Atari Teenage Riot and leave the rest of us with some warmth in our heart to enjoy something real.

This review is online at
http://www.muzikman.com/visibleshivers.html

    Blacksburg's five member band Visible Shivers has three lead singer-songwriters, making Little Noises' dozen songs filled with a great variety.
    The title tune features a lead guitar like Neil Young on CSNY's "Ohio" and lead vocals from Lee Worley with the folk power of Bruce Cockburn.
    David Simpkins sounds similar to Jerry Garcia on "The Fear Inside" with a Grateful Dead-like guitar part like on "Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad," with nice harmony vocals from Kirsten Worley on this country rock number.
    Kirsten sings a powerful lead like Rosanne Cash on "Firetown" with a great beat driven by rhythm section Patrick Turner and Zac Cullop.
    "Southern Hospitality" certainly has a southern feel with Lynyrd Skynyrd-like-guitars plus a "Let's Spend The Night Together" piano sound.
    Kirsten's piano also shines like Tori Amos on "Something New," which could be an up tempo hit. This one sounds a bit like Hot Tuna, but that comparison is even stronger on "Lessons" with David Simpkins emulating Jorma Kaukonen in his voice.
    Kirsten's "Chill In The Air" has a nice folk coffeehouse feel and her "Welcome Me Home" is equally pleasing.
    The CD closes with the 3/4 time "Left Behind," which is soothing like Bob Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," with husband and wife team Lee and Kirsten Worley sharing vocals.

VISIBLE SHIVERS
Little Noises
Independent
    Listening to Blacksburg, Virginia's Visible Shivers puts one in the mind of The Jayhawks and Blue Mountain -- a sound fraught with a rural, hard-driving roots swagger with a sweet, heartfelt country touch thrown in for good measure. Settling into a comfortable balance between grit and sentimentality, Little Noises benefits greatly from the strong songwriting vision and voices of David Simpkins and Lee and Kirsten Worley; each brings a distinct complementary flavour, taking care to avoid sounding like solitary songwriters sharing a band. Of the three, Simpkins' voice emerges as the most resonant and rich, particularly when sharing time with the vulnerable, fragile voice of Kirsten Worley -- a combination that should bear more fruit in the future. Despite being a bit rough and hesitant around the edges, Little Noises is a grounded, heartland collection that should help Visible Shivers turn the corner.

Review can be found on-line at:
http://www.theottawaxpress.ca/cd_revs.html

Visible Shivers
Little Noises
www.visibleshivers.com
    A decade into a career that has produced four independent recordings and a raft of good reviews throughout the mid-Appalachian empire, "Little Noises" is the Blacksburg, Va., quintet's most consistent effort to date and one that should garner it wider Y'alternative acclaim.
    Dwelling in the shadows, songwriters Lee Worley, Kirsten Worley and David Simpkins manage to juggle the slippery surfaces of light and right, while the band hums along like a precision machine. ...If it ever finds a true lead vocalist, as opposed to each writer's singing his or her own material, look out.

Visible Shivers make big noises in Champs show
    The Visible Shivers, Blacksburg's own alternative country band, unleashed its new CD Friday with a performance at the Cafe at Champs.
    The album, "Little Noises," showcases the band's trademark sound, a mix of country and rock commonly known as No Depression, Y'alternative, or Americana and played by bands like Wilco, Son Volt, and the Jayhawks.
    Friday night's three sets of music included most of the songs from "Little Noises," as well as songs from the band's older recordings and an eclectic blend of covers.
    Visible Shivers' guitarist and vocalist, David Simpkins, said he thinks the band's sound falls left of center in the Americana scene.
    "When you talk about alternative country, we're closer to the alternative side," Simpkins said.
    Although they fit in with other current Americana bands, Simpkins said the Visible Shivers never intended to be part of any kind of country rock revival. In fact, he said when people began comparing their early music to the Jayhawks and Uncle Tupelo, the band members had to seek out music by these bands to see who they were being compared to.
    "(Country rock) rears its head every now and then," Simpkins said. He compared the current trend to previous country rock movements in the the '60s and the '80s.
    The band's influences also come from outside traditional country rock, including new wave artists like the Smithereens and Elvis Costello. In fact, the band's name comes from a lyric in Costello's "Watching The Detectives."
      The band's choice of covers Friday night showed their various influences. Covered songs ranged from Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Passionate Kisses" and Lucinda Williams' "Change the Locks" to rock classics like the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction" and Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane."
    "We didn't write them, but we wish we did," guitarist and vocalist Lee Worley said of the covers.
    Worley picked up a mandolin for a cover of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road" that closed the second set. "I know four chords on the mandolin and I'd like to play two of them for you now," Worley said. The song was an obvious favorite for the crowd and the band, as Worley's mandolin strumming was so ferocious he broke several strings during the song.
    Another highlight of the show was the closing number, an extended improvisational jam on Them's "Gloria" that left the band exhausted.
    The Visible Shivers' original songs were also a hit with the crowd, particularly "Firetown," which was so popular members of the crowd successfully petitioned the band to play it again.
    The Visible Shivers have been playing in Blacksburg in various incarnations since 1990 when Simpkins began playing with Worley and drummer Kurt Adam, who had been playing as a two piece at Maxwell's.
    Over the years, the band has gone through numerous personnel changes, including a revolving door of bassists and the departure of founding member Adam.
    The band currently includes Simpkins on guitars and vocals, Worley on guitars and vocals, Kirsten Worley on keyboards and vocals, Zac Cullop on drums, and, the latest addition, Patrick Turner on bass.
    Friday night they were joined by guest guitarist Rick Krajnyak, the co-founder of Real2Reel Studio who produced and guested on the new album.
    Simpkins said the band's sound has evolved since the early days as they have stopped worrying about audience reaction and started writing the music they liked. "We're finally realizing what was in our heads but we were afraid to play," he said.
    He said the Visible Shivers' early music tended to contain so many different influences that it sounded cluttered. "We thought the more we put in there the more people will think we know what we're doing," Simpkins said.
    Simpkins said the band has had a hard time maintaining a niche in Blacksburg because many of the bands they associated themselves with have broken up or moved away and many of the clubs they used to play have closed.
    He said Champs, where the band has played more than anywhere else, has been their saving grace. "If it hadn't been for Champs, this CD wouldn't exist," Simpkins said. "I'm not sure the band would exist. They stuck with us when nobody else understood what we were doing." The band's relationship with Champs includes a recent New Year's Eve show. Simpkins said they were honored to be asked to play.
    The band hopes the new album will give them a chance to play outside the New River Valley. They have played at venues in West Virginia and are hoping to start playing in North Carolina. They also plan to use the Internet as a promotional tool for the album through their e-mail list and online retail outlets. "The whole idea with the new CD is we're really expecting it to open some doors for us," Simpkins said.
    The band is also planning to contribute to a compilation album being put together by Postcards from Hell, a listserve for fans of Americana music. "I have no idea who's going to like (the album)," Simpkins said. "We just did something that we like... I hope it will find an audience or an audience will find it."
    The new album was recorded at the new Real2Reel studio in Blacksburg. "I can't say enough (good things) about it," Simpkins said. "If there will ever be a scene that will grow up in Blacksburg, it will grow up around that studio." Simpkins said the band had recorded a demo tape with Krajnyak and Shane Johnston, founders of Real2Real, before the studio was opened and were greatly impressed with the results.
    The band's music has led to appearances on local radio stations and the recent honor of being voted co-favorite local rock band by the New River Valley readers of the Roanoke Times.
    The Visible Shivers will be performing tomorrow night at Boudreaux's on Main Street.

The Visible Shivers
"Little Noises" (Hat Music)
    The Visible Shivers, a decade-old New River Valley Americana band, just released "Little Noises," a 12-song CD recorded at Blacksburg's Real2Reel studio.
    Plenty of guitars, electric and otherwise, plus keyboards and a hint of accordion abound on this third full-length recording from a band that took its name from a line in Elvis Costello's "Watching The Detectives."
    Inspiration comes from Costello, Lucinda Williams, Uncle Tupelo, Neil Young, and others, but all the songs on the CD are original.
    Among the tracks: "Southern Hospitality," about the burning and beheading case in Grayson County; a twangy tune called "Flow," and a harder, grittier "Lessons."
    The band features David Simpkins, vocals and guitars; Patrick Turner, electric and upright bass; Lee Worley, vocals, guitars, and mandolin; Kirsten Worley, vocals, keyboards, guitar, and accordion; and Zac Cullop on drums and percussion.