Shannon Shaw returns Hunx and His Punx to Oakland

Shannon Shaw is likely too humble to accept the title of Queen, but she’s earned it anyway. Between her seemingly endless roster of bands, tours and creative projects, one wonders when the Oakland garage-rock powerhouse actually sleeps. Thankfully for the East Bay, her superpowers don’t appear to require much rest.

Shaw’s long-established status in the local music scene includes deep ties with Marc Ribak and Amy Carver—co-owners of Thee Stork Club and organizers behind Mosswood Meltdown.

“I go way back with Marc,” Shaw says. “I used to play with his old band [Rock N Roll Adventure Kids] and even did a tour with them and Hunx and His Punx. I also played shows with Amy’s old band, Larry & the Angriest Generation. I was stoked when they became a couple! They are the ultimate power weirdo couple.”

Ribak describes Shaw as “hands down one of the best, most creative and thoughtful artists to work with.” He adds, “No one today can sing like her. She’s the voice of rock ’n’ roll.”

Shaw has received further praise from the likes of Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna and Saturday Night Live’s Sarah “Squirm” Sherman. John Waters describes her as his “personal angel” and let the Mosswood crowd know a couple of years back that he realized he’d introduced her more times than the mighty Divine.

Shaw actually recalled her first experience meeting Waters—a.k.a. the Duke of Debris—at a Mosswood Meltdown some years back.

“I got really anxious,” she says. “I wasn’t emotionally ready or dressed, so I thought I could duck-walk through the crowd and he wouldn’t notice me. I was wrong! John yelled out, ‘I see you! And I know who you are!’ It was both a flattering and threatening statement.”

Shortly after, the two had an official meeting. “He was so sweet; he just treated me like we were old pals,” Shaw says. “I remember he smelled really good and he was just so warm and friendly. It’s incredible to be able to meet your idols and they are wonderful, if not even better than you hoped they’d be.”

So far this year Shaw has performed with an ensemble of amazing artists to celebrate the late George Harrison’s birthday as well as a couple of back-to-back solo shows, and is now touring with Hunx and His Punx. Why are fans so lucky? Shaw says she has “deep love and respect” for the East Bay, having moved to Oakland from the North Bay 17 years ago.

“It’s honestly hard for me to express how instrumental Oakland has been in my creative musical existence, growth and longevity,” Shaw says. “I am forever grateful. It’s where I did so much growing and discovering who I am. It is and will always be part of my idea of home.”

Shaw recently had her biggest audience to date, performing with Shannon and the Clams at Uptown’s Fox Theater in October 2024.

In whatever capacity she performs, Shaw commands her bass guitar—a silver sparkle Danelectro DC ’59 bass guitar—the way Thor handles his legendary hammer. Her signature instrument was not something she sought. It was bestowed on her.

“It was a gift when I was 15 from my boyfriend in high school,” Shaw says. “I didn’t even try to play it until I was 25 and needed an escape. It really was a means to an end, and it saved me.”

Seemingly able to play and sing just about anything without compromising her style, Shaw is primarily self-taught—which is surprising considering her versatility and her many musical ventures. Her inspirations are vast. She says she draws her power from everything from “nature, space and art” to her mom listening to the song “The End of the World” by Skeeter Davis while she cleans the house. Shaw also cites a list of greats, including Roy Orbison, the Beatles, the Kinks, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams and the Grateful Dead, among others. 

“My parents had no tolerance for anything modern, which kinda rubbed off on me,” Shaw says. “My brother Jason turned me on to Nirvana and my brother Dan got me into They Might Be Giants and Butthole Surfers, plus more punky stuff.

“What inspires me to make music is coping with life and processing things,” she adds. “I write music when I’m grieving, obviously, and when I feel really good. I hope to make landing pads for people who need an escape, that need hope and need to scream along about whatever needs to be screamed about.”

Shaw is currently working on a solo album and “a new secret cover band!” Apparently there’s no rest for John Waters’ personal angel. Next up, she returns to Oakland with Hunx and His Punx alongside core bandmates Erin Emslie and Seth Bogart.

Hunx and His Punx, Saturday, June 6, at 8pm, Thee Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Opening band: Slippers. theestorkclub.com.