And It Was Shakey!

An indescribable man, Shakey Graves delivers entertainment through live stream concerts that remind us of why we love him.

BY SHANNON BRAULT

Shakey Graves has a way of telling a story in every song that he does, which is what makes him a great musician. He can take the random, sometimes mundane things of life and turn them into a fantastic song that just about anyone will love.

Shakey Graves is the stage alias for Alejandro Rose-Garcia. He is an Americana musician from Austin, Texas, who combines rock and roll, blues, folk, and country to create masterpieces of songs. It is hard to describe Shakey Graves because he just is. He’s quirky and funny, kind and sarcastic, and one great musician. He adapts his shows into live streams so fans can continue to stay connected to him and his music.

Shakey Graves is a fantastic storyteller, but he has a unique way of conveying his stories. When he is creating his music, he doesn’t write it out. Instead, he records himself playing the music and then listens to it again to learn how to play it. He says that he never plays a song the same way twice, even though sometimes he wishes he could. He said that it’s part of storytelling and that you don’t tell a story the same way every time you tell it, so why would he play his music the same way when it’s his story to tell?

He also has a suitcase drum that his friend built for him because he was sick of carrying around a bunch of equipment. This tripped-out suitcase allows him to play the drums and the tambourine at the same time. If that doesn’t help describe the type of guy he is, I’m not sure what will.

Of course, he used the suitcase drums during his live streams since it is one of his staples. The first live stream of two that I was able to attend was Shakey Graves performing solo at the Hole in
the Wall in Austin, Texas, on March 16. He played there during the happy hour special ten years ago, where he honed his craft. He said that sometimes it was just him and the bartender, Dennis O’Donnell, in the building, but he would listen, and even if the room was empty, he would clap and bring Shakey whiskey. Shakey said that sometimes that’s all it takes: a little bit of acknowledgment and a kind act. The rest is extra icing, as he says.

O’Donnell is also the owner of the Sage Brush, where Shakey Graves performed for the second show on March 23. O’Donnell had given Shakey
a TW Samuels bottle and wrote “love you brother, kick their butts” on the bottle when Shakey stopped playing happy hour at the Hole in the Wall. During the first live stream, he told that story and paused to thank those who work in service and encouraged people at home to raise a glass to them.

Shakey Graves embodies everything that I want
to be one day. He continues to do what he loves without taking himself too seriously. As a very
chill one-man show, he has an encompassing aurora that draws you into him. During the second live stream, he played two guitars at once and laughed at himself and with his friends throughout the show. He’s a hipster man that enjoys the little things in life and takes his experiences to share something beautiful with the world.

He has songs about random toll-booth ladies, his first time traveling to New York City, songs about how the world will make you feel small, and songs commenting on society’s most pervasive problems. His musical range is unmatched, and he continues to break norms that keep many artists stuck outside of what they want to be genuinely doing.

Shakey Graves came to the stage virtually with us, and he delivered. He reminded us of why we love him and what makes him such a great storyteller. Shakey Graves gave an iconic performance to keep us connected in a time where we aren’t able to share the music, and that is a beautiful thing.