HIP SHY

Hip Shy was Bruce Hanson (late of Four Cuts Deep), Mark Francione (late of Lord John), and Adam Bushman. They dressed in black, but weren't goth or even dark; they were hard rock the way mid-80s Replacements and Hüsker Dü were hard rock (few would have characterized it that way at the time). The lyrics were literate, even literary, the songs economical. No epic power ballads, and no five-minute guitar solos, either, thank god. Their sound most closely resembled the Replacements' "I.O.U.", though they predated that song. Commercially out of step in 1987, they'd have meshed well with the post-80s Indie guitar revival. Hip Shy lasted a year or so, with their recorded output limited to a couple of hand-made cassettes; that was your only reasonable option if you didn't have stacks of money just lying around to throw at studios and record pressing houses. Clearly tired of the scene's pessimism and lack of good will, bandleader Hanson retired the band in 1988, and these days records under the moniker Fellaheen. Francione went on to join Third Party.

Well-designed flyers, no surprise, given Hanson's graphics background, though I am surprised I have only two. And nothing from the Court Tavern, where I'm sure I saw them three or four times. This is the only J. August flyer in my collection; I don't recall seeing any shows there.

[CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE]