Formed in London by Jet Baker as a way of keeping warm and entertaining people in return for beer, BUSTER SHUFFLE (i.e. Baker, Danny Piper, Tezza Mascali and Tim “Popeye Doyle” Connell) played the pubs and clubs across the capital until they were spotted by various industry heads eager to sign them. Deciding to go it on their own, the boys teamed up with Art Brut’s Ian Catskilkin to produce their debut album “Our Night Out”. The album garnered rave reviews, including 4 out of 5 stars from UNCUT and the accolade “one to watch”. The Daily Mirror praised the album’s “imaginative arrangements, sharp tunes and harmonies” and The Sun gave its categorical endorsement –“Take my word for it, they’re rockin’. A young Madness” – after catching the band play live. And so the boys graduated from those dingy East End boozers of their beloved London Town and – joined by James Stickley in place of Danny Piper – went on the road around the UK with The Holloways, supported the Wombats, the White Lies, Goldie Lookin’ Chain, as well as Chas ‘n’ Dave among others.
Well, word of mouth is a powerful thing, especially in today’s world of contrived, commodified, throw-away music. And so it was that BUSTER SHUFFLE’S charming videos (“Me, Myself & I”, “10 Pianos” and “Our Night Out”) attracted the attention of a discerning, overseas audience with an eye for something original, genuine and exciting amongst the blandness. The word had definitely got out. With great excitement, the four-piece embarked upon their first few trips to Germany and Holland to find that the intimate atmosphere of a London pub gig works just as well in the context of a large festival crowd. Not to mention the beer!
In the immediate wake of this early success, the lads signed to the German independent label People Like You and in the Autumn of 2010, promptly embarked upon an epic tour opening for Germany’s mega-punkska rockers, BROILERS, immediately followed by an intrepid trek across snowbound Europe and the UK with Toronto’s finest, THE CREEPSHOW (wittily documented in the live video: Buster Shuffle –Germany Tours with Broilers and The Creepshow). The band also found time that Winter to get behind the "Save the 100 Club" campaign along with many other luminaries from the music world, releasing a viral and performing a one-off, sold-out show at the iconic venue in London's Oxford Street. Following the remastered re-release of the original “Our Night Out” on People Like You in Spring 2011, BUSTER SHUFFLE returned to Europe to tour with Art Brut, open for The Wombats and play a host of club and festival dates in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Switzerland that summer.
Since then, the band has been busy in the studio recording material for their new album “Do Nothing”, due for release early summer (featuring collaborations with Mickey Gallagher from The Blockheads/The Clash, Roddy Radiation from The Specials, Ian Catskilkin from Art Brut and Wag from The Infadels). Boldly departing on occasion from their fabled piano-bashing, cockney ska roots, Baker’s new batch of quirky, darkly entertaining, yet quintessentially English songs about love, life, divorce and squeaky toys, retains BUSTER SHUFFLE’s characteristic authenticity, verve and charm.
Last summer Jet, Terry, James and Tim were reinforced by Pete Oag on hammond/vocals, Carrie Griffiths and Debz Bridgeman on backing vocals. Following highly successful shows at London’s O2 Indigo over Christmas 2011 with Chas and Dave, the new line-up headed for Germany and the Czech Republic in January/February 2012 to play a number of sold-out shows. It seems as though the word had been spreading. With upcoming shows at Punk&Disorderly in Berlin in April, The London International Ska Festival in early May, a tour of Germany and Austria, as well as numerous festival shows and club dates across Europe and the UK, this summer promises to be BUSTER SHUFFLE’s best ever.
Keep spreading the word!