Shane Smith & the Saints
On the opening track of Shane Smith & the Saints' new Hail Mary LP, "Heaven… Read Full Bio ↴On the opening track of Shane Smith & the Saints' new Hail Mary LP, "Heaven Knows," singer and guitarist Shane Smith lays bare the last four years of his band's journey. "We set our sails for deeper seas, heaven knows what we will find," he sings.
Since releasing their last prior album, 2015's Geronimo, the Austin, Texas, five-piece have plunged ever deeper into their adventure as a touring band. Hundreds of shows a year in more than 40 different states and on three different continents, including visits to Ireland and Malaysia, have brought them to the 10 stormy tracks that make up Hail Mary, which will be released June 28th.
Now three albums and nearly 10 years into their career, Shane Smith & the Saints are ready to go for broke. "It pretty much summarizes where we are as a band and where I am as an individual after pursuing this for practically the last decade," Smith says of Hail Mary. "We're a scrappy group of guys and this is more or less one of those moments where we're really trying to put it all out there. We're trying to give it our best shot on this record."
Recorded at the same hometown studio as Geronimo, Matt Noveskey (of Blue October)'s Orb Recording Studio, Hail Mary was produced by Mark Needham (Imagine Dragons, The Killers), marking the first time the band has worked with an outside producer. Inspired by Shane Smith & the Saints' reputation as a high-energy live act with stunning four-part harmonies, Needham focused on capturing that un-doctored chemistry in the studio.
"A lot of these songs he had us in there with Shure SM58 microphones, live, in front of each one of the guys. He'd be actually using it for the final song rather than going in and overdubbing every single voice, which is a very rare thing," says Smith of the sessions, which were largely tracked live in the studio. "That gave us a little more confidence hearing him build us up on that whole thing."
That extra self-assuredness comes through in each of Smith's roaring vocals and in the band's stampeding melodies. From the crunching title track to the slow burn of "Oklahoma City" to the triumphant blaze of glory that is "Parliament Smoke," Hail Mary crosses the gritty, blue-collar storytelling of Bruce Springsteen with the singsong hooks of Mumford & Sons. Most of all, it's an album with a lot of heart.
"I don't like just throwing stuff out there. If I'm going to be singing about something every night, I try to make it personal, make it something I can really relate to," says Smith, the band's lyricist and primary songwriter. "I like to sing with conviction, an honest conviction." Having first starting playing music while he attended college in Austin, Smith follows in the footsteps of such Lone Star songsmiths as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Hayes Carll, and Ryan Bingham.
A native of Terrell, Texas, about an hour outside of Dallas, Smith first headed to Tyler Junior College in East Texas, where he was part of the tennis program. But he was soon lured to the "Live Music Capital of the World," where he attended St. Edwards University and soon connected with another group of players, those who now make up the Saints. Today that group includes Bennett Brown on fiddle, Dustin Schaefer on lead guitar, Chase Satterwhite on bass, and Zach Stover on drums.
Much like the care that Smith puts into his lyrics, the Saints have been deliberate in crafting their recorded material. Their first album, Coast, was released in 2013, and featured appearances by fellow Texas underdogs Aaron Watson and Ryan Engleman. Two years later came Geronimo, which Smith sees carrying a similar sort of double meaning to Hail Mary. "The title track did talk a lot about the historical figure, but it was a leap of faith thing as well, where we were as a band truly trying to find our sound," he says of the band's sophomore effort.
Shane Smith & the Saints' busy touring schedule meant that almost three years elapsed after Geronimo's release before they had the time to start recording Hail Mary. Even when the album had been completed, now more than a year ago, they were careful not to rush its release. As in the past, that will be done through Geronimo West Records, the label Smith runs with his wife.
"It's been such a long time coming. And honestly, for me, it's such a personal album in terms of the lyrical content, what the band has gone through and the band's families have gone through over the years," Smith says. "It means a lot to me, I know it means a lot to the guys, and I wanted to make sure we gave it good legs to stand on."
Though Smith and his bandmates have been the ones logging in the miles in their "Cousin Eddie-looking" RV, their friends, family, and other loved ones are the ties that bind together the songs on Hail Mary. "The last couple years of doing this stuff I've started to realize how much of a sacrifice it is for those outside characters. A lot of my lyrics are paying tribute to those people and the fact that we wouldn't be able to do this if it wasn't for them," says Smith. "A lot of people paint [the music business] as a glamorous thing, but it's truly difficult to pull off if you have any intention of being a family man."
Lucky for them, Shane Smith & the Saints' family has only grown through their tireless touring in recent years. Having long been grouped in with the sprawling, grassroots genres of Texas Country and Red Dirt music, Smith says that fanbase is uniquely suited to their own single-minded approach.
"It's a massive network of people that are music lovers, but they're not like your standard music lover. They're so passionate that they not only support the music, they show it to every one of their friends and promote it for you," Smith marvels. "It's a support system of people who want to hear really good music, but a lot of the time get frustrated with what they hear on the radio."
With Hail Mary, those fans will have their best representation yet of the barnstorming concerts that likely drew them to Shane Smith & the Saints in the first place. "After four years of touring and sweat equity, it's significantly helped and changed our sound," Smith says. "But the really cool thing is that, as our sound has truly started going away even further from what the norm is in Texas Country and Red Dirt, that same group of people is jumping on board now more than ever before."
Heaven knows Shane Smith & the Saints have earned that loyalty.
Since releasing their last prior album, 2015's Geronimo, the Austin, Texas, five-piece have plunged ever deeper into their adventure as a touring band. Hundreds of shows a year in more than 40 different states and on three different continents, including visits to Ireland and Malaysia, have brought them to the 10 stormy tracks that make up Hail Mary, which will be released June 28th.
Now three albums and nearly 10 years into their career, Shane Smith & the Saints are ready to go for broke. "It pretty much summarizes where we are as a band and where I am as an individual after pursuing this for practically the last decade," Smith says of Hail Mary. "We're a scrappy group of guys and this is more or less one of those moments where we're really trying to put it all out there. We're trying to give it our best shot on this record."
Recorded at the same hometown studio as Geronimo, Matt Noveskey (of Blue October)'s Orb Recording Studio, Hail Mary was produced by Mark Needham (Imagine Dragons, The Killers), marking the first time the band has worked with an outside producer. Inspired by Shane Smith & the Saints' reputation as a high-energy live act with stunning four-part harmonies, Needham focused on capturing that un-doctored chemistry in the studio.
"A lot of these songs he had us in there with Shure SM58 microphones, live, in front of each one of the guys. He'd be actually using it for the final song rather than going in and overdubbing every single voice, which is a very rare thing," says Smith of the sessions, which were largely tracked live in the studio. "That gave us a little more confidence hearing him build us up on that whole thing."
That extra self-assuredness comes through in each of Smith's roaring vocals and in the band's stampeding melodies. From the crunching title track to the slow burn of "Oklahoma City" to the triumphant blaze of glory that is "Parliament Smoke," Hail Mary crosses the gritty, blue-collar storytelling of Bruce Springsteen with the singsong hooks of Mumford & Sons. Most of all, it's an album with a lot of heart.
"I don't like just throwing stuff out there. If I'm going to be singing about something every night, I try to make it personal, make it something I can really relate to," says Smith, the band's lyricist and primary songwriter. "I like to sing with conviction, an honest conviction." Having first starting playing music while he attended college in Austin, Smith follows in the footsteps of such Lone Star songsmiths as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Hayes Carll, and Ryan Bingham.
A native of Terrell, Texas, about an hour outside of Dallas, Smith first headed to Tyler Junior College in East Texas, where he was part of the tennis program. But he was soon lured to the "Live Music Capital of the World," where he attended St. Edwards University and soon connected with another group of players, those who now make up the Saints. Today that group includes Bennett Brown on fiddle, Dustin Schaefer on lead guitar, Chase Satterwhite on bass, and Zach Stover on drums.
Much like the care that Smith puts into his lyrics, the Saints have been deliberate in crafting their recorded material. Their first album, Coast, was released in 2013, and featured appearances by fellow Texas underdogs Aaron Watson and Ryan Engleman. Two years later came Geronimo, which Smith sees carrying a similar sort of double meaning to Hail Mary. "The title track did talk a lot about the historical figure, but it was a leap of faith thing as well, where we were as a band truly trying to find our sound," he says of the band's sophomore effort.
Shane Smith & the Saints' busy touring schedule meant that almost three years elapsed after Geronimo's release before they had the time to start recording Hail Mary. Even when the album had been completed, now more than a year ago, they were careful not to rush its release. As in the past, that will be done through Geronimo West Records, the label Smith runs with his wife.
"It's been such a long time coming. And honestly, for me, it's such a personal album in terms of the lyrical content, what the band has gone through and the band's families have gone through over the years," Smith says. "It means a lot to me, I know it means a lot to the guys, and I wanted to make sure we gave it good legs to stand on."
Though Smith and his bandmates have been the ones logging in the miles in their "Cousin Eddie-looking" RV, their friends, family, and other loved ones are the ties that bind together the songs on Hail Mary. "The last couple years of doing this stuff I've started to realize how much of a sacrifice it is for those outside characters. A lot of my lyrics are paying tribute to those people and the fact that we wouldn't be able to do this if it wasn't for them," says Smith. "A lot of people paint [the music business] as a glamorous thing, but it's truly difficult to pull off if you have any intention of being a family man."
Lucky for them, Shane Smith & the Saints' family has only grown through their tireless touring in recent years. Having long been grouped in with the sprawling, grassroots genres of Texas Country and Red Dirt music, Smith says that fanbase is uniquely suited to their own single-minded approach.
"It's a massive network of people that are music lovers, but they're not like your standard music lover. They're so passionate that they not only support the music, they show it to every one of their friends and promote it for you," Smith marvels. "It's a support system of people who want to hear really good music, but a lot of the time get frustrated with what they hear on the radio."
With Hail Mary, those fans will have their best representation yet of the barnstorming concerts that likely drew them to Shane Smith & the Saints in the first place. "After four years of touring and sweat equity, it's significantly helped and changed our sound," Smith says. "But the really cool thing is that, as our sound has truly started going away even further from what the norm is in Texas Country and Red Dirt, that same group of people is jumping on board now more than ever before."
Heaven knows Shane Smith & the Saints have earned that loyalty.
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Shane Smith & the Saints Lyrics
Alex So wie 2 Chainz auf dem Beat oder Drake, Drake,…
All I See Is You All I Need Is YouAll I need is you To take…
Born & Raised There′s an alligator in that tank Where my papa fished nearl…
Canvas Is this the old side of young, or the young…
Coast Drop the key I need the beat low Deep-rooted seeds the…
Cocaine Habit All the hills turned black as the bull whip cracked I…
Crockett's Prayer Throw up a prayer for me too won′t you davey It…
Dance the Night Away See the moonlight shining through the pines and I know…
Feather in the Wind Neighbor pulls at the mower Looks like he's punching in rewi…
Fire in the Ocean They couldn′t hold you, but a dream that way sometimes In…
Hail Mary I rode a long way to meet you I'm a long…
Heaven Knows I saw all sides of man in New Orleans Sang songs…
Highway Aye I'm tired of that play pretend Wanna chase my dreams I…
Hummingbird Rose to rose, you drink it all in As fast as…
Hurricane Thirty miles in the Gulf Stream Hear the south wind moan Bri…
I Can Hear Him Now Gotta face the devil on your own ohhh when you…
Last Train to Heaven On a September morning She came without warning Said Ain't i…
Little Bird That night in Kerry County had a mind of its…
Lord Bury Me in Texas Well can you tell me a story on the fiddle…
Mountain Girl Well I remember that summer the great van died The rodeo…
New Orleans Take me down ol′ river man Lord to set me free I've…
Nights of Austin I look out to them storage sheds from a Hills…
Oil Town The street light it flickers and quietly remembers Back to 4…
Oklahoma City Has the price we've paid Turned to nothing And the hopes…
Parliament Smoke Patsy Cline sang like a sparrow To heal our fights As Parlia…
Quite Like You I saw the sky inside your eyes But the weather changes And…
Right Side of the Ground If you leave for Dallas, don′t travel by the moon There…
Runaway Train What′s that sad look? That look on your face Things will…
Suzannah The evening set upon him like a plague from up…
The End You can't go back So get up and move around Your feet…
The Mountain There ain't a dream that don't have a chance To come…
We Were Too Young There was no season for your bloom, Red rose you rose…
We'll Never Know Can't you hear my call Echo out onto you Back to me…
What a Shame Oh, if my life rode on a ship I′d chase down…
Whirlwind Could you tell That I was meant for you Did you know…
Whiskey & Water American Dream It′s real It's something I′ve seen And it al…
Without You Play games (play games) Play no game (play no games) We don'…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Shane Smith:
All I See Is You A storm's runnin' through the Midwest Like a bandit out on…
The End You can't go back So get up and move around Your feet…
Train On a September morning She came without warning Said Ain't i…
You A storm's runnin' through the Midwest Like a bandit out on…
We have lyrics for these tracks by the Saints:
(I'm) Stranded Like a snake calling on the phone I've got no time…
A Minor Aversion I've taken all I can I'm not going to stand here &…
All Times Through Paradise Red light is on all the good is gone I'm in…
All Times Through Paradise - 2004 Remastered Version Red light is on all the good is gone I'm in…
Always J'ai jeté une bouteille à la mer Sans rien attendre en…
Amen (Ooh) Let the church say (Let the church say) Amen King Jame…
Angel My energy is drained away Drained away I'm living these same…
Animal Súbelo un poco papa Yo Domino Saints baby girl Dícelo Vinny …
Ballad Someone goes on last Someone goes on first Lowest on the bil…
Bang On Ik weet niet of je rozen hoort te snoeien In een…
Blues on My Mind I'm so fresh So cool when i rock the groove I kick…
Brisbane Security, yeah yeah I want some security I want security, …
Call It Mine Send a message there's something between us But I know that…
Chameleon Like stars up in a darkened sky I stand obscured from…
Champagne Misery She said she thinks she's going down again 'Cause she's so…
Come On Come back to me Walk through the catastrophe No, we’re not m…
Curtains Sanctuaries built by titans before you destroyed with a fina…
Demolition Girl I'll make you crawl I'll make ya so sad you were…
Do the Robot C'mon, everybody, and listen to Chris There's a great new d…
Erotic Neurotic I wanna be your lover, baby I wanna be your man Won't…
Everything's Fine With a bit of luck and if things fall into…
Fire Testify out my window I'm speaking the words in his name I'm…
Friend Of The People I was talking to a friend of the people Was kissing…
Ghost Ships Ghost ships are sailing on empty seas the light that was…
Grain of Sand I could fill a room with empty pockets I could build…
Hymn to Saint Jude I'm flying higher you can't see me I'm getting ready for…
Imagination Listen to me A teller of tales Of knights in black armor A…
In the Mirror I had a dream I saw the world at war Out…
Introduction Broke down Lost it Looking Mummy in the eye hate fostered Wh…
It's Only Time It's my time to be here with you I waited a…
Just Like Fire Would One night in a motel room Eyes cast like steel I drank…
Kissin' Cousins Well I got a gal she's as cute as she…
Know Your Product I'm just sitting in my chair when a voice comes on…
let Me Know Don't know me You don't know me So shut the fuck up When…
Lipstick on Your Collar When you left me all alone at the record hop You…
Looking For The Sun Na na na na na na na na huh huh…
Lost and Found Ain't nobody tells me what to do now I've heard all…
Love or Imagination Sometimes I get frightened I go out of my head no one…
Memories Are Made of This Aren't you a mess you shouldn't act like this you stand righ…
Messin With The Kid It ain't too easy being a young man Going round in…
Messin' With The Kid It ain't too easy being a young man going round in…
Miss Wonderful Who do you think you are? You think that you…
Misunderstood I stand alone now, I don′t run I don't care nothing…
Monkeys Sell your soul get a crisis loan Broken pillar cant hold…
Monster Monster, monster Monster, monster Monster, grrrrrrr Awe issa…
New Centre of the Universe When I was a little girl I had a rag…
Nights in Venice It's so black as I crash into the backroom I feel…
No Time She can be rich or she can be poor She can…
No Your Product The tv screen becomes my eye It's the legal monster of…
One Way Street On the left on the right honey, it's all the…
Orstralia I don't live this life for me In Orstralia land so…
Paradise Well you sent me some words That you picked up from…
Perfect Day I've been lookin' for a good girl a lot Kinda hungry…
Private Affair You say that you got the answers you heard them all…
River Deep Mountain High When I was a little girl I had a rag doll Only…
Rock and Roll Ruby Jimmy got himself a new pair of shoes To go with…
Roses Whoa Yeah Yeah I've been waiting for the day that I finally …
Run Down You are just like a magazine front cover stuff you're a scre…
Save Me Save me from myself Save me from myself Save me from myself …
Security Security, yeah yeah I want some security I want security, …
See You in Paradise Razor drawn lines on her Eyes still shine on her Thousand…
Senile Dementia 39 days in a certified line Out in the jungle where…
Show Me The Way So many years I have walked alone Walking so far So far from…
Simple love I′m talking but I can see There's no one in front…
Sold Out Here comes the holiday With all the invites to the rest…
Some One To Tell Me When I rise in the morning open my eyes in the…
Somebody Won't you please be mine Won't you please be my somebody Whe…
Someone To Tell Me We can get away for the weekend And we can get…
Something Somewhere Sometime I'd been waiting all the morning slowly doing time I was…
Stay I’m ready Just release me Stay away from me I don’t want you…
Story of Love What's that you say, girl? You did it all for me But…
Stranded Like a snake calling on the phone I've got no time…
Swing for the Crime Locked in a room full of words I’m the one-eyed midget…
Swing For The Crime - 2004 Remastered Version Locked in a room full of words I'm a one-eyed midget…
Take This Heart of Mine Ooo, you say you're feelin' bad 'cause The least thing make…
Thank You Jesus Christ I had to change my perspective while I waited for…
The Ballad Someone goes on last Someone goes on first Lowest on the bil…
The Chameleon Like stars up in a darkened sky I stand obscured from…
The Hour 'Yeo don't call me to hangout I'm working 9-5 and 5-9 I…
The Music Goes Round My Head All my life I've searched upon the reasons for us…
The Prisoner The way I used to love you isn't how I…
This Perfect Day Don't talk to me about what you done Ain't nothing has…
Untitled I've taken a chance more than I have before When I…
Walk Away You don’t know Who I am You don’t know I’m insane Did you kn…
What's Her Name Yeah, what's her name? Amanda?! Damn y'all, look at that Bod…
Wild About You You make me feel just like a savage Honey, running through…
Joshua Pease
on We Were Too Young
There was no season for your bloom. Red rose you rose up to a desert moon and pretty soon you made your way to town. My dreams, they shined right through your face. Your hair would blow, but it would blow at a slower pace. Slower than the breeze would.
But I guess you blew away with the wind that winter. And I miss the way you laughed in the cold. Like a firefly, your hair would touch the sun then shimmer. Mamma told me love would come.
But We Were Too Young.
Now I’m nothing but a lost West Texas storm. A coin outside, on the ground by the grocery store; tail up, I’ve got no kind of luck to give. And you were the way to make things right. The settle of the wind on a long hot summer night. You were the one for me.
But I guess you blew away with the wind that winter. And I miss the way you laughed in the cold. Like a firefly, your hair would touch the sun then shimmer. Mamma told me love would come.
But We Were Too Young.
I can still taste the smoke on your lips that winter. And I pray to God you’re laughing in the cold. There’s still fireflies, but they’re the only thing around here that shimmers. Mamma told me love would come.
You chase your dreams. I’ll curse the sun.
You chase your dreams. I’ll curse the sun.