Band of the Week: Shirock

With their soaring guitar textures and catchy vocal harmonies, at times comparable to that of U2's Bono, Shirock are well on their way to taking over the music scene with their debut release, Everything Burns. A solid release of well produced tracks and moving lyrics, the band's press release states, "Shirock makes music that capitalizes on the transformative power of rock & roll and its ability to move and inspire people," and I couldn't agree more.

While their pop-rock sound is arena friendly, it's the message behind the music that leaves the biggest impact. The intro to the title track of their album includes a moving monologue that states, "People today are trying to define themselves by what they get out of life; what they wear, how they look, how much stuff they have, what kind of car they drive. I've done a lot of funerals and never yet have they eulogized the person for any of that kind of stuff . . . It's all about relationships. Were they kind? Were they generous? Do they help others? . . . The people you touch are your real legacy. You're not defined by what you take from this world . . . You're defined by how you impact other people. It's been said there are only two ways to live. You can either love things and use people or you can love people and use things."

The Nashville-based quintet is doing a lot more than making music. Partnering with local charities working to solve homelessness and poverty, Shirock have created a non-profit organization called Everything Burns. Recently, all the proceeds from their February tour dates went to local charities.

Straight off showcases at Austin, Texas' annual South By Southwest music festival, frontman Chuck Shirock has talked about the songs on the album, stating: "They're our lives, our relationships, our friendships within the band. They're our pursuit of trying to figure out life; who we are, who God is, and how it all makes sense. It’s all of that put to music."

Having their music featured on MTV's "The Hills" and NBC's "ER," Shirock are making a name for themselves. With their touching lyrics and ongoing charity work, Shirock is setting a precedent to all emerging bands in the music industry and continues to branch themselves apart from the crowd.

For more on Shirock be sure to visit them on MySpace and their Web site and catch a show when they're in town!