Shake the sheets

The members of what would become The Shaky Hands first met at a house party on Northeast Skidmore Street. Bassist Mayhew Hoons noticed Nick Delffs’ band because of their western outfits.

“We thought they were going to be some cow-punk band,” Hoons says. “But actually it was just supposed to be a western-themed party … they were just the only ones that dressed up.”

Hoons’ band soon began sharing practice space with Delffs’. When Delffs’ group needed new members, Hoons and guitarist Jeff Lehman joined. The Shaky Hands’ original lineup was set, and they began to play live shows in the Portland basement circuit.

The band’s jittery, folk-infused rock songs and energetic performances gained them a large following in the house-show scene. Their influences, ranging from Neil Young to Portland compatriots such as Dead Moon, contribute to the band’s unique sound.

In 2006, The Shaky Hands gained more recognition by playing the PDX Pop Now! festival. In 2007, they won the Willamette Week‘s “Best New Band” poll, joining the hallowed ranks of Menomena and Talkdemonic.

Their self-titled debut received favorable reviews when it was released in March 2007. That fall, they embarked on tour with The Shins and gained even further exposure when Pitchfork Media ran a review of the song “Whales Sing.” Despite these helpful turns, the band finds it difficult to evaluate how large their following actually is.

“After the first album, we tried not to read any more press, because we have a habit of getting stressed about it,” Hoons says. “The only way to gauge attention is that the day after the Pitchfork review, we had like, 4,000 MySpace plays. Usually we only get about 400 a day! I don’t think anyone in the band knows how many albums we’ve sold. We just like to focus on playing and recording.”

It seems that The Shaky Hands write new material constantly. Lunglight, The Shaky Hands second album, was released on Sept. 9, 2008 on Kill Rock Stars, around the same time as a separate EP, Break The Spell, which was a vinyl-only release that Hoons describes as “almost another album.” The Shaky Hands are currently touring nationally in support of these releases.

Hoons notes that the songs on these releases were actually completed several months ago.

“It feels weird to be promoting an album that we wrote almost a year ago,” he says. “About half of our set at live shows is from the next album.”

That forthcoming album’s release is scheduled for next summer.

The next album will sound significantly different from its predecessors. Guitarist Colin Anderson has left the band, so the Shaky Hands have gone from a group with three guitarists to a band with two.

“Everything has become way more stripped down and simple than it was before,” Hoons says. The Shaky Hands have continued to play the house shows that gained them local renown, even as their clout has enabled them to play larger venues, such the Crystal Ballroom and Holocene. “The house shows are always the best,” Hoons says. “People are just there to really have a good time, and not worry about anything else. The shows in Portland are better than the ones we’ve played in other cities, like New York and Denver. I don’t know if it’s because people know our music, but the ones in Portland are just more rowdy and sweaty … people seem really focused on having a good time.”

Having fun seems to be the Shaky Hands’ main objective, as well. As they continue to gain followers in their hometown and abroad, the group will have the resources they need to continue to pursue their self-professed interests: playing live music and recording records. Hoons and company have built their reputation so far on such straightforward passions, and as the group launches into its third LP, it shows no signs of flagging.

The Shaky Handsw/ The AcornsDoug Fir Lounge, Oct. 16, 9 p.m.$1021-plus