Shy Guevaras are a Cape Town based, 4-piece, alternative rock band.
Whilst some have compared them to the likes of Audioslave and the Foo Fighters, Shy Guevaras are unique in South African rock; with infectious bass lines and solid backbeats all riding frontman Gareth’s smooth, catchy vocal melodies, their songs are as easy to listen to as they are to sing along to. Their songs also differ widely from one to the next; something the band members believe sets them apart from other bands on the circuit.
The band 2007 consists of Gareth on vocals, Stuart on Guitar, Justin Barnard on bass and Sergio on drums. Each of them having experienced their own past successes in terms of album releases and radio play whilst in other bands, but it is with Shy Guevaras that they feel their individual talents are most clearly displayed. When they get together onstage, their chemistry is undeniable. Their live shows are well thought-out adventures, taking audiences on a live rock rollercoaster ride. Their all-in energetic performances have seen the band winning over new fans at every gig they have ever played.
Since their first gig in September 2005, Shy Guevaras have played over 100 shows, holding their own in all of Cape Town’s premier live music venues; from packing out shows at the Zula Sound Bar, the Mercury Live, Cool Runnings, The Hidden Cellar, Armchair Theater, R.O.A.R., V&A Amphitheatre and the open-air Klein Libertas theatre in Stellenbosch, even when appearing alongside some of South Africa’s biggest name bands the likes of Cassette, Cutting Jade, Bed on Bricks, LP Show, Sitter and Taxi Violence, the band has awesomely shown their mettle and owned the stage.
In October 2005 Shy Guevaras recorded 3 songs live at Planet Art Studios in Cape Town. These would later become the demo release called “The abandonment issue”.
Their first music video for the song ‘Overload’ was directed by Loedi Van Renen (Taxi Violence) and received instant airplay on SA music video channel MK89 since its release early on in 2006.
On the 10th and 11th November 2006, Shy Guevaras boarded a plane to Durban for their first mini-tour outside of the Cape. They performed a string of dates, alongside Durban rockers Sitter on the 10th and with the bands Myepic and Cassette on the 11th at Durban’s premier live music venue Burn. The band made such a deep impression on the coastal town that they returned there three months later to perform two more shows (Pietermaritzburg & Durban) ahead of their appearance at the world renowned Splashy Fen Festival (the province’s premier annual live music event over the Easter weekend in April), where the Shy Guevaras rocked a capacity audience as only they know how!
On the 14th of February 2007, Shy Guevaras appeared in the nation’s newspapers as one of the top breakout bands to watch in 2007, adding fuel to the fires of speculation that this band was fast on their way to the top!
Their song ‘Shine’ was simultaneously play listed on the region’s largest music radio station East Coast Radio.
The band were also voted in amongst the Top 20 bands that South African music lovers most wanted to see perform live at the annual Oppikoppi music bash in Gauteng in 2007.
2007 marked the year in which SG conceptualised, produced and released their first big debut album – ‘We Owe You One’. Recorded at Sound and Motion Studios in Cape Town, the band elected legendary Sound Engineer Simon “Fuzzy” Ratcliffe (also a member of other notable Cape Town band Lark) and producer Koos Turenhout to oversee the project. The result was a truly masterful and world class album. Their album launch party in Cape Town on the 15th of September 2007 was a massively successful affair in which the band all but sold out of their first print run of CDs!
Since the album’s release, the band have continued to throw down high-octane shows in and around Cape Town, highlight of these being a slot at the second annual Rocking the Daisies Festival in Darling where the band impressed the gathered masses (and the press!) and won themselves more than just a few new die-hard Shy Guevaras fans!
Barely a month later and the Shy Guevaras were again on the airways on alternative radio stalwart Barney Simon’s SA Rock show on national music station Radio 2000 with a special album feature.
As the Shy Guevaras gear up for global domination, one can only imagine what lies ahead….!!!
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