Manager - "Shasta"

Manager are a relatively new act on the Jersey City scene, but they’re already making noise as a bonafide rock and roll force. Since relocating from Brooklyn, they trimmed down from a quartet to a trio of the essentials: guitar, bass, and drums. Now solidified as a Garden State unit, the three piece recently shared a new EP called HOT-LINE, which was produced entirely by the band at guitarist Jon Chinn’s brand new Hoboken studio space. The EP’s final track, “Shasta,” stands out for its clever lyricism and big, booming sound.

Starting with what sounds like the slow spin of a rotary phone, the track kicks off with an abrupt “Hello” before diving into a sea of bass-heavy grooves and fuzzy guitars. The tongue in cheek lyrics, which are delivered with wit by bassist Lori Cantu, mimic the greeting you’d receive from a call center employee named Shasta: “hi there, it's SHASTA from chevrolet, regarding your chevy blazer.” Shasta may be disappointed to learn that you don’t in fact own a Chevy Blazer, but she can hold her head high with pride knowing that she inspired quite the memorable tune. Manager really leans into the power trio dynamic on “Shasta,” milking a lot out of the pared downed guitar-bass-drums combo, as the sum of their efforts sound much bigger than its parts. 

Stream the track below!

You can purchase HOT-LINE via Bandcamp. The EP is also available on all streaming platforms. Keep up with Manager by following them on Instagram.

Catch Manager tonight at Pet Shop in Jersey City with Tape Slam and Wizard Brain! Bands start at 8pm.