This year won’t be any different than the last for Shameless, with shows booked months in advance and a new record of originals due out this spring. The secret to Shameless’s success is to let it all hang loose. “We play a lot of different music, we try to play it well and we have a good time when we play,” lead singer Shawn Birt says. “People’s number one comment is, ‘Man, you look like you’re having a lot of fun.’ It’s contagious.” Shameless, which boasts over 75 songs in its repertoire, is proof that hard work pays off. The band—Birt, guitarist Darrin Shaw, bassist Luke Morris and drummer Chris McIsaac—formed in 1993 and plays 150 to 200 shows a year.
Runner-up: Signal Hill
