Come And Go

COME AND GO started out like many of their songs, as an idea scribbled on a bar room napkin in the late night hours. With a name taken from an Allman Brothers song, and the Midwest raising of both Shane Hudson (songwriter/lead guitar) and Shannon Hudson (songwriter/lead vocals), there wasn't much doubt about what type of band COME AND GO would become. After forming in Malibu, California in late 1997, COME AND GO quickly started cutting their teeth as the house band at the Malibu Inn, an oceanside dive that catered to college students, local dregs, and movie stars.

The many beer-soaked hours on that stage gained the band a following in the Malibu area, and in the neighboring metropolis of Los Angeles. As lead singer Shannon Hudson says, "Those shows truly molded us into a band. We were shaped by that bar and the audiences there."

COME AND GO began hitting the LA clubs in 1999, and built a buzz with their high-energy live performances at famous clubs such as the Whisky A GoGo, the Troubadour, the Viper Room, and the El Rey Theater. During these shows, the strengths of the band started to be apparent: powerful vocals, Americana rock-guitar sounds, and sing along melodies. These live shows were captured and eventually released as the album NOT DEAD IN L.A. The album was recorded in one take at one show at the Whisky. Shannon explains, "That album was a photograph. All we did was master it. No overdubs, no edits. We just took the sound straight from the house microphones at the Whisky." Although rough in areas, the album captured the energy of the live shows, and sold well to the increasing fan base of the band.

n 2001 the band cut a record at Expressions Studios in Emeryville, CA called OUT OF THE VALLEY. "That was almost like recording a punk record. We were doing all live takes, and essentially did the entire album in a couple of days," explains Shannon. "We just wanted to get something down on tape so that we could pass around a decent demo." After getting reviewed in various places, the album started not only to sell to the growing fanbase in Los Angeles, but also sold overseas. This success, along with several momentous shows in Hollywood gained the band an honorable mention for the LA Weekly MVP Award, an award given to the top bands in the area based upon reader voting.

After the success of the album, COME AND GO began to shift toward the growing Alt-Country / Americana movement. They started to push their sound in the direction of bands such as Wilco, Ryan Adams, and Son Volt. "The shift seemed like home," Shannon explains. "After spending so many years in Texas and Oklahoma, Shane and I were naturally drawn to the sound." Songwriting also became a bigger focus in the band. Shane says, "We really started to push each other on melodies, and were pretty hard on each other as far as what was good enough to be played by the band." With a clear focus, COME AND GO began to create their own distinct sound: Music with the earnest Midwest themes and rock sounds of Alt-Country alongside infectious pop melodies. The next step was to get the songs captured in a recording.

IN 2004, COME AND GO signed with Texas-based Purify Records after touring Texas and New York. Purify teamed the band up with producers Scott Gordon (Aerosmith, Alanis Morisette) and Dustin Boyer (Descanso, John Cale) to record their debut album SHINEBOX at the famous Sage and Sound Studios in Hollywood, CA. As label head Jon Mark Harmon says, "Purify believes in seeking out talented people and letting them do what they do best. When I saw COME AND GO live the first time, they stood out as a band ready to break; they had an amazing live show and tunes that instantly stuck in your head. Were ecstatic about the release of Shinebox and proud to be associated with such talented artists."

The album was released in May of 2005, and was met with critical acclaim.

Michael Popke of seaoftranquility.org - "The pulse of COME AND GO is brothers Shane and Shannon Hudson, whose sunshine-y melodies and harmonies, Rolling Stones swagger and straightforward lyrics kept Shinebox blasting in my car and at my desk all summer."

Alex Henderson All Music Guide / iTunes - "it's an enjoyable, well-crafted effort that roots rock enthusiasts should be aware of."

John Sheldon Ivany JSI Top 21 - "Shinebox displays the pop sensibilities of the Hudson Brothers, and surely will take them from KZLA to around the country in no time."

Larissa Rose Away Team - "fans of Southern rock, and, quite frankly, alt country will dig it."

During 2005 and 2006, COME AND GO followed up the release of the album with a national tour, and trekked from Los Angeles to Maine, and almost everywhere in between. The band has won over audiences of all ages across the country with their tenacious whiskey-soaked rock and roll.