Kief Shuvel - “Start Digging”

Kief Shuvel made their live debut last June at Pet Shop here in Jersey City. The local four-piece, which is made up of longtime friends and collaborators Pete Egan, Evan Moore, Shea Helms, and Mike Taddeo, treated a packed crowd to a musical stew of sorts. Their sound was exciting and varied in the live setting with indie rock reference points like the adventurous guitar work of Polvo, the more aggressive, in-your-face stylings of Archers of Loaf, and the acidic rock of Sleep, all playing a role. So, it’s no surprise that their debut track, “Start Digging,” is long, winding, and excavates from a deep pool of influences (no pun intended).

“Start Digging” is an epic tune. Clocking in at a healthy six minutes and one second, the band allows plenty of time for captivating peaks and valleys. The track ebbs and flows, starting out relatively intensely after a brief opening lull, with a twin guitar action packed punch anchoring it all. Frontman Pete Egan is a powerful vocalist and he really shines in the song’s final minute. Things slowly simmer until Egan lets out an explosive “start digging!” to kick off a spirited final lap.

Kief Shuvel will be celebrating the release of “Start Digging” with a special release show tonight at Departed Soles Brewery in Jersey City with CR and the Nones and Best Dressed Ghost. The show is free and bands start at 8 p.m. sharp.

You can purchase “Start Digging” on Bandcamp or stream it on Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram.