User:Sethowens/sandbox

Rusty Shipp is an American rock band from Nashville, TN that formed in 2014. Named after frontman Russ T. Shipp, the band is most recognizable for its oceanic-themed lyrics and sounds that earned the title “Nautical Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which has been compared to a fusion of grunge and surf rock. The band was the first independent artist to ever win Artist of the Year and Album of the Year in the 2018 JFH Awards and has opened for Saliva, Tantric, Smile Empty Soul, Chuck Mosley, etc.

At the forefront of the group is the singer-songwriter and guitarist, Russ T. Shipp (literally his birth name), followed by AJ Newton on drums, Elijah Apperson on lead guitar, and Andrew “Speedy” Speed on bass. Russ T. has his own signature sound, weaving his raspy voice in and out of falsetto and vibrato; at times sounding like a “higher-pitched Kurt Cobain,” as one music critic put it, and other times like a ghost.

History
The band won Indieville Performer of the Year in 2016, and began scoring international recognition in 2017 with the release of their debut album, Mortal Ghost, from outfits like Pure Grain Audio, The James Whale Show, The Christian Rock 20, and JesusFreakHideout.com, making second place on the "JFH Staff Picks - Top Ten Albums of the Year for 2017.” Rusty Shipp went on to become the first independent artist to ever win Artist of the Year and Album of the Year in the 2018 JFH Awards. Rusty Shipp has opened for several national acts, including Saliva, Tantric, Smile Empty Soul, and Chuck Mosley (Faith No More/Bad Brains) among others, and Russ T. sang a duet with Kevin Max of dc Talk at Winter Woods 3.  2018 ended with several other high notes including charting on Billboard (which led to new FM and online radio stations playing Devil Jonah), being featured on the front page of the Shelbyville News, and the band entering the recording studio to work on their upcoming concept record, Liquid Exorcist.

Discography
The band has released an EP, one studio album, and one single.