Four years ago, Caterina Schemidt grew tired of just listening to music and decided to write some of her own. Having learned her guitar chords playing David Bowie songs, her only other music education came from a love of the rock, punk and glam bands of the 60s, 70s and 80s. The Stooges, the Sex Pistols, The Stones, The Pixies, T.Rex, Siouxsie and The Banshees, and The Cure--these were just a few of the groups that she looked to as refuge from the monotony she found in the music scene of the late 90s and early 2000s. Born in Venezuela, Latin music also had an inevitable influence on this Detroit-area native.

With a borrowed four-track, guitar and bass, Cat laid down lo-fi tracks for what would become the core catalog of Shiny Shoes. After luring high-school friend and bassist Jeff Zinn out of semi-retirement, the new band recruited two different drummers and guitarists before perfecting their line-up with Todd Bryant on guitar and Michael Maddalena on drums.

The band's true joy is performing live, throwing out a loud, energetic show where each song is a surprise, an unexpected twist poised to explode in your ears. Cat is not afraid of toying with the typical song structure, adding breaks and changes that leave the audience focused on the mystery of what's to come.

The band is a perfect convergence of disparate characters and styles. Cat's vocals are gritty and passionate, a growling Patty Smith prancing on 4-inch heels. Todd's lead guitar is paradoxically heavy and soaring, bringing the ethereal influences of Mogwai and The Smashing Pumpkins to the band's sound. Jeff anchors the low-end with precise, melodic basslines, and Michael tops it all off with a mechanically thunderous bombardment from the drums.

It's pure rock music with the refreshing allure of a female lead--in Shiny Shoes.

For studio recordings, photos and show dates, visit www.shinyshoes.org.