BIO
Jack Shields writes songs for people who think too much, drink too much, and still believe in a good chorus.
Based in Los Angeles, Shields makes indie rock that drags one boot through alt-country and one boot through 90s fuzz — stubborn, scrappy, and dead-set on finding beauty in the wreckage. His debut album, Cherry Pick the Past, is out July 11 Via Many Hats Endevours.
The Mojave Rush is his brainchild. Best known as 1/5th of viral folk-rock outfit Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners, Shields has been writing and recording music since his teens. More than a solo project, The Mojave Rush is a revolving door of friends, collaborators, and longtime bandmates scattered across the country. Born from Shields’ deep desire to build a real band—despite a life of constant relocation—the project became a lifeline of connection and creation, with music recorded both remotely and in person by a tight-knit crew.
Their debut album, Cherry Pick the Past (out July 11), is a sprawling double record that blends grungy indie rock, alt-country, and homespun folk into something intimate and electric. Featuring songs written as far back as 2018, it’s a raw, emotionally charged time capsule—an act of letting go, honoring old ghosts, and curbing perfectionism in favor of truth.
Influenced by artists such as Neil Young, Wilco, MJ Lenderman, and Jason Isbell, the album spans a rich spectrum of sounds. From playful country-punk humor in "I Kidnapped Willie Nelson" to heartfelt introspection in "Prozac" and "Cherry Pick the Past," each track reveals a different facet of Shields' creative landscape. The sprawling, guitar-driven "Lucid Dreaming Silhouette" contrasts sharply with quieter, reflective pieces, underscoring the diverse emotional and musical depth of the album.
PHOTOS
Press
“With a bad mustache and an eye for the eccentric, California songwriter Jack Shields cold-cocks and kidnaps a country music legend in this deranged bluegrass romp. The accompanying video is just as outrageous, as Shields indulges in a Misery-like fantasy to get Ol’ Willie to listen to his songs. His method? A baseball bat across the leg. “I never knew an old man’s femur would be my lucky break,” he sings, a line destined for the Play on Words Hall of Fame. Such cleverness is what keeps “I Kidnapped Willie Nelson” from descending into novelty, and the twist ending only reinforces that Shields isn’t afraid of sacrificing a sacred cow.”
- Jospeh Hudak, Rolling Stone
Jack Shields is a living testament to the possibilities that can still be explored when it seems like every idea has long been run into the ground. He seamlessly melds the old and the new, the East and the West and the roots and the radio together for an eclectic, tremendous mix of sound, light, and life. Efforts- and artists- like this deserve to be far more than unsung and underground, and with the help of the Internet and a willing collection of good ears for talent, the reality of far greater exposure may just, and should, come true.
- Tinker Talavera, Muzique Magazine
CONTACT
For all inquiries, email:
jack.shields11@gmail.com