The Shins Artistfacts

1996-
James MercerVocals, guitar
Jesse Sandoval Drums1996-2009
Martin CrandallKeyboards1998-2009
Dave Hernandez Guitar1998-2009
Jessica DobsonGuitar2011-2013
Yuuki MatthewsBass2011-
Richard SwiftGuitar, vocals2011-2016
Joe PlummerDrums2011-2016
Mark WatrousGuitar, keyboards2014-
Casey FoubertGuitar2016-
Jon SortlandDrums2016-
Patti KingKeyboards2016-
In 2009, The Shins frontman James Mercer stared in a movie with Wild Flag front woman Carrie Brownstein called Some Days Are Better than Others. At the time, Brownstein was already an established actress through her TV show Portlandia with Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen, but Mercer had yet to break into the acting business. The movie was directed by Portland filmmaker Matt McCormick, who had already directed music videos for The Shins, YACHT, comedian Patton Oswalt, and Brownstein's previous band Sleater-Kinney.
The Shins frontman James Mercer isn't one to mince his words. When asked why the band left their label Sub Pop in 2009, Mercer said it was about making more money. After the split, Mercer started his own label, Aural Apothecary, and explained that even though running your own label is more work, the financial benefits are worth it.
The Shins frontman James Mercer appears on The Dark Night of Soul, a collaboration album he created with producer/DJ Danger Mouse and Alt-Country rockers Sparklehorse. Mercer told Pitchfork that "the challenge of writing to somebody else's music was really fun."
The Shins frontman James Mercer isn't a bit fan of Valentine's Day. Mercer believes the occasion is "synthetic" and that "it's one of those greeting card holidays." Mercer says that although he enjoyed Valentine's Day in elementary school, he doesn't sweat it like some of his married friends do.
The Shins frontman James Mercer met his wife during a press interview. She was writing for Spin at the time and asking him questions about the band. The couple didn't want an extravagant wedding, so they went to Hawaii to elope. Mercer's parents were there but other friends and extended family members were not invited.
In 2006, actor John Krasinski from The Office interviewed The Shins for Stereogum. Krasinski said one of the coolest compliments he ever got was that The Office was the indie rock of television. The Shins frontman James Mercer agreed, complimenting that the show "really is amazing."
The Shins frontman James Mercer also plays in a band called Broken Bells with producer Danger Mouse. Mercer says the duo formed because life in The Shins had become "heavy" for him. The pair actually met at the famous Roskilde Festival in Denmark in 2004.
In 2009 Mercer dismissed longtime bandmates Dave Hernandez, Marty Crandall, and Jesse Sandoval, terming it "an aesthetic decision."
After being sacked from The Shins, drummer Jesse Sandoval opened a food cart in Portland called "Nuevo Mexico," which sells Mexican food to Portland hipsters. "I'd always wanted to do my food cart," he said. "These tacos will change your life."

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