Kevin Russell is the glorious, technicolor heart and soul of Shinyribs - the frontman, ringleader, and mastermind behind one of the most joyfully unpredictable live acts working today.  Equal parts crooner, preacher, and carnival barker, Russell has built Shinyribs into a full-blown celebration, blending swampy soul, country, funk, and gulf-coast R & B into something that feels less like a concert and more like a revival.

As a cofounding member of the beloved Austin institution, The Gourds, Russell spent nearly two decades helping shape a sound that became a cornerstone of Texas roots music before moving into his next era.

As Shinyribs' primary songwriter and creative force, he has proven himself a rare talent - capable of writing songs that are wildly funny and deeply moving, often in the same breath.  While the full Shinyribs band delivers a big, rollicking, high-energy spectacle, he's equally in demand in his stripped-down acoustic duo format - an intimate, road-ready incarnation that shines a spotlight on his witty and introspective yet whimsical songwriting.  Pared down to the essentials, these shows reveal the craft underneath:  sharp, playful lyrics and a storyteller's eye that can turn from laugh-out-loud funny to quietly profound in a single verse.

Whether he's fronting a full band revue or delivering his songs in a quiet listening room, Kevin Russell is that rare artist who can make you laugh and make you think in the same verse.  He leaves no one untouched and no one unmoved.