There s a particular way the stars glow, crystalline and sharp, on a night when everything feels possible. This is the kind of exhilarating night that inspired The Shondes third abum, Searchlights (Exotic Fever Records, 9/20/2011), mixed at Brooklyn s Studio G by Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, They Might Be Giants). Searchlights is an exuberant and fiery bundle of songs each packing a distinctive punch. The rousing and life-affirming collection was written after violinist Elijah Oberman was diagnosed with cancer, throughout his treatment and recovery. So, appropriately, Searchlights seethes with the energy of being alive the gorgeous parts, the terrible parts, and all of the in-between. Since their 2006 inception, The Shondes Louisa Solomon (vocals, bass), Elijah Oberman (violin), Temim Fruchter (drums) and Fureigh (guitar) have been forging a style that combines hard-driving, moody elements of rock with shimmering, joyous elements of pop, and truly foregrounds the violin as a rock instrument. With Solomon"s raw emotion at the helm, they seamlessly meld influences as disparate as classical and traditional Jewish music and punk rock. The band is known and loved for their live energy and their affection for one another and what they do together. On this third album more than ever before that energy and camarade-rie is palpable on each track. The band s moniker, Shonde, is the Yiddish word for disgrace, and they have always talked candidly about being unashamed of who they are and standing up for what they believe in. The Shondes are looking forward to getting back on the road for national touring supporting Searchlights throughout 2011.