Chris Shepard

"Punchy, crunchy, wailing, satirical rock from a man who describes himself as "America's Loudest Acoustic Guitarist" If you can tell something about an artist by his song title, this could be a wacky show. Tunes include "I Just Flat Out Can't Stop Smoking Crack," "Sally Skinned Her Dog," "Donkey Bomb" and "Private Hell."
Tad Dickens, Inside Out
"The man that gave Roanoke the soon-to-be-cult-classic movie "Kitty Man," and unforgettable tunes such as "I Just Flat Out Can't Stop Smoking Crack" is bringing his skewed points of view... Shepard's irreverence aside, there's no questioning his playing ability"
-John Persinger | Special to The Roanoke Times
Chris Shepard has successfully developed a hypnotizing style with his powerfully-driven acoustic electric rock.
-Geoffrey Simons, Fly Magazine
Combining tight syncopated phrases and hooky riffs that stick to your brain like hot tar with freight train energy and sudden tempo shifts
The guitar is like a second voice for Chris and he speaks through it effortlessly, as if he could tell you the entire story without a word.
-Ezra Waller, cincymusic.com
Chris Shepard & Sierra Dog Romeo: Sin & Tonic
Listening to Chris Shepard and his band Sierra Dog Romeo's new release Sin and Tonic I cant help but picture coolers perched on tailgates, sweaty beer cans grasped in hands, and a throng of people, eyes shaded against the harsh sunlight, rocking their bodies to the sounds emitting from four large speakers set up haphazardly on an outdoor stage. Chris Shepard's guitar rock, because it can simply be described as guitar rock, sounds like quintessential, American music. The kind of music you would expect to hear in a small town like Roanoke, VA or a small town in any other state. Shepard is definitely a great guitarist, and that is the most important thing to know about this release it has great guitar, the kind of balls-out power chords so many males (and females) are craving nowadays. Unfortunately, the lyrics leave a little to be desired. The majority of Shepard's songs are the angsty howlings of man slighted by woman. Songs like Private Hell and F__d comprise the angry end of the spectrum while Electrosexual and How I'd Love to Love You round out the woman-as-devil picture. The early-90s term grunge is definitely applicable here. Shepard's voice is dirty with pain, resentment and longing. Coupled with his lyrics, his songs leave a frustrated and bitter taste in your ears. Lightening up the majority of the album are songs like Mean People Suck. Shepard's big hit, this song has seen lots of airplay in Roanoke, as well as in other areas around the country. Filled with lighthearted but clever lyrics, Mean People Suck parodies the hippie causes Shepard is all too familiar with:We've got an open-minded, bongo hackey-sack hemp community Recycle freedom, all-natural poetry I've got a world vision, but I don't know what to say I'd better get crackin', only six weeks 'til Earth DayA far cry from the majority of the album, Mean People Suck sets a different tone and shows a different side of Shepard. Hes not all bitterness and broken heart, hes got a sense of humor too.
-Andrea Caumont , leftoffthedial.com
Chris Shepard Landmine
This one is different kids! As a solo artist, Chris Shepard gets more mileage out of his ax than a lumberjack in a feeding frenzy. His voice is edgy, his guitar raw and his music is not for the faint of heart. Take my word for it or go to the Chris Shepard Rock Site
- Joe Quam, roanoke.com
Sierra Dog Romeo Sin and Tonic
Chris Shepard is one of Roanoke's better known local acts. His latest effort as part of Sierra Dog Romeo combines his characteristic edgy vocals and grunge-ish lyrics with the full sound of a 5-member band. As usual, his guitar work is distinctive and flavorful. Aspartame is very reminiscent of Alice In Chains Would.
- Matt Dooley, roanoke.com
Crosseyed Loaded has a good mix of that down-home kind of rock n roll
There are, however, tender moments on this album as well, especially on My Love, where the Hendrix-inspired guitar seems to go along with singer Chris Shepards Chris Cornell-esque throating and wailing.
-Nessim Halioua, leftoffthedial.com

"A man so dedicated to putting on an unforgettable performance that he'd beat his audience with his own guitar if he thought it'd give them something to remember."
John Persinger | Special to The Roanoke Times
Sierra Dog Romeo: Crosseyed Loaded [self-released] Right off the bat, this album has the potential to rock the cock, but a few "bluesy" interludes and some goofy lyrics make you miss bands like Ween who can actually get away with that sort of thing. This is especially noticeable during irreverent tracks like "I Just Flat Out Can't Stop Smoking Crack." Songs such as Donkey Bomb and Sally Skinned Her Dog utilize the tried and true guitar riffs that have been overdone since the mid-1990's in the grunge/ post-grunge era. There are, however, tender moments on this album as well, especially on My Love, where the Hendrix-inspired guitar seems to go along with singer Chris Shepard's Chris Cornell-esque throating and wailing. Some songs on the album rock hard indeed, but the silly themes and lyrics can keep the listener from taking the album seriously. Overall, this album has a good mix of that "down-home" kind of rock n' roll and some slower material that is reminiscent of Beck's Mutations, and one shining example of this synthesis is with "Sick in the Bed." It doesn't seem that this album or band would gather a following that extends further than the 40-year old divorcee in a cowboy hat and stonewashed tapered jeans, who shakes her ass regularly at a rodeo bar in the Appalachian Mountains on Friday nights but you never can tell.
-Nessim Halioua leftoffthedial.com