“Against all odds, though, Shrub won me over. One of the more impressive feats in music is to convert somebody so staunchly opposed to your key influences. Sure enough, last Wednesday at The Basement I found myself highly impressed with this cannabis-obsessed crew. Turns out High Times magazine was onto something when it honored Shrub as an “unsigned band of the month” last year. Shrub has sharpened every aspect of their sound to an impressive degree. The background harmonies were the slickest I’ve ever heard from a local band, and keyboardist T-Farms let ’er rip with authority on his lead vocal spotlight. The rhythm section (with five-string bass, of course) was fully locked in. As for lead rapper and band namesake Shrub, a.k.a. Jay Shawberry, he delivered his rhymes with such poise and charisma that I didn’t mind when he awkwardly adjusted the lyrics of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems,” mashed up effectively with Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return),” to fit a wh”

“The Midwest has long been a hotbed for successful rap artists, but Shrub's eclectic fusion of rap, reggae, and rock brings a whole new flavor to the scene. Shrub's debut EP, Señorita, is quickly setting this Columbus, Ohio band apart from the pack. From the ganja-induced club anthem "We Wanna Smoke," to the dancehall banger "Come And Get It," to a much more emotional "Cherries,” Shrub has tapped into a unique and raw sound all their own. The EP features guest appearances by: DJ Rasta Root (current DJ for Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest and Chip Fu of the Fu-Schnickens), Lyrical (artist/producer for Myrical Records), and Jenny Flory (singer/songwriter from the Wonder Twin Powers). Additionally, Opie Ortiz (from the Long Beach Dub Allstars) created the sick album artwork. Most recently, Shrub has been working with award winning dub-reggae producer, Dubmatix, on a tripped-out, three-song remix companion album to Señorita.”

“You’ve never heard of Shrub — or have you? Maybe you caught the reggae group at Ruby Tuesday’s on St. Paddy’s Day. Or maybe you’re part of its ever-growing online following? Shrub’s show announcements generally include “sticky” and “green” references. Shrub’s songwriting formula, per its Facebook page, is simply: “6 blunts + a pen + a pad + a beat = new tunes.” And yet Columbus’s corn-fed four-piece features artwork by Orange County tattooist and Sublime logoist Opie Ortiz on its debut EP, Senorita. The Sublime influence is anything but subtle with Shrub. The band still has a minute before it’s comfy making music minus Rasta clichés, but its vocalist is strong, and its funky rhythm section is promising in online vids. Expect Shrub to hit big in local bars this summer with new-gen club-goers for whom Sublime’s 40 oz to Freedom is classic jamz.”

"....a funky ass band with some good ass music, Shrub......please check their music out. They have a fresh sound. So fresh...."