{{Short description|American rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Sheer Mag | image = Sheer Mag 082317 Black Cat, Washington DC (35969004853).jpg | caption = | image_size = | landscape = yes | origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | genre = Punk rock, hard rock, power pop<ref>{{cite web|title=Don't Miss Sheer Mag and Their Power-Pop Confection Perfection "Button Up"|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/sheer-mag-button-up-stream/|website=Noisey|access-date=21 October 2017|language=en-us|date=9 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="What You Want" by Sheer Mag Review {{!}} Pitchfork|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/17154-sheer-mag-what-you-want/|website=Pitchfork}}</ref> | years_active = 2014–present | label = Wilsuns RC, Static Shock Records, Third Man | website = {{URL|sheer-mag.com}} | current_members = *Tina Halladay *Matt Palmer *Kyle Seely *Hart Seely | past_members = *Allen Chapman *Ian Dykstra *Cameron Wisch }}
'''Sheer Mag''' is an American rock band from Philadelphia formed in 2014. A combination of 1970s rock and punk ethos, the band self-released three 7-inch EPs before March 2016. They have released three studio albums; 2017's ''Need To Feel Your Love'', 2019's ''A Distant Call'', and 2024's ''Playing Favorites''.
==History== Sheer Mag's core members—Christina Halladay, Matt Palmer, and siblings Kyle and Hart Seely—all met while studying at SUNY Purchase. After graduating they all moved to Philadelphia and formed the band in 2014. They all moved into a house together, referring to their home as 'The Nuthouse', where they recorded their debut self-titled 7-inch EP later that year. It was released on their own label, Wilsons RC, in September 2014.<ref name="post1">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/going-out-guide/wp/2015/09/04/sheer-mag-built-this-city-on-rock-and-roll/|title=Sheer Mag built this city on rock-and-roll]|website=Washington Post|last=Richards|first=Chris|date=4 September 2015|access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="fader1">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2015/09/02/sheer-mag-gen-f-interview|title=Sheer Mag Are Straight Out Of The Nuthouse|website=The Fader|last=Long|first=Molly|date=2 September 2015|access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref>
Following its positive reception they went on their first full U.S. tour the next spring, with their EP finding a UK/EU release with London punk label Static Shock Records - a relationship that would continue for future releases.<ref name="noisey1"/>
In January 2015, ''Rolling Stone'' featured the band as one of "10 New Artists You Need To Know", describing them as "a gang of punks with a not-so-secret love of Seventies classic rock."<ref name="noisey1">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/sheer-mag-interview|title=Sheer Mag's American Invasion, One Basement Show at a Time]|website=Noisey|last=Dunlea|first=Reed|date=23 March 2015|access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="matt1">{{cite web|url=http://northforker.com/2015/01/31/mattituck-natives-band-featured-rolling-stones-10-new-artists-need-know/|title=Mattituck native’s band Sheer Mag featured in Rolling Stone|website=North Forker|last=Young|first=Rachel|date=31 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="rolling1">{{cite web|date=21 January 2015|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-january-2015-20150121/sheer-mag-20150120|title=10 New Artists You Need to Know: January 2015|website=Rolling Stone|access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref> They released their second EP in April 2015, this time a co-release with Brooklyn label Katorga Works.<ref name="noisey1"/>
In March 2016 they released a third 7-inch vinyl EP.<ref name="noisey1"/>
In 2016, the band was part of the Coachella 2016 line-up<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coachella.com/ |title=Coachella |website=Coachella.com |date= |accessdate=2017-07-15}}</ref> and performed on ''Late Night with Seth Meyers''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.spin.com/2016/05/sheer-mag-nobodys-baby-seth-meyers-debut-video-watch/|title=Sheer Mag Tell 'Seth Meyers' Audience They're 'Nobody's Baby'|date=2016-05-27|work=Spin|access-date=2017-01-03}}</ref>
In early 2017 Wilsons RC and Static Shock released a compilation LP covering all songs from their previous releases.
On May 10, 2017, Sheer Mag released the title track off their first full-length record, ''Need to Feel Your Love'', which came out 14 July.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/cdf4785a-e2da-47b0-b98c-4bfac0665850 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921062138/https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/cdf4785a-e2da-47b0-b98c-4bfac0665850 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2018 |title=Sheer Mag - New Songs, Playlists & Latest News - BBC Music |website=Bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2017-07-15}}</ref><ref name= "The Fader">{{cite web|last=Renshaw |first=David |url=http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/10/sheer-mag-need-to-feel-your-love |title=Sheer Mag Announces Debut Album, Need To Feel Your Love |website=The Fader |date=2017-05-10 |accessdate=2017-07-15}}</ref>
On June 19, 2019, they announced their second LP, ''A Distant Call'' would be released on August 23 the same year.<ref name="stereogum distant call"/>
The track "Expect the Bayonet" from ''Need to Feel Your Love'' served as the walkout track for Bernie Sanders at a comeback presidential campaign rally in Queens, New York during October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|title=Bernie Sanders Played Sheer Mag's "Expect the Bayonet" at New York Rally|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bernie-sanders-played-sheer-mag-expect-the-bayonet-at-new-york-rally/|access-date=2021-01-26|website=Pitchfork|date=21 October 2019 |language=en-us}}</ref> The ''RollingStone'' politics podcast ''Useful Idiots'' uses the same track as its theme music.
In August 2023, the band signed with Third Man Records and shared their first new song in four years, "All Lined Up".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Will |title=Sheer Mag sign to Third Man Records and share new single 'All Lined Up' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/sheer-mag-sign-to-third-man-records-and-share-new-single-all-lined-up-3478945 |website=NME |access-date=September 11, 2023 |date=August 6, 2023}}</ref> Their third album, ''Playing Favorites'', was released on March 1, 2024.
==Members== {{col-begin}} {{col-4}} thumb|Christina Halladay {{col-4}} thumb|Matt Palmer {{col-4}} thumb|Kyle Seely {{col-4}} thumb|Hart Seely {{col-end}}
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Current members=== *Christina Halladay – lead vocals (2014–present) *Matt Palmer – rhythm guitar, keyboards (2014–present) *Kyle Seely – lead guitar, backing vocals (2014–present), drums (2019–present; studio only) *Hart Seely – bass (2014–present)
====Current touring musicians==== *Evan Campbell – drums (2023–present) {{col-2}}
===Past members=== *Ian Dykstra – drums (2014–2015, 2016–2017)<ref name="post1" /> *Allen Chapman – drums (2015)<ref name="noisey1"/> *Cameron Wisch – drums (2017)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sabian.com/en/artist/cameron-wisch|title=Cameron Wisch|website=Sabian|language=en-us|access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref> *Giacomo Zatti – drums (2017–2023; touring) {{col-end}}
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Need to Feel Your Love'' (Wilsuns Recording Company / Static Shock, 2017) * ''A Distant Call'' (Wilsuns Recording Company, 2019)<ref name="stereogum distant call">{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2048258/sheer-mag-blood-from-a-stone/music/|title=Sheer Mag – "Blood From A Stone"|last=Rettig|first=James|date=19 June 2019|website=Stereogum|accessdate=19 June 2019}}</ref> * ''Playing Favorites'' (Third Man Records, 2024)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/sheer-mag-announce-new-album-and-tour-share-video-for-new-song-watch/|title=Sheer Mag Announce New Album and Tour, Share Video for New Song: Watch|last=Minsker|first=Evan|website=Pitchfork|date=November 9, 2023|access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref>
===EPs=== * ''I'' (Wilsuns Recording Company / Static Shock, 2015) * ''II'' (Wilsuns Recording Company / Katorga Works / Static Shock, 2015) * ''III'' (Wilsuns Recording Company / Static Shock, 2016)
===Compilation albums=== * ''Compilation (I, II & III)'' (Wilsuns Recording Company / Static Shock / Get Better, 2017)
===Live albums=== * ''Live!'' (Shout Recordings, 2019)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://sheermag.bandcamp.com/ Sheer Mag on Bandcamp]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheer Mag}} Category:Musical groups established in 2014 Category:Indie rock musical groups from Pennsylvania Category:Rock music groups from Philadelphia Category:2014 establishments in Pennsylvania