Meet Shark Noises: The MIC Mag's September 2025 Musician of the Month!
- Stefani M.C. Janelli
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Meet Shark Noises:
Shark Noises is a Hudson Valley garage punk duo that proves two people can make a lot of noise and a lot of impact. With a sound that swings between gritty, heavy riffs and playful, high-energy bursts, the band crafts a raw and unpredictable live experience. Though the pair once passed each other in high school without realizing they shared both instruments and influences, they’ve since found their stride together onstage. Now, as they work on new material for a follow-up album, Shark Noises is giving audiences an early taste through live sets that hint at what’s to come.
This month, The MIC Mag is celebrating Shark Noises as our Musicians of the Month!
Genre: Garage Punk
Band: Tom O’Connor - Guitar, Vox
Matt LaGoy - Drums
Fun Facts:Â
We went to high school together and barely spoke, nor knew the other played guitar/drums and that we liked the same music.
Tommy was ranked #5 in the world in the SSX reboot in 2012 on the PS3.
At an IDLES show we went to, during the closing song Matt was found in the mosh pit holding 2 shoes, one of which wasn't his. He later crowd surfed to the front and gave it to one of the guitarists who used it to play guitar.
What makes Shark Noises stand out?
"I think people are always surprised at how full our sound is at a live show. For only guitar and drums we sound like there could be four more people on stage. Which is fun to play into and start some of our songs very bare bones then turn on all the amps to get the sound of a much bigger band."
What is Shark Noises most known for?
"I think we're known for having sweaty, aggressive live shows that are also full of joy and even a bit playful at times. I think the balance of having heavy/angry songs with us not taking ourselves to seriously on stage has led to a really good community of people that come to our shows. It's all good vibes, but also lets mosh all night and rage at... well, like everything right now."
What has Shark Noises been working on?
Debut Record: Beautiful
"Our first album, Beautiful, came out just over a year ago, and we're still playing that. However, we're currently working on new material and have started teasing it at a few live shows."
"I think for us it's so much more about having fun together than trying to make it 'big.' And I think that's a key part of being a musician. It should always be fun to get together and jam, always fun to play shows, always fun to write together, without the need to play to stadiums or get a million monthly listeners. Playing to 3 people should be just as fun as a playing to 1,000. And you should always want to play at 110% and go all out for the crowd, but more importantly, yourself." - Shark Noises
Do you have any advice for other aspiring independent musicians?:
"Just get together with your friends and have fun. And when you play, give it everything. As Joe Talbot says on IDLES' Grounds, "I say what I mean, do what I love, and I fucking send it."
Listen to Shark Noises!