Written coming out of the COVID pandemic, we released our song, We Are, at a sold-out show at Burdock in Toronto on January 27, 2024 – in the depths of this latest darkness. That is, during another war, in a post-truth world and with a startling rise in ignorant, nihilistic hatred.

We Are was the recorded introduction to the band’s new incarnation, with two new Shiners – Hideki Kumagai and Dorothy Hwang.  It is also the sum total of five “blokes” in Toronto injecting some Lee Dorsey New Orleans funk into their own brand of Canadiana roots music.

Jen Schaffer and The Shiners |Games We Play

The Shiners’ second full-length record, Games We Play, came out on February 10th, 2018 at Burdock in Toronto.

This second record, which contains twelve original songs written by Jen Schaffer and arranged by the band, was recorded over a period of one and a half years in Toronto at Canterbury Music Company, Sony ATV Music Publishing Studios and their own studio.  Produced by Simon Law, it was mixed by Jeremy Darby at Canterbury and mastered by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios in London, UK!

You can always order Games We Play now on CD Baby (digital or physical), iTunes (digital) and Bandcamp (digital or physical).  With any physical order, you can get a copy of the 20-page booklet with lyrics, photographs  and original artwork from Martha Townsend and Tina Sher.