Silver Shoes is the Texas duo - Maureen Finlon and John Finnigan.  These Texas singer-songwriters instinctively combine country, rock, folk and pop with vocals that shine clear and pure.  According to Silver Shoes logic; performing, songwriting, and the recording process, breaks down into three essential ingredients: rhythm, melody, and storytelling. 

Coming from a family of musicians, John Finnigan started playing an Imperial accordion at the age of ten.  Borrowing his older brother’s set of Slingerland drums; John joined his first rock & roll band as a drummer at the age of fourteen. 

Maureen Finlon was raised on the country-rock sounds of Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Her introduction to performing happened when Finnigan’s singing partner at the time unexpectedly left for Los Angeles, leaving John high and dry for a Fourth of July show.  Finlon agreed to do the gig and the connection evolved into a long-time musical partnership.

John and Maureen relocated to the Lone Star State at a time when Texas already had emerged as a major well-spring of earthy, intelligent music with songwriters like Rodney Crowell, Townes Van Zandt, Nanci Griffith, to name a few.  After recording their album, “Way Up The Sky”, at Mission Control Studio in Houston, John and Maureen began touring nationally as Silver Shoes.

In the 90’s, the duo had been drawn to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Northern New Mexico.  They settled in Taos, and this would be their hub for most of the decade.  With the release of their eponymous CD, “Silver Shoes”, the duo continued touring extensively throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, as well as Texas. 

Silver Shoes released their CD, “Old Friend”, on Mid Ear Records, their Texas based independent label.  Under the guidance of co-producers Jack Saunders and Don Richmond “Old Friend” evolved into a spontaneous sounding album.  Featured on this 16-song set are legendary pickers that have been influencing musical trends for over 30 years.  John and Maureen assembled what could be considered the all-star cast of the “West Coast Sound”. Chris Ethridge and Byron Berline (The Flying Burrito Bros.) add bass and fiddle with graceful expertise, while Frank Reckard (Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band) brings his inspired trademark hot licks to the mix.

With the release of “Old Friend” Silver Shoes mixes the honest and aesthetic with a nod toward the nostalgic to continue their journey into another

SILVER SHOES – Press Clippings

“The warmth of this duo’s music will no doubt get you comfortably through winters cold. Well done”.  INSURGENT COUNTRY.  Germany

“Two legends return: Ex-Flying Burrito Chris Ethridge and bluegrass fiddler Byron Berline (Dillard & Clark/Gram/Emmylou) guest on Texas duo Silver Shoes’ Old Friend MID EAR ***, an electro-acoustic feast of folk-country and glassy harmonies”. UNCUT.  London England

“It turns out that Silver Shoes have some great songs of their own, a fantastic eye for a good cover, and some ex-Burritos and Hot Band personnel at hand”. AMERICANA UK, Liverpool England

“For the real Americana friends, "you must have this one”.   ROOTS REVIVAL  Belgium

 “Their neo-traditional approach is actually not of any one genre, but instinctively combines country, rock, folk and pop”. ~ Houston Chronicle ~  Texas

“Silver Shoes is the duo of Maureen Finlon and John Finnigan.  Their specialty is Burritos/Hot Band style country rock”.  ~ Dirty Linen ~  Baltimore MD

“What stands out on this CD is the impeccable production, great back up musicianship, the excellent clarity and quality of the vocals and the lyrical and musical content”.  ~ The Taos News ~  New Mexico

Silver Shoes is the team of Maureen Finlon and John Finnigan, who know a thing or two about assembling an all-star cast.  This blend of country and folk is beautifully orchestrated with blissful harmony throughout.  Their 2003 release “OLD FRIEND” (Mid Ear) is studded with talent, both songwriters and performers.  Also available is their 1994 self-titled release which contains “What We Don’t Have” a co-write with Shake Russell and producer Bob Zemenick, arguably the disc’s best cut.  The years between the two releases have allowed a maturity that is evident in the music, but I enjoyed both discs equally.  Texas music fans will find both albums to be true treasures.   ~ My Texas Music ~  Texas 

“Silver Shoes” radiates a good southwestern sound which incorporates folk, country, and rock music.  Their easygoing personalities and love of Taos offer area dance and music fans an opportunity to enjoy a great night out.  ~ The Adobe Press ~  New Mexico

SILVER SHOES - CD Reviews…

SILVER SHOES - OLD FRIEND ME103 –

As Silver Shoes music feels comfortable and familiar as a reunion with a longtime comrade, Old Friend is an appropriate title for their most recent offering. Silver Shoes is comprised of the duo of Maureen Finlon and John Finnigan.  Their crisp vocals and clean sound are carried through on every track making for a pleasant listening journey.  To help them along, Finlon and Finnigan assembled a band of ace musicians and friends from high places. The record starts off in good fashion and showcases Silver Shoe’s tight harmonies and crack musicianship.   

All in all, visiting with Old Friend is time well spent.

 – Review posted on Insurgent Country – Germany

Silver Shoes (Old Friend) ME103

It’s not the most perfect fit, but Silver Shoes belongs next to Nanci Griffith, just ahead of Shawn Colvin.  Maureen Finlon’s voice is a beautiful fit with a country-lilt to the songs.  These are country songs, which tap into American Folk and Rock.   If you listen to what Silver Shoes is doing with these country-fried melodies, you’ll see how much these songs spin right out of the narrowly defined Country category.  When you start bringing together all of those sounds, what emerges is more than you might first expect. 

Reviewed by Ben Squires MUSIC SPECTRUM

OLD FRIEND Mid Ear ME103 (Reviews)

Silver Shoes are a country rock duo from Texas, consisting of Maureen Finlon and John Finnigan.  They are highly inspired by the duets of Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons, whose song Brass Buttons they took their name from.  Both on their previous debut album and on this new one they have included a tributary Gram Parsons cover, this time How Much I’ve Lied from Gram’s solo debut, GP; it is treated with respect, and they also succeed in giving it their own warm and gentle feel.  The Parson’s connection is even strengthened by contributions from former Flying Burrito Brothers Chris Ethridge and Byron Berline.

It is amazing how Silver Shoes manage to capture that typical ‘70s pleasurable country rock sound of California, the home of Buck Owens’ Bakersfield sound, characterized by strumming guitars and straightforward, suave melodies.  This in turn proved very influential on the gently style that was taken to great heights by The Eagles, Burritos and Poco.  The sound of Silver Shoes recreates that style, yet it is characterized by a particular freshness which both producers, Don Richmond and Jack Saunders, have managed to bring out.  The pleasure with which experienced session musicians contribute their skills exudes from every groove, uhm. , bit?  Just listen to those inspired guitar parts by Frank Reckard, most notably so on To See You Again or the wonderful, delicate interplay on the instrumental Gypsy Life.  The voices of Maureen and John are perfectly matched, they take turns on lead vocals and although their harmonies may not reach the emotional depth of Gram and Emmylou, they are a treat to your Eustachian tubes. They are well able to touch; especially the delicate Straight From The Heart deserves to be included in your chapter of Chicken Skin Music!  No fewer than sixteen tracks, 10 of which self-penned, provide an hour of gently flowing country-rock.  The selection of covers points at solid insight in their brand of music:  Lennon & McCartney’s I’m Only Sleeping and a fine and original delivery of James Taylor’s You Can Close Your Eyes blend seamlessly into their originals.  The warmth of this duo’s music will no doubt get you comfortably through winters cold.  Well done.

- Reviewed by Bert van Kessel - The Netherlands