Callie Shivers bio
Callie Shivers grew up an ardent punk rock fan in White Plains, N.Y. The youngest of four daughters, she was born prematurely on June 30, 1995, to Ben and Rachel Shivers. When Callie was four years old, her father was arrested on embezzlement charges and spent seven years in prison. Her parents divorced when Ben was released.
Growing up with three sisters and a single mom, Callie had a chaotic childhood and rebelled against societal expectations. She did little to disguise her feelings with anyone in her life, and her sisters were embarrassed by what they called Callie's "flamboyant" and "aggressive" behavior. When Callie came out to her family at 15, telling them she didn't want to lie about who she was, her mother struggled to come to terms with her youngest daughter's sexuality.
At 18, Callie left White Plains and moved to New York City, where she met people who interested and encouraged her in the artistic community. She began playing guitar but met with little success. While in New York, she met a seemingly perfect life partner. They moved in together, but Callie was jilted. She spent the next several years traveling the Eastern seaboard.
Seven years ago, she came to Oxford, where she fell in love with the land. She rented a house in Yocona with several newfound friends, and she lives there today. The following year, she and her all-girl punk rock band, Kitten Sack, set out on a tour of music festivals and small venues across the country.
She met Laurie Daniels at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, and the two quickly developed a close friendship. Laurie became a kind of roadie/promoter, traveling with Callie and the band as they played countless gigs, abused plenty of drugs, and defaced their bodies in various ways. When Kitten Sack finished their tour, Callie and the band returned to Oxford to work on their next album, but Laurie didn't come with them.
Kitten Sack continues to play local and regional gigs, and they still tour occasionally. The band throws a wild party at their home in Yocona at least once a month.
