Swank is:
Spencer McKinnon (vocals, harmonica, lyrics),
Phil Addington (electric and acoustic bass, bass banjo, vocals),
David Badanic (guitars, vocals),
Kirk Douglas (drums, percussion, guitars, vocals),
Doug Liddle (guitars, slide guitar, steel guitar, banjo, saw, vocals),
Influences
johnny cash, hank williams, the ramones, the clash, screamin' jay hawkins, the sex pistols, jimmy rogers, tom waits, the birthday party, nick cave, wanda jackson, sam peckinpah, the buzzcocks, cormack mccarthy, otis redding, elvis presley, swank, the blasters, duke ellington, ween, the stranglers, brian eno, tony francis, astor piazolla, elvis costello, nino rota, fellini, stompin tom connors, charles bukowski, doa, the subhumans, david lynch, patsy cline, whiskey
Vancouver's Swank deliver an unholy alliance of rock, country, soul, gospel, blues and punk styles that go together like moonshine & mason jars, preachin' & sinnin', Vegas & vice. The glorious mayhem that is Swank live has earned them a loyal fan base on both sides of the Atlantic in the wake of regular hometown shows and two memorable UK/Irish tours in 2005 and 2006. Plans are currently underway for a full scale assualt upon Spain and Portugal this Fall with a salvo or two fired at the UK for good measure.
Swank has formally release its third album, "Campfire Psalms", on June 6th 2008 at Vancouver's Railway Club. Produced once again by Howard Redekop, the album also features the beautiful - and beatifully-voiced -- Ana Bon Bon on a number of cuts. Campfire Psalms promises the listener 16 delightful tracks plus a bonus DVD containing 10 karaoke-enabled videos. You can now sample some of these videos for yourself below. All involved are extremely pleased with the results and feverishly anticpating the release party.
The group's second album "The Survival Issue" (2005) received unequivocal critical praise across North America and Europe, as much for its unique sleeve design (a 30 page, 50's pulp-style magazine) as for its genuinely inspired music. The video of the album's crazed gospel sing-a-long "How Do We Do" has been a favourite at animation festivals around the world and also received much airplay on national TV in Canada. You can view this video along with video's from the new album below.
Railway Club, Vancouver, 7th April 2007
Swank's all-hoedown, no-uptown, corn-swillin, ass-kickin country & something sound has appeared on various CD compilations including the brand new On the Beat cd, released out by the Odd Squad, a group of Vancouver Cops who made the gritty documentary "Through a Blue Lens" which examines the plight of the Down & Out on Vancouver's East Side; the Showdown RANCH sampler (Black Hen Records); the Johnny Hanson Presents Puck Rock Vol. 2 compilation (Sudden Death Records), and the rockabilly/ psychobilly compilation Zombie Night in Canada - Vol. 2 (Stumble Records/Universal).
You can purchase copies of all of Swank's recordings, including its first release, the much- praised "Pappy's Corn Squeezin's" (2000) and the "Hollow Tree" 5-song EP (2006) through the group's own website at:
www.iwantswank.com/ (see the link above)
Following the international critical praise given to "The Survival Issue" (including an impressive 9 out of 10 stars from ww.americana-uk.com) and its recent tours in the UK and Ireland, and with a Spanish and Portuguese tour on the horizon, word of the group has now escaped well beyond the rainy confines of British Columbia's Coastal Mountains. But Swank remains very much a downhome act that continues to deliver its special brand of raucious live entertainment to an appreciative, and ever appreciated, local fan base. But hey.... those foreign fans are ok too.
Live, Swank combines an evening of truly original material with choice covers from greats such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Screamin Jay Hawkins (among others). It serves the very finest in high-octane, foot stomping barroom belligerence leaving few mouths shut or asses seated in the process.
THANKS AND HOPE TO SEE YOU REAL SOON!
To view SWANK's Tim Burton-esque computer animated video for "HOW DO WE DO" CLICK ON THE PLAY VIDEO BUTTON BELOW & ENJOY!
mañana jueves en el Automático:
LOS SURFEROS DEL RÍO + ENJOY COCACOLAS
en directo psicodélico...interpretarán Pink Floyd, Evolution, Small Faces, Yardbirds, Los Módulos, Los Buenos... te esperamossss
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
UBANGI STOMP - Enjoy the fun under the Spanish Sun!!!!
View from the hotel
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Hey! Thanks for the friendship! Just want to let you know the first single off my debut album has been released; it's called "My List"...hope you can catch it! Hope all is going great for you. Stop by and let me know how you are, and if you have time, please click the DEMAND widget on my page; maybe I'll be coming to your home town! Thanks...Take care & God Bless,
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