Steve Tomkowitz - Alto/Baritone Sax, Background Vocals
Andy Leer - Lead Vocals, Keyboard/Piano
Tim Palko - Bass, Background Vocals
Tucker Flythe - Guitar
Influences
Glenn Miller
Benny Goodman
Cab Calloway
Lionel Hampton
Count Basie
Louis Prima
Louis Armstrong
Elvis Presley
Brian Setzer
Squirrel Nut Zippers
Royal Crown Revue
Harry James
Tommy Dorsey
Artie Shaw
Johnny Cash
Les Brown
Van Morrison
Santana
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Atomic Fireballs
Bobby Darin
Frank Sinatra
Gene Krupa
Jethro Tull
Chuck Berry
Kenny Rogers
Peter Gabriel
rockabilly
dixieland
western swing
blues
country
jazz
classical
rock
ska
funk
Americana
SWING!
Sounds Like
Step 1: Grab a Glenn Miller record.
Step 2: Pick up the tempo.
Step 3: Add the heart and soul of a rockabilly band.
Step 4: Give Louis Armstrong a couple of cigars and martinis before sending him on the stage.
Step 5: Turn up the horns.
Step 6: Mix in various types of "Americana" music.
The year is 1939. Amidst the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, one type of music can be heard in the smoky bars over the monotone hum of dirty neon lights. Hundreds of miles away, a big band is playing to a frenzied mob of jitterbug fanatics stompin’ away at the Savoy. In New Orleans, Dixieland musicians are swinging the blues on street corners. In Texas, jump-swing rhythm is playing on the jukeboxes in every gin joint, dive bar, and watering hole from Austin to Dallas and all points in between. And America’s first radio station broadcasts swing to every blue-collar family sitting in their living room, mobster drinking moonshine at a nearby speakeasy, and chef preparing a gourmet meal in a supper club kitchen in Pittsburgh.
Fast forward to the 21st century where Neon Swing X-perience is harkening back to (and reinventing) the sounds of the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
Walking into a Neon Swing show is like stepping back in time – to an era where music was hot, martinis were strong, zoot suits were sharp, and romance was sparked on the dance floor.
Mike Urick, founder of Neon Swing X-perience, explains how the group channels the spirit of a bygone era: “Neon Swing X-perience’s idea sounds simple…but we’re the only band bold enough to do it. Put on a Glenn Miller record and speed it up. Then add the heart and soul of a rockabilly band. Turn up the horns. Give Louis Armstrong a couple shots of whiskey, hand him a Cuban cigar, and send him onstage to sing. Mix in a bunch of vintage Americana music styles. Then serve it HOT!”
Neon Swing X-perience is aware that some critics mistakenly think that swing music is outdated – making NSX “uncool” for keeping it alive.
“If the same mainstream music insiders that brought us Britney Spears, boy bands, pop-country schmaltz, and overproduced rap hits think swing is uncool, then we say it’s cool to be uncool,” Urick responds. “Being uncool is about doing your own thing regardless of what everyone else is doing. Keeping it real and having your own sound – just like Benny Goodman, Louis Prima, and Elvis Presley did during the golden age of American music – that’s what we’re about. ”
And this has been the theory behind each Neon Swing X-perience tune since 1998.
Highlights of the band’s successful history include:
• Performing at The Derby in Hollywood, CA (as featured in the movie “Swingers”, where Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Royal Crown Revue held the house band slots for years, and where the swing movement of the 90s was reborn).
• Performing at Central Park in New York City on the same stage where Duke Ellington once played.
• Appearing live on KDKA Radio (America’s first radio station).
• Selling out the Hard Rock Café (Pittsburgh) on multiple occasions.
• Performing at east and west coast venues to record audiences.
• Recording six albums.
• Appearing on several nationally released compilations and movie soundtracks.
• Being the only Western PA-based band to have a mixed drink (The Neon) named after them.
• Ranking in the top four out of nearly 150 bands in the prestigious (2005) Graffiti Rock Challenge. NSX was the only swing band in 19 years to rank in this competition which had been dominated by hard rock acts. Other bands that appeared in previous years’ competitions include Rusted Root, The Clarks, and Poverty Neck Hillbillies.
• Performing at the same festivals as the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Bill Haley’s Comets.
2008 is the band’s ten year anniversary.
For more information, email SrgntSwing@aol.com or call 724-331-7335.
Every morning, every night, sometimes in the middle of the day... Escaping into dark, quiet corners to relieve myself Sometimes calmly, sometimes furiously... shamelessly Three times again today, is no surprise Laughing every time... seeing what I'd do to satisfy I want to take you up on all your offers... let you try Fulfill all the scintillating needs inside Heavenly wings and spitfire tongues taste like lullabies!
hello Friend ! Jaggery mini-tours through Pittsburgh tonight, Thursday September 17th, playing AVA, w/ Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys (Boston) ! 7pm / $5 / 126 S. Highland Street. would love to see you!
Hey, we FINALLY managed to finish our super duper incredible new psychobilly EXTREME cd, "SHE PUT THE BABY IN THE MICROWAVE!", featuring the SMASH title track and the hits "GAY LOVE SONG FOR NICK13", "I FUCKED A ZOMBIE" and 7 more killers. Get a copy on our page while you can... COOL new shirts too!
Come join us for the 2nd annual Rock Around The Park™ Rockabilly / Psychobilly day at Disneyland on Saturday, November 14, 2009!
We also have The Rock Around The Park Jamboree™ bands and burlesque at The Juke Joint in Anaheim, CA on Friday, November 13, 2009 with The Rocketz, Rip Carson, No Dice, Dizzy Von Damn! burlesque, KimberLee Rose burlesque and DJ Remy Voodoo!
Follow us on Twitter on the day of Rock Around The Park™ for special prizes throughout the day. We only "tweet" the day of the event.
