------------------"THIS IS THE REAL SHIT." -REAL DETROIT WEEKLY. -----------------
Through the rubble, out of ashes, through the smoke, the flames and flashes...
Come...David Bierman and Glynn Scanlan. SWiG. In 1999 they decided to do the do-it-yourself thing, and make a CD called "FURIA". That recording did quite well, so...they wanted to do another SWiG CD called "PARTY AT JOE'S"...that recording got shelved. Now, they are doing a new recording named "TRUE GRIT." There is more information and a few more of SWiG's songs at: killingtimeproductions.com, glynnscanlan.com, SWiG Also, you can find lot's of their stuff on various compilations put out through the years.
...Here is a brilliant quote thought apropriate:
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There is also a negative side."
-Hunter S. Thompson-
...Need they say, rock "your crazy asses" on.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAh, show-biz.
It's all shapes and colors and bells and whistles to me..." Sincerely, Glynn
"I love their songs.
And god damn, I love this band!"
Randy Barton
Rockwest News-Media
"SWiG gives me that raunchy, swampy feeling that I like. Let’s put it this way, they are another perfect example of a band that inspires “Volume Knob Creep.”
The Rock And Roll Report
SWiG "True Grit" - BIG AND BOLD Review
"Glynn Scanlan re-invents himself again with SWiG vocalist and Junk Monkey
band-mate David Bierman. "True Grit" has all the finer elements of rock, indie, garage, and rock-a-billy, gracefully embracing and poking fun of cliché's.
Rounding out the all-star lineup is David Feeny (Blanche, American Mars) playing pedal steel on "True Grit's" only mellow offering, "Right To The Sky" and
Jackson Smith (Patti Smith and Her Band) ripping it up on the aggressive pulse track
"Stuck Inside It." Each song delivers an unmistakable rock and roll punch."
Oliver Fontaine
U.K. Musicnotes
"TRUE GRIT" Review
WHAT A RELIEF!
"The stellar song writing on SWiG’s latest release, TRUE GRIT, is a temporary break in the generally boring and uninspired current music trends. The songs are tightly wrapped packages of rockabilly rhythm and venturous lyrics. There is a euphonious surprise with “RIGHT TO THE SKY,” nestled between two cranky songs, “HAND GRENADE” and “TRUCK DRIVIN' JACKASS.” BIERMAN sounds like he’s blowing off steam next to SCANLAN’s diligent, yet unruly instrumentation. TRUE GRIT reigns true to their previous record FURIA, and although being a proud female, SWiG’s music makes me wish I had a cock."
J. Ann Naughten Independent Music Writer/Reviewer
Fan review
"Let's all raise our shot glasses to SWiG, a band who measures success by their own standards and keeps the musical motor in the city. Think of the White Stripes as Nashville's Lady Finger and SWiG as Detroit's “hand grenade.” They've been embedded here like a 350 short block is embedded in every rebuilt rat rod, muscle car and street machine. Yet, with 3 out of 4 members from Detroit's notorious Junk Monkey's, SWiG's engine has been greased over with years of fuel injected, high torque, top end tunes on True Grit. The starting line is a holeshot into musical magniloquence Motown hasn't seen since the Stooges searched and destroyed with raw shards of power. Hell, if you're not on board this launch pad, it's time to cash it in with Mr. Sissypants Ladyfingers. In first gear is David Bierman, a guttural pro whose vocal prowess is simply an extension of his lyric. Mr. Bierman throttles his vocal chords with tortured emotion and the end result brings true grit to the music behind him. His Midwestern "r" tone is accentuated on True Grit like a carrrrr rolling off an assembly line and the impact is truly endearing to those with a keen ear for the “simple truth.” In second gear is Glynn Scanlan, a skin solicitor whose impeccable time signature can even be etched with accuracy on bottles and cans! Glynn also brings chunky style rhythms so thick you could hear it with a tuning fork. And, Sympathy for the Devil and Pipeline surface to the cerebellum on “True Grit” and “Honey”, respectively. Kevin Perri buries it into 3rd gear with slapstick shuffles on “Honey” and flailing fingers of fatness on “Stuck Inside It.” Kevin is a calloused man, as he only uses picks for his nose. While this trio carves out the nuts and bolts of this recording, it's Dave Feeny at Tempermill Studios who is the stamping plant that screws them into place. Dave knew how to mix SWiG's alcohol-fueled horsepower into a ballistic ballast of bombastic brew because he's the chairman of the board. So consider SWiG a 440 Charger with a six pack and chug it down with a shot of bad whiskey. While there's a ton of tuners with missing cylinders and whining clutches, SWiG's ignition will turn over the rumble of Motor City moxie because the key DOES fit it!"
Happy Tom-
"Out of Sight" True Grit / Cabbage Head Records
"Being a fan of all things Motor City, SWiG's latest, TRUE GRIT leaves you
with a far out cowboy feel, and obvious Detroit style.
Singer David Bierman drives the nail in the wood on
"Gone Daddy Reno" with the line,
" I left a half crazed, sunburned dancer with eyes just like a broken slot machine."
On one exceptional track "Creeping Tracers", there is a casual reference to actress Debbie Mazar.
Glynn Scanlan and Dave Feeny's production captures everything great
about cult and rock & roll.
Outstanding!"
TOE TAPPER OF THE WEEK - SWiG: Great album. "FURIA" the new cd by SWiG (Cabbage Head Records) Get the disc, hit the bong, and punch the play button. Furious, flat-out, smart rock from DAVID BIERMAN and GLYNN SCANLAN two talented guys from busted-up DETROIT favorites, THE JUNK MONKEYS, . ATTENTION Motor City Music Fans: this is the real shit - top notch writing, playing and singing. No ballads allowed. Available at cool record stores now or check out the website: glynnscanlan.com.
"Realisms" -Real Detroit Weekly
SWiG "FURIA"
**** / out of five
"FAST AND FURIOUS How many musicians does it take to make 11 songs worth of thrash-happy, head-snappy, party-on-Garth rock 'n' roll? Answer: two. No joke - SWiG's big sound consists of one vocalist (DAVID BIERMAN) and one guitarist-bassist-drummer-producer (GLYNN SCANLAN). SCANLAN lays down the ever so lively rhythm and riffs, giving each track it's own personality (here some surf-rock twang, there some buzzy bass or squealing feedback). BIERMAN'S vocals range from a raspy whisper to a broken scream. He scats wildly on one track ("Bullet") and whines, growls, whoops and howls his way throughthe rest, making sure his hard-working bandmate doesn't grab all the glory. Somebody buy this guy a bag of Ricola! Ten original songs (plus a Todd Rundgren cover, "Out Of Control") follow the punk-rock anthem stylebook - fast tempo, catchy refrain, "life sucks" lyrics - but there's a certain rock-star swagger and style that is all 70's raw power."
Karen Fisher -Metro Times
Cabbage Head Records 1999
Here it goes.... Stones, Jane's Addiction, Smithereens, Smashing Pumpkins, Sponge and Nugent all rolled up into a (beer stained) ball. Sorry for the infamous "band stew" description, but I just can't shake the compulsion and many of you are as hooked as I am, so shut up!
And while we're (I) am on the subject I'd like to apologize for every review (so far) being overwhelmingly good! Some of this may just be due to the fact that "only good bands are submitting material." Well let me tell you, Swig is.... another one of those bands (just two members: David Bierman-vocals, and Glynn Scanlan-guitars, bass, and drums).
A punk (hangover in the morning) rock band with a natural endowment, and ability to stretch melody -for miles- over a repetitive, punchy, context of slappin' bass and percussion, like there will b-e--n-o-tomorrow, thank you! Ferocity is the word of the day (in this genre)!
The disc "Furia" begins with the intense "Here Comes The Wind Down" introducing Swig's signature sound which includes extended (Buckingham style) leads poured over a bang drum, punk bass switching back to a rampant rhythm guitar assault spiced with the unique vocal presence of David Bierman (like beer-man. aye?). The second track "Pollywood" shows no remorse as it devours the ears with more driving rhythmic hooks (Glynn Scanlan) - repetitious? Yes. But that's what it is, and it's done tastefully -enhanced even more by the studio expertise of Scanlan himself and David Feeny.
Third track, "Down With The Water" could easily be an 89X (alternative radio out of Windsor/Detroit) favorite. It's got the Sponge feel and a genuine brand of alt' rock burned into it's rhythmic core. There are no slow songs on this disc (or better said- right on the sleeve) "Made in Detroit, There are no goddamned slow songs on this album." Track 5, "Nothing Less Than Grand" is another good one ("I am alive... I will survive.... it's nothing less than grand... I will survive... a big hurray for me... ") with a Neil Young twang guitar lead that is right on the mark. This is then followed by a remake of Todd Rundgren's "Out Of Control", before "Dull The Pain", which doesn't really offer much in reference to new ground being covered except a cool trotting bass line and overly distorted wha wha indulgence at the very end. "I'm Gone" introduces a blues harp with a rhythm guitar that sounds as if it may break right into the theme for Batman at any minute, then "Burn It Down", "Bullet", and finally... "Finally"... yes I said "Finally" That's the name of the song dope head. "Finally" with a Perry Farrell chorus line "Fiiiiiiiiinaaaaaalllllllllllly, your right in front of me...." is probably the closest you're going to get to a love song by Swig - and that's okay.
Swig is just what the name says - and you take a Swig to feel good...
Jori Pierson -MUEN
1999 - 2009 Cabbage Head Records. All Rights Reserved.
The Godfathers first US concert in nearly 20 years...The Godfathers first ever American Saint Valentines Day Massacre concert...See The Godfathers LIVE at The Metro, Chicago on Saturday February 14th 2009...Tell all your friends - The Godfathers are coming!!!
"I believe that today more than ever a book should be sought after even if it has only one great page in it. We must search for fragments, splinters, toenails, anything that has ore in it, anything that is capable of resuscitating the body and the soul."
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