Jared Wright - Guitar, Vocals / John Parris - Bass / Travis Shugart - Guitar / Mikey Minshew- Drums / Megan North - Vocals
Influences
Jack Kerouac, lawn gnomes, tall mountains, open skies, Woody Guthrie, brunettes, Bob Dylan, long drives, Kurt Vonnegut, marathon infomercials, Jimmy Rodgers, the Big Lebowski, Dock Boggs, Operation Ivy, Mississippi John Hurt, the Meters, the Violent Femmes, Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys, the Meat Puppets, 35 piece drum kits, your story, my story and the places they both collide
Sounds Like
An early morning meeting at the intersection of the East and West bound train lines between three hobos, a holy man, a lazy junkie and two pathological liars - one's lineage can be traced back to Arthur Rimbaud, the other turns tricks on Highway 61 - or Desolation Row, depending on whose side you're on
Let no one say the Red Swill lacks roots. From the first few strains of their self-titled record you feel transported to a mountain lift rising slowly above a small Rocky Mountain town. But are you really in the Rockies? Typical country references to San Antone, intonations that recall Appalachian bluegrass and beautifully flowing creek melodies give a disorienting feeling. “Confusion doesn’t surprise me,” says lead singer and primary songwriter, Jared Wright. “My influences come from all over.” Wright has traveled the country, not as a troubadour, but as a Kerouacian character. He is a man with nothing to prove and very little to say.
Jared usually takes his beers in quiet contemplation. He squats on the midget bar stools and searches the room for signs of life. Lead singer is the last image you would have of him upon first encounter. You’d never fancy him a front-man of one of Macon’s up and coming original acts. Despite these seeming limitations Wright peacocks his way into the spotlight with profound and intriguing lyrics.
“Darlin’ you can watch me burn so bright / If you just light my fuse.” This line from the fifth track of the new record describes his frustration with life and its social limitations. The record is rife with pent up emotion. Whether it be joy or sadness or anger or love, the record’s up-beat yet restrained nature leaves the listener never quite filled up but definitely not let down. The records center piece is the funky “Times Like These.” The beat is held up and syncopated by the rhythm machine, Bassist John Parris and drummer Michael Minshew. Travis Shugart’s lead guitar is strung out and dreamy and Jared’s vocals top the heap with existential and longing verses. The song encapsulates the record’s heart-on-his-sleeve-traveler’s loss and paranoia of the future.
The songs are Jared’s but the vibe belongs to the band. Wright originally played with Minshew as he slowly birthed his musical talents playing random gigs in Macon’s less reputable bars. “I was playing gigs with my roommate, Josh, and this guy grabs me at one and tells me he plays drums, so I said cool lets get together.” Jared remembered those sessions when he returned from his cross-country trek and called on Minshew to join his new project. He also took a chance on a young jazz bassist attending Mercer University named John Parris. Parris had played awhile in other cover acts around Macon but never found a band that suited him. He jammed only once with Wright and he was in the band. The line-up was solidified with guitarist Travis.
“Macon was the home to the Allmans, Otis Redding and Little Richard, it’s a musical mine.” Wright’s picture of diamonds in the rough is totally accurate in a city with more than 20 murders in 2007 and a crime rate to rival its sister Atlanta. But it is also a rival in terms of musical talent, and the Red Swill is flying proof. They’ve dominated the middle Georgia area but certainly won’t stop there. They are a sea of musical contradictions but the sum of these confusions is cohesion of epic proportions, or if not epic, at least southern proportions. They are a new band, they are an original band, and they deserve a real listen. (Alex Mason, East Buddha)
“[they] make music that harkens back to my mid-60's folk favorites. this is not rock music... it is old-time folk and roots music ala woody guthrie... It is fun, good-time pickin' and down home front porch music.” -Kirsten West, Macon Food and Culture magazine.
I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Incredible night. Thanks for all that you guys do and the way you do it. I'm starting to think Jared must be from Perry too. Enjoyed the show and the aftershow. By the way, album sounds great.
Hey! We are giving away our debut album. I really hope you enjoy it. After you download your copy, spread the word by clicking on Embed This Widget and following the directions for your particular social network site. If you can’t see it you can find it on our Myspace page. Love, Frauniebarger. ....
Wassup Fat Heads! We're playing a 3 for $5 Showcase at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta on Sunday, August 24th. They're going to be counting heads at the door according to what band you've come to see, so come on out and enjoy the tunes and help us expand the Fatness!!
We'll be playing with The Apostles and The Holy Liars:
If you're coming by the Bookstore tonight, you can drop it off; if not, I'll come by and pick one up whenever it's convenient for you. Thanks a wonderful bunch! -hly
come join us for a bragg jam after party like no other. Nomenclature along with Old FLAME will be playing till 4am with a light show to entertain. 12am-4am @ the riverview ballroom july 26.
