Swingin' Utters
The Swingin' Utters show coming up this Friday would have totally slipped under my radar had it not been for my friend Ian. Ian is like a magical encyclopedia of music information, always ready to pop out of the shadows and share amusing first-hand anecdotes about bands and rock shows. Everyone should have a friend like Ian. If you don't, that's ok because I do and you're reading this blog so I'll just relay Ian's knowledge to you. The Swingin' Utters are playing this Friday with Naked Raygun, Shot Baker, Dreadful Children, and The Blanx and this is a show not to be missed.The Swingin' Utters are good. That's all you need to know, but I'll still give you a little more information.
I first saw the Swingin' Utters on the scene in the mid 1990s in San Francisco, and they quickly signed with Fat Wreck Cords in 1996. They toured nationally, never reaching mainstream popularity, but they built a loyal fan base along the way. I was a college radio deejay in the Bay Area in the 1990s and I was thrilled to play their albums on my show instead of the lame-o pop-punk bands which played the popular alternative sound of the time. Swingin' Utters have an abrasive and meaty style lacking in a lot of "punk" bands. Just like you can't sing the blues without soul, you can't play punk without grit. Swingin' Utters have grit to spare, with every guitar strum fierce and purposeful with short bursts of vivacious vocals. Find out for yourself if you like them by listening to a few of their songs on their myspace page.
Ian, the music encyclopedia, told me the lead singer of the Swingin' Utters has another project called Filthy Thieving Bastards, described on their myspace page as "Billy Bragg as a crusty old punk on a bender." I'll be keeping an eye out for these guys when they go on tour.
When: Friday, November 30, doors at 7pm, show starts at 8pm
Where: El Corazon
Cost: $12 ADV, $15 DOS
