Often cruelly lumped in with the shoegazers of this world, Swervedriver were yet another Oxford four-piece with a hint of the Rides about them but they sounded far more, well, grungey really, than the other Moose-and-chums bands.
The band debuted in 1990 with the classic Son of Mustang Ford EP (they had reportedly been signed to Creation after their pals Ride passed a demo tape to Alan McGee), banged out more cracking EPs over the next couple of years and played some pretty big venues (Manchester's GMEX for example) at their peak.
There's a really good fansite here which tells the story far more eloquently than I can here; so much so I feel like I'm cheating putting the band on here, but I've had a couple of requests for scratchy mp3s so here we go.
The band are planning a reunion tour for 2008, to cash in on their enduring popularity. If you can't wait until then, here's Swervedriver - Duel, it's got a sound to it I can't place and reminds me of something that's on the tip of my tongue, something that will no doubt come back to me, maybe it's a bit Molly Half Head. Maybe not.
And as I've not put one of these in for a while, here's a youtube video of the same song.
Also, you'll have to excuse me I'm having real problems with the template so the font keeps changing size and I've cocked up all the links. If anyone is a whizz at these things and wants to help, please let me know!
Buy music by Swervedriver
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Swervedriver
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Whoa... That's certainly Creation Records Vinyl right there. Badly done at the cheapest pressing plant available - that's why it borders on the inaudible at the start. They were well known for it, and it made it a proper arseache for DJs to ever try and work with it.
ReplyDeleteI could never get into Swervedriver, I saw them a few times, but it was all a bit testosterone driven for me. Still a few of them should have their 40th birthday's during the 2008 tour, so good luck to them.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Swervies. I found that their best stuff was all the early EP tracks, not that their albums were ever poor.
ReplyDeleteMatt, something missing from your post is the shocking fact that Rod Poole, guitarist for Swervedriver was stabbed to death in a road rage incident last year in LA. http://www.biink.com/poole/
A real shame.
'Duel' is one of my all time favorite songs, great call!
ReplyDeleteI love that song. great blog by the way
ReplyDelete