Swing Kids (band)
Encyclopedia
Swing Kids were a hardcore
band from San Diego California
during the mid 1990s. They were closely involved with and influenced by the forerunners of the San Diego hardcore punk scene of the 1990s.
Their music was characterized by Justin Pearson's spoken/screamed vocals and their melodic/chaotic rhythms and song structures. Swing Kids were influenced by fellow San Diego bands Antioch Arrow
and Drive Like Jehu
. On a broader scale, their music and lyrics were influenced by post-punk
.
bands and through to the late 1990s, releasing a 7" EP and split 10" EP along the way. Despite their importance in a relatively small scene, Swing Kids' impact both during their tenure and after their 1997 breakup was global, thanks to many independent Zine
s and a US/European tour. The sound they pioneered inspired bands such as The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower
, Refused
, Orchid
, Jerome's Dream
and many others.
Swing Kids are also credited with the unintentional creation of the fad "Spock
Rock" during the mid 1990s; largely due to many of their fans emulating Pearson's fashion sense and hair style. The name comes from Leonard Nimoy
's character from the Star Trek
television series & films, and more specifically his haircut.
Justin Pearson
would later go on to play in other bands such as The Locust
, Holy Molar
, Some Girls
, The Crimson Curse, All Leather, and a DJ outfit named Leg Lifters. Eric Allen, who committed suicide in 1998, played with the hardcore band Unbroken
.
Swing Kids played two reunion shows, both with Unbroken: a mostly secret show on May 8, 2009 at the Ché Cafe at UCSD in San Diego, CA and on May 9, 2009 at the Glass House in Pomona, CA. The Pomona show was a benefit for selected charities, and tickets were sold out very shortly after going on sale, despite the $25 price. According to fans, the shows ranged from "really, really, good" to "amazing, totally unbelievable." Eric Allen's mom came out right before the last Unbroken song at the Glasshouse show and thanked everyone briefly.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band from San Diego California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during the mid 1990s. They were closely involved with and influenced by the forerunners of the San Diego hardcore punk scene of the 1990s.
Their music was characterized by Justin Pearson's spoken/screamed vocals and their melodic/chaotic rhythms and song structures. Swing Kids were influenced by fellow San Diego bands Antioch Arrow
Antioch Arrow
Antioch Arrow, from San Diego, California, was on the seminal post-hardcore label Gravity Records, responsible for putting San Diego on the map in the mid-90's as one of the centers of the movement....
and Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore and alternative rock band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. Formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis following the breakup of their band Pitchfork, the band's lineup also included bassist Mike Kennedy and...
. On a broader scale, their music and lyrics were influenced by post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
.
Impact
Swing Kids carried the San Diego "art hardcore" movement past the initial wave of Gravity RecordsGravity Records
Gravity Records is an underground independent record label from San Diego. It was formed in 1991 by Matt Anderson, a member of the influential underground band Heroin. It has been central in developing and promoting the "San Diego sound" - an idiosyncratic form of post-hardcore with loose, chaotic...
bands and through to the late 1990s, releasing a 7" EP and split 10" EP along the way. Despite their importance in a relatively small scene, Swing Kids' impact both during their tenure and after their 1997 breakup was global, thanks to many independent Zine
Zine
A zine is most commonly a small circulation publication of original or appropriated texts and images. More broadly, the term encompasses any self-published work of minority interest usually reproduced via photocopier....
s and a US/European tour. The sound they pioneered inspired bands such as The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower
The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower
The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower was a four-piece punk/noise band from San Diego, California, that formed in 2001. After disbanding in 2006, drummer Brian Hill now plays with The Soft Pack , while singer Brandon Welchez and Charles Rowell formed the duo Crocodiles.-Members:* Brandon Welchez -...
, Refused
Refused
Refused was a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. In total the band released five EPs and three albums, before splitting up in 1998...
, Orchid
Orchid (band)
Orchid was a screamo band from Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Considered by many to be one of the pioneers of the "screamo" sound, Orchid combined this with a post-modern aesthetic, releasing several extended play and splits as well as three LPs...
, Jerome's Dream
Jerome's Dream
Jeromes Dream was a Connecticut post-hardcore/screamo band, active from 1997 to 2001. The band had a unique vocal style - singer Jeff Smith opted not to use a microphone while performing live, instead screaming unamplified at the top of his lungs. The band was known for playing very short sets,...
and many others.
Swing Kids are also credited with the unintentional creation of the fad "Spock
Spock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
Rock" during the mid 1990s; largely due to many of their fans emulating Pearson's fashion sense and hair style. The name comes from Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Simon Nimoy is an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series , multiple films, television and video game sequels....
's character from the Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
television series & films, and more specifically his haircut.
Justin Pearson
Justin Pearson
Justin Pearson is a frontman or bassist for a number of San Diego noise rock and grindcore bands, starting off in the punk outfit Struggle in 1994. Ensuing projects included Swing Kids, The Locust, The Crimson Curse, Holy Molar, Head Wound City, Ground Unicorn Horn, Brain Tourniquet, All Leather,...
would later go on to play in other bands such as The Locust
The Locust
The Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
, Holy Molar
Holy Molar
Holy Molar is a noise rock band from San Diego, composed of members that play or have played in The Locust, Antioch Arrow, Charles Bronson, Heroin, Cattle Decapitation, The Crimson Curse, Glass Candy, Get Hustle, Swing Kids, Das Oath, Struggle and Some Girls. They play a similar style of music as...
, Some Girls
Some Girls (California band)
Some Girls was a collective of musicians who came from different backgrounds and all who had established bands that pushed the limits of hardcore punk. Their musical style was a hybrid of mathcore, grindcore and noise rock.-History:...
, The Crimson Curse, All Leather, and a DJ outfit named Leg Lifters. Eric Allen, who committed suicide in 1998, played with the hardcore band Unbroken
Unbroken
Unbroken was a Hardcore punk band from San Diego, California. They were influential in the Southern California hardcore scene during the mid-to-late 1990s. The band chose the name Unbroken because they wanted to emphasize their dedication to the straight edge philosophy of drug abstinence...
.
Swing Kids played two reunion shows, both with Unbroken: a mostly secret show on May 8, 2009 at the Ché Cafe at UCSD in San Diego, CA and on May 9, 2009 at the Glass House in Pomona, CA. The Pomona show was a benefit for selected charities, and tickets were sold out very shortly after going on sale, despite the $25 price. According to fans, the shows ranged from "really, really, good" to "amazing, totally unbelievable." Eric Allen's mom came out right before the last Unbroken song at the Glasshouse show and thanked everyone briefly.
Members
- Eric Allen (of UnbrokenUnbrokenUnbroken was a Hardcore punk band from San Diego, California. They were influential in the Southern California hardcore scene during the mid-to-late 1990s. The band chose the name Unbroken because they wanted to emphasize their dedication to the straight edge philosophy of drug abstinence...
) - Jose PalafoxJose PalafoxJose Palafox is a writer, filmmaker, activist, and hardcore punk musician.-Musical history:He played drums in the 1990s political hardcore punk band Struggle, who released records on Ebullition Records, as well as in the Swing Kids on Three One G Records, to which he introduced a unique...
(of Struggle and Bread and CircuitsBread and CircuitsBread and Circuits were a band that formed in 1999 and released a self-titled LP on Ebullition Records as well as a split with Former Members of Alfonsin on El Grito Records....
) - John Brady (of Spanakorzo and Sweep the Leg JohnnySweep the Leg JohnnySweep the Leg Johnny was a Chicago-based math rock band in existence from 1996 till 2002. The name is a reference to a line in the film The Karate Kid....
) - Justin PearsonJustin PearsonJustin Pearson is a frontman or bassist for a number of San Diego noise rock and grindcore bands, starting off in the punk outfit Struggle in 1994. Ensuing projects included Swing Kids, The Locust, The Crimson Curse, Holy Molar, Head Wound City, Ground Unicorn Horn, Brain Tourniquet, All Leather,...
(of The LocustThe LocustThe Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
), who would release their recordings on his own Three One GThree One G31G Records, or Three One G, is a San Diego, California based record label, started by grindcore and hardcore musician Justin Pearson in 1994...
record label. - Jimmy LaValle (of The Album LeafThe Album LeafThe Album Leaf is an American solo musical project founded in San Diego, California in 1998 by Jimmy LaValle. He is known for his use of electronics, synthesizer and Rhodes piano...
)
Discography
- Swing Kids 7" EP - Kidney Room Records (Later re-released as Three One GThree One G31G Records, or Three One G, is a San Diego, California based record label, started by grindcore and hardcore musician Justin Pearson in 1994...
#2) - Swing Kids/Spanakorzo 10" Split EP - Three One GThree One G31G Records, or Three One G, is a San Diego, California based record label, started by grindcore and hardcore musician Justin Pearson in 1994...
#3 - DiscographyDiscographyDiscography is the study and listing of the details concerning sound recordings, often by specified artists or within identified musical genres...
CD/Picture Disc 12" - Three One GThree One G31G Records, or Three One G, is a San Diego, California based record label, started by grindcore and hardcore musician Justin Pearson in 1994... - Live Bootleg Record 7" - Not on label
- Food Not Bombs Compilation (Disease) - Inchworm Records
- This is Circumstantial Evidence DVD - Three One GThree One G31G Records, or Three One G, is a San Diego, California based record label, started by grindcore and hardcore musician Justin Pearson in 1994...
External links
- Swing Kids homepage from their label website Three One G
- Swing Kids Myspace