The Black Swans
Encyclopedia
The Black Swans are an indie rock
band. Jerry DeCicca (vocals
and acoustic guitar
) and Noel Sayre (viola
and violin
) form the core of the band. Their debut, Who Will Walk in the Darkness With You?
features Milan Karcic (electric guitar
), Matt Surgeson (electric bass
, double bass
), Joe Peppercorn (piano
), and Jovan Karcic (drums
). The Sex Brain EP features Canaan Faulkner (bass
), Chris Forbes (electric guitar), Keith Hanlon (drums, electric guitar), Sarah Jurcyk (backing vocals), and Horace Roscoe (alto saxophone
). Amy Alwood and Cassie Lewis are also listed as group members. The Black Swans have toured America with such notable indie artists as Okkervil River, Magnolia Electric Company
and Early Day Miners
. Their 2nd full length album, Change!
, was released on November 6, 2007 by La Société Expéditionnaire
on CD and LP. It features the same core band of DeCicca, Sayre, Faulkner, Forbes and Hanlon that appeared on Sex Brain, as well as appearances by Peppercorn on piano
and Amy Alwood on backing vocals
. It was recorded in Forbes' living room by Hanlon and mixed by Hanlon and DeCicca at Gidget Sound in Columbus, Ohio.
Founding member Noel Sayre died of an apparent heart attack on July 3, 2008 aged 37. He had been on life-support since July 1 after almost drowning in a community pool in Wheelersburg, Ohio.
In 2010, The Black Swans regrouped to release a limited edition album entitled "Words Are Stupid," a concept record about the fallibility of human communication, for Secretly Canadian
's St. Ives imprint. In September 2010, they will release a split 45" single with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy dedicated to the late singer-songwriter Larry Jon Wilson
with each band contributing a cover of one of his songs.
The Black Swans will release their fourth full length, "Don't Blame the Stars", on Misra Records
in April 2011. It is a concept album about placing faith in friendships, music, and ones self. It includes spoken word introductions, as it is modeled after Willie Nelson
's album "Yesterday's Wine
". "Don't Blame the Stars" was recorded months before Noel Sayre's death and includes his final recordings.
There is another Black Swans band, more in the performance art genre, that has been performing since 1985 in San Francisco.
Discography
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band. Jerry DeCicca (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and acoustic guitar
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
) and Noel Sayre (viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
) form the core of the band. Their debut, Who Will Walk in the Darkness With You?
Who Will Walk in the Darkness with You?
Who Will Walk in the Darkness With You? is the debut album by folk-rock group The Black Swans.-Track listing:# "Who Will Walk in the Darkness With You?" – 4:34# "Blue Skies" – 4:31# "Honest Eyes" – 3:34# "Song Without You – 3:58# "The Raft" – 3:47...
features Milan Karcic (electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
), Matt Surgeson (electric bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
), Joe Peppercorn (piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
), and Jovan Karcic (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). The Sex Brain EP features Canaan Faulkner (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Chris Forbes (electric guitar), Keith Hanlon (drums, electric guitar), Sarah Jurcyk (backing vocals), and Horace Roscoe (alto saxophone
Alto saxophone
The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
). Amy Alwood and Cassie Lewis are also listed as group members. The Black Swans have toured America with such notable indie artists as Okkervil River, Magnolia Electric Company
Songs: Ohia
Jason Molina is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Lorain, Ohio. He first came to prominence performing and recording as Songs: Ohia, both in solo projects and with a rotating cast of musicians...
and Early Day Miners
Early Day Miners
Early Day Miners are a band from southern Indiana, United States who released records on the Bloomington, Indiana based label Secretly Canadian. In September 2009 the band had released seven full-length records....
. Their 2nd full length album, Change!
Change!
Change! is the second full-length album by the Black Swans. It is a follow up to 2004's Who Will Walk in the Darkness with You? and their 2006 EP, Sex Brain...
, was released on November 6, 2007 by La Société Expéditionnaire
La Société Expéditionnaire
La Société Expéditionnaire is a Pennsylvania - based independent record label established in 2006 by Lewis & Clarke's Lou Rogai. On previous Lewis & Clarke albums, the liner notes contained a contact address for "The Expeditionary Society", a nod to the exploratory reference of Lewis & Clarke. This...
on CD and LP. It features the same core band of DeCicca, Sayre, Faulkner, Forbes and Hanlon that appeared on Sex Brain, as well as appearances by Peppercorn on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and Amy Alwood on backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
. It was recorded in Forbes' living room by Hanlon and mixed by Hanlon and DeCicca at Gidget Sound in Columbus, Ohio.
Founding member Noel Sayre died of an apparent heart attack on July 3, 2008 aged 37. He had been on life-support since July 1 after almost drowning in a community pool in Wheelersburg, Ohio.
In 2010, The Black Swans regrouped to release a limited edition album entitled "Words Are Stupid," a concept record about the fallibility of human communication, for Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian
Secretly Canadian is an American independent record label based in Bloomington, Indiana. It was started in 1996 by Chris and Ben Swanson, Eric Weddle, and Jonathan Cargill. Their first release was a re-issue of an album by June Panic...
's St. Ives imprint. In September 2010, they will release a split 45" single with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy dedicated to the late singer-songwriter Larry Jon Wilson
Larry Jon Wilson
Larry Jon Wilson was an American country singer, guitarist and musician. He recorded "Through the Eyes of Little Children" and "I Betcha Heaven's on a Dirt Road".-Biography:...
with each band contributing a cover of one of his songs.
The Black Swans will release their fourth full length, "Don't Blame the Stars", on Misra Records
Misra Records
Misra Records is an independent record label run out of Durham, North Carolina with branch offices in Washington D.C., Seattle, Washington, and Los Angeles, California....
in April 2011. It is a concept album about placing faith in friendships, music, and ones self. It includes spoken word introductions, as it is modeled after Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
's album "Yesterday's Wine
Yesterday's Wine
Yesterday's Wine is a 1971 concept album by country singer Willie Nelson. During the beginning of his contract with RCA, Nelson had no significant hits. By 1970, his recordings reached mid-chart positions. Nelson lost the money of his song-writing royalties by financing unsuccessful tours that did...
". "Don't Blame the Stars" was recorded months before Noel Sayre's death and includes his final recordings.
There is another Black Swans band, more in the performance art genre, that has been performing since 1985 in San Francisco.
Discography