Swallows are a rock act from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota with Americana, blues and folk influences. In July 2008, Swallows released their debut album Songs for Strippers (and other professions) and in August 2010, Swallows released the EP clearskyrelapse. The band is currently working on a second full-length album, which finds Swallows exploring traditional American musical forms.
jeff crandall - vocals, guitar, piano
aaron kerr - cello, bass
tyson allison - vocals, guitar
ben steen - drums
mike nordby - percussion
frank spencer - guitar
all songs written, arranged and performed by swallows
recorded at covert transmissions, st. paul, mn,
gildersound, forest lake, mn
recording produced by
jeff crandall and swallows
recording engineered by
randy gildersleeve and jeff crandall
recording mastered by
randy gildersleeve
© 2010 swallow the music llc
p.o. box 25224
st. paul, mn 55125
swallowthemusic.com
myspace.com/swallowthemusic
swallows@swallowthemusic.com
SWALLOWS ARE:
JEFF CRANDALL (guitars, vocals, piano): Jeff formed the indie-rock band Thinland with Aaron Kerr in 2000 and recorded the album Tracing the Cracks (2003). Jeff has performed and recorded with Mellow Drunk, Leigh Gregory, Anahada Nada, Aaron Kerr’s Dissonant Creatures, Semiconductor Orchestra and Swallows.
AARON KERR (cello, electric cello): Aaron composes, records and arranges music for solo artists, bands, dance troupes and theater. In 2006, Aaron was awarded the McKnight Foundation Fellowship for the compositions featured on his debut solo CD Arco 71. In 2009, Aaron enlisted other members of Swallows to arrange and produce his second album, Dissonant Creatures, a project which has since evolved into a working band that features members of Swallows. Aaron is also a member of Semiconductor Orchestra, JazZen and The Sleeper Pins.
TYSON ALLISON (guitars, keys, vocals, melodica): Tyson joined Swallows in 2008 for a stint as the band’s drummer and then moved into a multi-instrumentalist role when drummer Ben Steen joined the band in early 2010. Tyson also fronts the indie-pop band The Sleeper Pins and plays analog synth in Aaron Kerr’s Dissonant Creatures.
BEN STEEN (drums): Ben joined Swallows in early 2010. Ben also performs with Semiconductor Orchestra.
MIKE NORDBY (mandolin, percussion): Mike joined Swallows in early 2010.
PRESS FOR SONGS FOR STRIPPERS (AND OTHER PROFESSIONS):
“It is seldom that one gets to enthusiastically introduce new bands with raw talent, but this is one of those moments. . . . This quartet brings a blend of classic blues, a barrage of eclectic instruments, and warm yet gritty Nick Cave vocals to a state otherwise known for Atmosphere and Sage Francis.” - David Buchanan, CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND
“One of the best beginning-to-end creative efforts I’ve heard out of a local outfit in the last couple years.” - Skelly, BORANGUTAN
“Eleven tracks of vintage rock and roll that will tear you up.” - John Siwicki, THE COMFORT COMES
“Sometimes feeling East Coast in direction, with that raw New York rock sound . . . a little post-indie guitar twang that breaks into a gritty vocal line that brings to mind Tom Waits. . . . This is definitely an album that you need to let play. If you just listen to the first song and give up, you’re going to miss something that could be very important.” - Marcel Feldmar, THE RED ALERT
“The kind of album that Bad Seeds/Grinderman fans would warm to . . . well worth checking out.” - Stuart Hamilton, ZEITGEIST (UK)
“Swallows delivers some straight ahead rock and roll; very Headstones-esque.” - Robert Lines, - BROKEN PENCIL
“Every so often this all gets put together with a sense of truly lovely craft - ‘Bottom Feeder’ becomes a neo-sea shanty, complete with strings, that nearly takes the whole album to a new level on its own - while around the corners there's bits of random psychedelia creeping out (’I Won't Let You Down’ draws on the same late-night moodout that the Darkside's ‘Guitar Voodoo’ does). ” - Ned Raggett, - ALL MUSIC GUIDE
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