Album Notes

Swell Mob, a New York City based trio, blends indie pop with electronic textures.

In Swell Mob songs, high culture meets low culture, intellect meets bawdiness and humor meets pathos. The tunes are meant for sing-a-longs and fit for late night debates. Theirs is a world of fashionistas and man-servants, outdoor love and lonely diners. Imagine Rivers Cuomo, Ray Davies and Stephen Merritt crashing a bachelorette party.

The Swell Mob sound is driven by guitar and keyboards over electronic beats. With clever lyrics and catchy hooks, the band invites comparisons to Weezer, Magnetic Fields, the Kinks and Beck.

Seth Searls fronts the group and plays tenor saxophone. Mike Espar mans the keyboards and electronics. Keith Meatto plays guitar and bass and is the main lyricist. Live shows often feature guest musicians on harmonica, strings and percussion.

Searls, Espar and Meatto first played together in Blue Fountain Diner, opening for Beck, They Might Be Giants and Buffalo Tom. Their album Breakfast with Basketboy was produced by Collin Tilton, an accomplished musician who played flute and saxophone on Van Morrison¹s Moondance.