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Whoever said rock is dead spoke too soon.
Since 1999 The Swanks have been showing doubters how it's done, blasting out full-scale musical assaults of hook-laden guitar rock. With vocals growling like a pissed-off tigress, the band rails about hit men, Harleys and the joys of alcohol and explosives. Naysayers, take note.
Vocalist/guitarist Shanda Kolberg (a bitter veteran of both the band Period and the state of Iowa) sought her fortune in Denver, where she formed The Swanks with Shay Moss and Rex Burdick. Bassist Moss (see "punk" in the dictionary) had been part of local faves Ted Bundy Band and Fox Force Five, while lead Les-Paulist Burdick had relocated from Hawaii and played in the group IDK. After booting their original drummer, The Swanks recruited Phillip Atencio of the ferocious hardcore band Los Terribles.
The Swanks released their first, self-titled album in March 2000, followed by a live album, a pair of critically acclaimed compilations (Undead in Denver I and II), 2003's Keep America Rollin', and their latest effort, The Swanks -vs- The World.
The Swanks have kept a relentless schedule of live shows, including several tours of the western U.S. The band has also been tapped to open for national acts including Betty Blowtorch, Supagroup, the 440's, Wesley Willis, House of Large Sizes, Fabulous Disaster, Roller, Polyplush Cats, and The Beautys. The Swanks are currently planning a full-scale tour to support The Swanks -vs- The World and are already back in the studio with new material.
And if you think rock is dead, you'd better start paying attention.
Buzz about The Swanks
On The Swanks live:
"You'll definitely be assaulted by an earful of lean, mean and to-the-point punk songs. Ornery, raw and aggressive, the band is fueled by Marshall stacks, rapid-fire guitars and heated vocals. The outcome is a controlled burn that's tighter and more melodic than the usual punk wreck, but suitably volatile and intimidating." --Westword
On Keep America Rollin':
"The Swanks' second recording picks up where the first left off, with Kolberg ranting about failed love, booze and all-out nihilism atop a firebrand of rumbling rhythms and razor-sharp riffs." --Westword
