Swingin' Utters

Swingin' Utters (often typeset as $wingin' Utter$, and originally called Johnny Peebucks and the Swingin' Utters) is a Californian punk rock band that formed in the late 1980s.[1] After U.S. and European tours supporting the release of 2003's "Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass and Bones", some band members concentrated on raising their new families. From 2003-2010, the band played frequently, though mostly limited to the west coast of the United States and Canada, taking a break from any longer, comprehensive touring or recordings. During this time, they released the "Live in a Dive" double live album on Fat Wreck Chords (2004), and "Hatest Grits", a b-sides and rarities compilation (2008). After a seven-year gap in the release of any new, original recordings, the band released the "Brand New Lungs" 3-song 7-inch ep in 2010, followed by the "Here, Under Protest" LP (2011), and have since released four more records, and have resumed touring internationally.

Swingin' Utters
Swingin' Utters at 924 Gilman St. on December 4, 2009. Left to right: Spike Slawson, Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel, and Jack Dalrymple.
Swingin' Utters at 924 Gilman St. on December 4, 2009. Left to right: Spike Slawson, Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel, and Jack Dalrymple.
Background information
OriginSanta Cruz, California
GenresPunk rock, street punk
Years active1988–present
LabelsSideOneDummy, New Red Archives, Quality of Life, BYO Records, TKO, Fat Wreck Chords
MembersJohnny "Peebucks" Bonnel
Darius Koski
Jack Dalrymple
Tony Teixeira
Luke Ray
Past membersAric McKenna
Kevin Wickersham
Greg McEntee
Joel Dison
Max Huber
Spike Slawson
Miles Peck
Websitewww.swinginutters.com

History

Johnny Peebucks and the Swingin' Utters began in Santa Cruz, California, later moving to San Francisco.[1] The early lineup comprised singer Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Darius Koski, bassist Kevin Wickersham, and drummer Greg McEntee.[1] The band changed its name to The Swingin' Utters in 1994.[2]

The band's 1995 album The Streets of San Francisco won them 'Best Debut Album' at the Bay Area Music Awards, and they were included on the first Vans Warped Tour.[1][3]

They have been signed to Fat Wreck Chords since 1996, releasing A Juvenile Product of the Working Class that year and releasing seven original albums, two EP's, a rare/b-sides compilation, a best of compilation, several 7" singles, and a live record on the label since. [1]

While Johnny Bonnel is the lead singer of the group, lead guitarist Darius Koski provides lead vocals on many of the band's tracks. Spike Slawson, Max Huber and Jack Dalrymple have also provided lead vocals on occasion.[4]

The band toured the US with The Damned and Dropkick Murphys in the early 2000s.[1] They also toured Europe with Rancid.[5]

The band's track "The Lonely" was included in the Association for Independent Music (AFIM) Indie Award-winning soundtrack of the 2001 film That Darn Punk.[6][7]

In 2010 a tribute album for the band, Untitled 21: A Juvenile Tribute to the Swingin' Utters, was released. After a seven-year gap in the release of any new, original recordings, the band returned in 2010 with the Brand New Lungs EP, and followed it with the album Here, Under Protest in 2011.[1][8][9]

The band finished their second full-length since their return, Poorly Formed, which was released in early 2013.[10] Longtime bassist Spike Slawson left the band in 2011, and was replaced by Miles Peck. Miles left the band in May of 2017, and was replaced by Tony Teixeira.

In April 2013, the band toured Australia with Dropkick Murphys and Frank Turner. The band released the album "Fistful of Hollow" in 2014. It was the last album to see original/co-founding member and longtime drummer Greg McEntee, who left the band in April of 2015. He was then replaced by Luke Ray. Johnny Bonnel and Darius Koski remain the only original members of the band.

Swingin' Utters toured with several other Fat Wreck alumni to support the celebration of the Fat Wreck Chords 25th Anniversary, in August 2015. The U.S. tour was followed by a show in Tokyo, Japan.

Musical style

The band's sound is a traditional punk rock sound, and has been described as "street punk".[1] CMJ New Music Report described their sound as "blue-collar pop-influenced punk".[11] Comparisons have been drawn with early punk bands such as The Clash, Sham 69, The Sex Pistols, and Stiff Little Fingers.[12][13][14] The band have also incorporated elements of country music and roots rock, with comparisons to band such as Dropkick Murphys and The Pogues.[9][14][15][16][17] Bonnel cites early punk rock bands and Celtic music as his early influences.[18] Darius Koski said of their music "I've always thought of [our] songs as just loud, aggressive and fast folk or country songs."[3]

Side projects

Members of the Swingin' Utters have been involved in many musical side projects, most notably Johnny Bonnel, Darius Koski, and Spike Slawson's Filthy Thievin' Bastards (formed in 2000).[15][19][20] Druglords of the Avenues with Johnny Peebucks singing (formed in Oakland, California in 2004), and Spike Slawson's Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (in which he is the vocalist).[21][22]

Drummer Greg McEntee also joined Viva Hate in February 2007, and the Re-Volts are fronted by Spike Slawson, with Darius Koski and Jack Dalrymple on guitar for their first record. Dalrymple was the former vocalist/guitarist for fellow Fat Wreck band Dead to Me as well. Jack also sings and plays guitar in 2 bands that are on Adeline Records, first is the band One Man Army which briefly reunited after almost a decade of hiatus and released a new EP. The 2nd is a band named ToyGuitar, where Jack is joined by Miles Peck on guitar. A former Utters bandmate, Miles was also the lead singer and guitarist in bay area punk band The Sore Thumbs.

Band members

Current members

Former members

  • Aric McKenna - guitar (1988–1990)
  • Greg McEntee - drums (1988–2015)
  • Joel Dison - guitar (1988–1992)
  • Max Huber - guitar, vocals (1992–2002)
  • Kevin Wickersham - bass (1988–1997)
  • Spike Slawson - bass, vocals (1997–2012)
  • Miles Peck - bass, vocals (2012–2017)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

Live albums/EPs

Singles/EPs
  • Gives You Strength EP - 1992
  • No Eager Men - 1993
  • Nothing To Rely On - 1995
  • The Sounds Wrong EP - 1995
  • I Need Feedback - 1998
  • Brazen Head E.P. - 1999
  • Teen Idol Eyes - 1999
  • "Fat Club" - 2001
  • Brand New Lungs - 2010
  • "Taking The Long Way" - 2010
  • The Librarians Are Hiding Something - 2012
  • Stuck in a Circle - 2013

Splits
  • Swingin' Utters/Slip (split single with Slip) - 1994
  • Swingin' Utters/UK Subs (split with UK Subs) - 1995
  • Bombing the Bay (split with AFI) - 1997
  • BYO Split Series Volume II (split with Youth Brigade) - 1999
  • Der Glorreiche 7" Klub#4 (split with Wham Bam Bodyslam) - 2012
  • Swingin' Utters/Modern Action (split single) (Modern Action Records 2013)

Compilation appearances

DVD
  • Live at the Bottom of the Hill (2003)

References
  1. Bush, John "Swingin' Utters Biography", Allmusic, retrieved September 30, 2012
  2. "The Swingin' Utters," Book Your Own Fuckin' Life #3: Do-It-Yourself Resource Guide. San Francisco: Rocco Publishing and Maximum Rocknroll, 1994; pg. 10.
  3. Osterbeck, Ryan "Swingin' Utters", Metroactive, retrieved September 30, 2012
  4. Greene, Jo-Ann "Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones Review", Allmusic, retrieved September 30, 2012
  5. Taylor, Lewis (2003) "He's still Asleep at the Wheel, and it's a good thing.", Eugene Register-Guard, May 16, 2003, retrieved September 30, 2012
  6. Huey, Steve "That Darn Punk Original Soundtrack", Allmusic, retrieved September 30, 2012
  7. Morris, Chris (2002) "Wainwright, Parton Take Indie Awards", Billboard, March 23, 2002, p. 10, retrieved September 30, 2012
  8. "Swingin' Utters Archived 2013-02-21 at archive.today", City Weekly, July 23, 2010, retrieved September 30, 2012
  9. Heaney, Gregory "Here, Under Protest Review", Allmusic, retrieved September 30, 2012
  10. Swanson, Kristen (2012) "In The Studio: Swingin’ Utters on rejuvenating the band, the Fat Wreck family and their new album", Alternative Press, July 17, 2012, retrieved September 30, 2012
  11. Sciarretto, Amy (1999) "Swingin' Utters Brazen Head EP", CMJ New Music Report, July 19, 1999, p. 25, retrieved September 30, 2012
  12. Greene, Jo-Ann "The Streets of San Francisco Review", Allmusic, retrieved September 30, 2012
  13. DaRonco, Mike "Juvenile Product of the Working Class Review", Allmusic, retrieved September 30, 2012
  14. Jenkins, Mark (1996) "Descendents Persist; Utters' Clash Envy", The Washington Post, December 13, 1996
  15. Bell, Mike (2001) "Swingin' into Utter despair Archived 2013-01-15 at archive.today", Canoe.ca, June 1, 2001, retrieved September 30, 2012
  16. Bell, Robert (2011) "Swingin' Utters", Arkansas Times, June 22, 2011, retrieved September 30, 2012
  17. Loftus, Johnny "Live in a Dive Review", Allmusic, retrieved September 30, 2012
  18. "`Utters' have come a ways since their cover days", Deseret News, October 31, 1998
  19. "Filthy Thieving Bastards", Thrasher, July 1, 2002, retrieved September 30, 2012
  20. Weiser, Rosy (2012) "Darius Koski, Santa Cruz County Stories: Keeping the rock-n-roll spirit intact", Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 30, 2012, retrieved September 30, 2012
  21. Laban, Linda (2005) "Punk act Me First is wacky to the last", Boston Herald, January 10, 2005, retrieved September 30, 2012
  22. Elfman, Doug (2005) "They've got it covered", Las Vegas Review-Journal, February 18, 2005, retrieved September 30, 2012
  23. "Top 75", CMJ New Music Monthly, February 2001, retrieved September 30, 2012
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