[ATTENDED: April 4, 2018] Swearin’
I was so excited to see Superchunk, I didn’t really care who opened for them. But I was rather excited to see that Allison Crutchfield’s band Swearin’ was reuniting for this tour.
I didn’t know the band, but in the past year or so I have heard (and liked) more and more from Allison Crutchfield and her sister Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee). It’s not fair to lump them together, but they were in a band together at one point and Allison has toured with Katie’s band, so I think it’s fair to discuss them in the same paragraph.
But this show was all about Allisson (and Swearin’ co-founder Kyle Gilbride, who might be overshadowed somewhat in the Crutchfield love). On drums was original drummer Jeff Bolt and on bass was their friend Amanda Bartley (of the band All Dogs).
Because of unexpected construction on 95 (actually the highway is under constant construction, so it wasn’t exactly unexpected. However, I had been lulled into a false sense that the construction was, maybe, over. Ha). I wound up missing a little of Swearin’s set.
I arrived and the room was not exactly packed, but spread out. So I hung out in the middle a bit and then after a song or two I moved closer.
Since I missed the beginning of the set I don’t know how many songs they played. And since I don’t actually know their songs, I don’t know what he setlist was. But their songs are short fun punky blasts so they must have played a dozen or so songs during their opening set.
Allison and Kyle traded off on vocals a bunch. It is interesting that his voice is higher than hers. And they both sounded good.
In fairness, they only broke up in 2015, so it’s not like this was decades-long reunion or anything.
Their songs were punky with a pop element. Simple and catchy. Like “Dust in the Goldsack” and “Watered Down” from their 2013 album Surfing Strange.
They played songs from both of their albums like the “old” song (from 2012) “Just.” and that album’s closer “Movie Star.”
There were more songs from Surfing like the super catchy and poppy “Young” as well as the heavier (with that cool riff) “Unwanted Place.”
They also mentioned a few times that they are writing new songs and they played a few of them too.
Swearin’ were an excellent opening band for Superchunk. Same spirit of poppy punk and a great warmup on a cold night. I’m glad they’re back together.
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