By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor After kicking aound the clubs of New York City at the tail end of the 1990s, the Strokes had begun building momentum and a healthy batch of songs. In 2000, the band signed with the highly respected indie label, Rough Trade, who issued their debut EP, 'The Modern […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor There are some people who literally seem like a flash in time, a moment blindingly bright, then gone just as quickly. The rock and roll role call is full of those who died too young, some by their own device, others by tragic circumstances, all sad. Among the […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor After releasing five albums in just seven years, the Black Keys were on a roll to say the least. Each album boosted their presence in the public eye and raised their stakes artistically. By the time of the 2008 LP 'Attack & Release,' the Keys had jumped from […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor In 2002, the landscape for anything resembling rock and roll music was pretty damn bleak. The top selling albums that year included Eminem, Britney Spears, Dixie Chicks, Pink and Celine Dion. 2003 was shaping up much the same way with Beyonce and 50 Cent leading the way. Of […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Released in early 1994, 'Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain,' showed that Pavement were in it for the long haul. The charm and innocence found on their 1992 debut, 'Slanted And Enchanted,' was amped up a bit with confidence pushing through. The single from that first LP, 'Summer Babe,' became […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor As the old proverb goes, all it takes is “three chords and the truth" for a good song. File under "less is more," "don't overthink it," and "keep it simple, stupid!" While I do love music of a more involved or complex fabric, I am always more than […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor "Rock 'n' roll's a loser's game. It mesmerizes and I can't explain." A rather profound observation made by Ian Hunter circa 1973 in the song 'Ballad Of Mott The Hoople.' The once vital obsession to find and connect to "real" rock and roll was the pastime of many […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Seemingly every youth culture movement has its moment in the spotlight, its day in the sun. Sometimes it a fleeting flash, while other times it’s a slow burn that ends up lingering beyond sell date. When the 'punk' movement hit the press in, for sake of argument, 1977, […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor When the Steve Miller Band hit the music scene in 1968 with their debut album, 'Children Of The Future,' they were one of many bands from the San Fransisco Bay area vying for people's attention. Their mixture of blues, soul and rock and roll would prove a winning […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor For three dates in February of 1963, Sam Cooke gathered up a group of musicians and held some late night recording sessions to make a record he really wanted to make. Recorded at RCA Studios in Hollywood, Cooke, brought in pianist Ray Johnson, lead guitarist Barney Kessel, bassists […]
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