THE SWEAR

September 16, 2009 0 Comments

The Swear played NoPhest on Sunday, September 6, these are some pictures from that show along with some interview questions we got from the band a couple of days later, answered by the singer Elizabeth Elkins.

Nathan Honnold

Beatlanta: When did the Swear form? How do you know each other?

Elizabeth: The Swear started in 2004. We met all through friends of friends. Our goal at this point is just to enjoy writing good songs, and to have fun playing shows. My personal long-standing goal has always been to have a self-supporting career as a musician, and to tour to theater-sized crowds at least once in my life.

B: Who plays what instruments?

E: Elizabeth Elkins: vocals, guitar

Jeremy Zamora: guitar

Kevin Williams: bass

Steve Moretti: drums

B: Tell us a little about how you feel about the Swear and its design, its perception and philosophy. Are there any major influences that influence your sound or made you want to start your band?

E: I’m a glutton for punishment? I’m an egomaniac? I like attention? Nothing makes me happier than creating music? All of the above. As far as what influences The Swear’s sound, it’s different for everybody. My influences are books and words and watching. We all love bands like Social Distortion, Muse, Alkaline Trio. Some of us like bands like the Beatles, the Smiths, Guns N Roses and Kiss.

B: Tell us a little about your favorite The Swear song? What should fans of your music know about it?

E: Of the already recorded stuff, my favorite is “The City That Never”. It’s quite self-indulgent, has strings and loops, too many lyrics and it’s six minutes long. It only took 10 minutes to write though, so that’s something rare. My current favorite is a brand new song called “Ghost Signs” that we’ve just finished arranging and brought into the set list. I think it’s a great indication of where we are going as a band. It’s a little weird – it reminds me of Thursday meets Concrete Blonde.

B: Whats your favorite venue to play in Atlanta?

E: Center Stage.

B: How do you guys advertise your shows?

E: Word of mouth and online.

B: What does the Swear listen to? Are there any “group” influences that allowed ya’ll to really connect as a band and make such awesome music?

E: Our common ground is Social Distortion. The outliers are Morrissey for me, Rush for Kevin, Vertical Horizon for Steve – and well, I think everybody likes what Jeremy listens to, except I don’t much like The Beatles.

Nathan Honnold

B: What are the names of any current albums or any due out and who produced them?

E: 2005 EP “Every Trick’s A Good One” produced by Russ-T Cobb2008 LP “Hotel Rooms and Heart Attacks” produced by Ted Niceley, Matt Goldman and Jeff Tomei/mixed by Eli Janney.

B: How often do you practice?

E: Depends on everybody’s schedule – sometimes twice a week, sometimes twice a month.

B: What other local bands would you recommend to your fans and fans of local area music?

E: The Greater Vavoom, John McNicholas, The Julia Dream, Paul Melancon, Today the Sun Tomorrow the Moon, Bain Mattox, Can Can, YOU, Joshua Baker…I am sure I am forgetting some.

B: How do you find the Atlanta scene? Has it been kind to the Swear? Are there any towns in particular that have been kind to your band and what you’re trying to do, more so than Atlanta….where is the —– scene most appealing to you guys if outside of Atlanta? Is there a scene in Atlanta?

E: Ha! I’m not so sure. I actually like playing out of town a lot, I really enjoy playing in NYC, and also in places like Knoxville and Asheville.

Nathan Honnold

B: How do you feel about the future of the music industry?

E: I have given up on even thinking about that question. I just want to play music.

B: How do you feel about file sharing? Do you feel that it’s detrimental to the industry or do you find it a good thing – to help more people hear more music?

E: I think it’s too far gone to change, and therefore I accept it as a great way for people to hear our music.

Nathan Honnold