SWMRS // STEREO CAFE BAR, GLASGOW
SWMRS RETURN TO GLASGOW TO PLAY A SOLD OUT SHOW AT STEREO CAFE BAR
SWMRS PERFORM TO SOLD OUT CROWD AT GLASGOW'S STEREO CAFE BAR - 01/10/2017
PICTURE BY: EMMA RODGER PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5)
Pop-friendly California punk band, SWMRS, return after a year to play Glasgow's Stereo Café Bar. Fans fill the 300 capacity venue awaiting the energy packed into their latest record, Drive North. The record received mixed reviews, produced by the one and only Zac Carper of 'FIDLAR', SWMRS take an opportunity to get experimental on a few tracks leaving loyal fans unsure of their new sound. With the band's stage presence and high energy set, even these are bound to translate well live.
The band have support from LA fourpiece retro-punk outfit, The Regrettes. Frontwoman Lydia Night bounces on stage followed by her glitter-clad bandmates and instantly set the tone with riot grrrl inspired 'Hot' the crowd recipcates every ounce of energy thrown at them by the girls. The energy never drops and picks up as Lydia jumps into the crowd armed with her guitar, though many are unfamiliar with their work, the whole crowd was buzzing and managed to join in with their closer and biggest hit, doo-wop infused 'Seashore'. I would definitely recommend checking them out and catching them live as there's no doubt they will be big.
SWMRS take to the stage opening with crowd pleaser and fan favourite, 'Palm Trees'. The rest of the setlist is very well received with highlights including a singalong during "Lose It" typical of a Glasgow crowd, the chilled out track is a welcome break from their usual bass heavy, drum filled sound. The atmosphere is electric and peaks as the intro to D'you Have a Car begins and the crowd goes wild, during this song the performance from drummer, Joey Armstrong (son of Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong) is notable. Their brand of stylish punk-rock is the perfect match for Glasgow's Stereo and the famous Glasgow crowd as lead singer, Cole Becker, proclaims his love for the city. The show concludes with the title track from their record "Drive North". On this track the influence from FIDLAR's Zac Carper is extremely present and makes for a great closer, extracting the final ounce of energy from both the band and the crowd. The buzz in the room lingers after the band leaves the stage, everyone is sweaty, exhausted and waiting for the next tour.
SWMRS TOUR CONTINUES:
OCTOBER 2ND : BODEGA - NOTTINGHAM, UK
OCTOBER 4TH : ACADEMY 3 - MANCHESTER, UK
OCTOBER 5TH : MAMA ROUX'S - BIRMINGHAM, UK
OCTOBER 6TH : O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON - LONDON, UK
OCTOBER 8TH : BUYERS CLUB - LIVERPOOL, UK
OCTOBER 9TH : FIBBER MAGEES - DUBLIN, IRELAND
OCTOBER 13TH : EL CORAZON - SEATTLE, USA
OCTOBER 14TH : ANALOG CAFE AND THEATER LOUNGE - PORTLAND, USA
OCTOBER 15TH : KNITTING FACTORY - BOISE, USA
OCTOBER 16TH : THE COMPLEX - SALT LAKE CITY, USA
OCTOBER 18TH : VINYL AT HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO - LAS VEGAS, USA
OCTOBER 19TH : NILE THEATER - MESA, USA
OCTOBER 21ST : VELET JONES - SANTA BARBARA, USA
OCTOBER 22ND : THE OBSERVATORY - SANTA ANA, USA
OCTOBER 24TH : STRUMMER'S - FRESNO, USA
OCTOBER 25TH : HOLY DIVER - SACRAMENTO, USA
OCTOBER 26TH : THE CATALYST - SANTA CRUZ, USA
OCTOBER 27TH : HENRY FONDA THEATRE - LOS ANGELES, USA
OCTOBER 28TH : UNCOOL HALLOWEN 2 - BERKELEY, USA
OCTOBER 29TH : HOUSE OF BLUES - SAN DIEGO, USA
NOVEMBER 30TH : HOUSE OF BLUES - CHICAGO, USA
DECEMBER 1ST : MAGIC STICK - DETROIT, USA
DECEMBER 2ND : OPERA HOUSE - TORONTO, CANADA
DECEMBER 3RD : CLUB SODA - MONTREAL, CANADA
DECEMBER 5TH : MONTAGE MUSIC HALL - ROCHESTER, USA
DECEMBER 7TH : PARADISE ROCK CLUB - BOSTON, USA
DECEMBER 8TH : BLACK CAT - WASHINGTON, D.C, USA
DECEMBER 9TH : IRVING PLAZA - NEW YORK, USA
DECEMBER 10TH : TLA - PHILADELPHIA, USA
DECEMBER 12TH : REX THEATER - PITTSBURGH, USA
DECEMBER 13TH : ARGORA BALLROOM - CLEVELAND, USA
DECEMBER 15TH : DELMAR HALL - SAINT LOUIS, USA
DECEMBER 16TH : THE BOTTLENECK - LAWRENCE, USA
DECEMBER 17TH : SUMMIT MUSIC HALL - DENVER, USA
FEBRUARY 7TH 2018 : HBF STADIUM - MOUNT CLAREMONT, AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 9TH 2018 : THE BARTON THEATRE - ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 10TH 2018 : MARGARET COURT ARENA - MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 13TH 2018 : HORDERN PAVILION - MOORE PARK, AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 14TH 2018 : RIVERSTAGE - BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 17TH 2018 : HORNCASTLE ARENA - CHRISTCHURCH, AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY 19TH 2018 : LOGAN CAMPELL CENTRE - AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND