Swoon 23
Encyclopedia
Swoon 23 were a shoegazer band based in Portland
, Oregon
in the late 1990s.
Along with fellow Portlanders The Dandy Warhols
, King Black Acid and Sugarboom, Swoon 23 helped define the lush, British-influenced sound that gained prominence in the Portland music scene in the aftermath of the grunge
movement.
Rejecting the aggressive riffing and macho swagger that characterized much of Northwest music in the wake of acts like Nirvana
, Pearl Jam
and Soundgarden
, Swoon embraced a mellower, psychedelic sound, one which owed more to My Bloody Valentine and Galaxie 500
than Blue Cheer
or Mudhoney.
Swoon 23's sound was a moody wash of fuzz and reverb, with layered guitars and occasional droning keyboards forming the backdrop for lead vocalist Megan Pickerel's ethereal soprano. This approach placed them solidly in the shoegazer camp, drawing comparisons to bands like Slowdive
, Mojave 3
, and early Lush
.
The lineup included Pickerel on guitar, keyboard and lead vocals, Jeff Studebaker and Michael "Spike" Keating on guitar, and Marty Smith on drums. The band had no bass player.
Swoon 23 released two full-length CDs on Tim/Kerr Records: 1995's Famous Swan Song, a somewhat underproduced effort that incorporated some light, lo-fi elements, and the darker, more mature The Legendary Ether Pony, released in 1997. The group disbanded in 1999.
After Swoon 23 disbanded, Michael "Spike" Keating formed Magic Fingers with Eric Hedford
(original drummer for The Dandy Warhols
) and Matt Hollywood
(who had recently left The Brian Jonestown Massacre
). Keating is currently a touring guitarist for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
.
Megan Pickerel is currently in the Seattle-based dream pop band Buzzyshyface, while Marty Smith now plays in the Portland, Oregon twee duo Slutty Hearts.
The band's complete lineup re-formed in summer 2008 for a brief West Coast tour in October of that year. After a "secret" warm up show, the tour kicked off on October 5 at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon
where they opened for (and later joined in for a one song jam of "Fast-Driving Rave-Up" ) with the Dandy Warhols
. Their subsequent plans, if any, are unknown.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
in the late 1990s.
Along with fellow Portlanders The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1994. The band was founded by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström, with keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford later joining. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by...
, King Black Acid and Sugarboom, Swoon 23 helped define the lush, British-influenced sound that gained prominence in the Portland music scene in the aftermath of the grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
movement.
Rejecting the aggressive riffing and macho swagger that characterized much of Northwest music in the wake of acts like Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
and Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
, Swoon embraced a mellower, psychedelic sound, one which owed more to My Bloody Valentine and Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500
Galaxie 500 was an American alternative rock band that formed in 1987 and split up in 1991 after releasing three albums.-History:Guitarist Dean Wareham, drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist Naomi Yang had met at the Dalton School in New York City in 1981, but began playing together during their time...
than Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer
Blue Cheer was an American psychedelic blues-rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009...
or Mudhoney.
Swoon 23's sound was a moody wash of fuzz and reverb, with layered guitars and occasional droning keyboards forming the backdrop for lead vocalist Megan Pickerel's ethereal soprano. This approach placed them solidly in the shoegazer camp, drawing comparisons to bands like Slowdive
Slowdive
Slowdive were an English shoegaze band that formed in 1989. The band formed in Reading, Berkshire and primarily consisted of Nick Chaplin , Rachel Goswell , Neil Halstead , and Christian Savill...
, Mojave 3
Mojave 3
Mojave 3 are a British band, consisting of Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Simon Rowe, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon. Goswell, Halstead and McCutcheon previously played in Thames Valley shoegazing band Slowdive....
, and early Lush
Lush
-People:* Archibald Lush, a Welsh school inspector* Billy Lush, an American actor* David Lush, Canadian politician* Ernie Lush, American Baseball player* Jay Laurence Lush, an American geneticist* Jane Lush, a British worker...
.
The lineup included Pickerel on guitar, keyboard and lead vocals, Jeff Studebaker and Michael "Spike" Keating on guitar, and Marty Smith on drums. The band had no bass player.
Swoon 23 released two full-length CDs on Tim/Kerr Records: 1995's Famous Swan Song, a somewhat underproduced effort that incorporated some light, lo-fi elements, and the darker, more mature The Legendary Ether Pony, released in 1997. The group disbanded in 1999.
After Swoon 23 disbanded, Michael "Spike" Keating formed Magic Fingers with Eric Hedford
Eric Hedford
Eric Hedford is a drummer who was a founding member of The Dandy Warhols.-Early work:He performed on 1995's Dandy's Rule OK?, 1996's The Black Album, and 1997's …The Dandy Warhols Come Down. Under the moniker "Aquaman", Hedford is credited for "additional production" on Everyday Should Be a Holiday...
(original drummer for The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1994. The band was founded by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström, with keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford later joining. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by...
) and Matt Hollywood
Matt Hollywood
Matt Hollywood is an American indie rock guitarist and singer. He was a founding member and leader of the Portland-based indie rock band The Out Crowd, as well as a founding member of the neo-psychedelic rock band The Brian Jonestown Massacre. He currently fronts the drone rock band The Rebel...
(who had recently left The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
The Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American eclectic musical group led by Anton Newcombe, whose music spans multiple genres including psychedelia, electronica, folk music, blues, experimental music, and many others....
). Keating is currently a touring guitarist for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, now based in Los Angeles. BRMC is known for their garage rock, blues, folk revival, neo-psychedelia sound. They are influenced by bands such as: The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Verve, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, T...
.
Megan Pickerel is currently in the Seattle-based dream pop band Buzzyshyface, while Marty Smith now plays in the Portland, Oregon twee duo Slutty Hearts.
The band's complete lineup re-formed in summer 2008 for a brief West Coast tour in October of that year. After a "secret" warm up show, the tour kicked off on October 5 at the Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
where they opened for (and later joined in for a one song jam of "Fast-Driving Rave-Up" ) with the Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are an American alternative rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1994. The band was founded by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström, with keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford later joining. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by...
. Their subsequent plans, if any, are unknown.