SWINGIN UTTERS

Originally formed in the late '80s, the Swingin' Utters brought their own brand of aggressive music to the growing Bay Area punk scene. As well as being classed as a punk band reminiscent of British '70s bands, Swingin' Utters have increasingly shown themselves to be influenced by traditional American country and folk, as well as Irish folk and Reggae. They helped pave the way for the American "street punk" and Irish influenced music of today. The Utters first caught public attention with the release of "The Streets of San Francisco". The album won Best Punk Album and Best Debut Album at the Bay Area Music awards, bolstering their reputation as freewheelin' rockers poised for stardom. Soon the Swingin' Utters established their position as the West Coast's most dependable purveyors of gimmick-free punk. The genre is all about nonconformity and youthful aggression and rebelling against all things corporate. Without straying from their proletariat roots and blue-collar attitude, the Utters managed to maintain a nearly impossible level of respect from a culture that generally despises any shifts toward mainstream popularity. Swingin' Utters seem ready to defy the usual aging process that forces most punk bands to become little more than musical points of reference. The original punk revivalists stand undeterred by odds that are surely stacked against them, at least in a commercial sense. Of course, MTV sex-appeal and success on the pop-charts have no correlation to punk rock triumph. No lucrative record deal or marketing tactic could prove victory for the Swingin' Utters. These details are trivial in comparison to what the band possesses: a loyal fan-base of 20 years and a permanent position in the history book of American punk.