The Swellers

Hey fellow Nimrods! My name is Samantha and I'll be bringing you some new segments about bands I think YOU should check out on the road! We will be calling this new segment the "Live Band of The Month"! I was offered this task by the amazing co-founders of Nimrod Street and jumped at the chance to showcase some of my favorite bands. This will include bands I feel should be experienced live and urge everyone to go and see them.

Now, a little background on me. I'm twenty years old and from a very small town in Southeast Iowa. Living in Iowa there is not much to do, so I latched onto music at an early age as an escape. Green Day was the first band I ever truly loved deep down in my heart, and they remain my favorite band. Because of this I'm going to have a lot of fun with this new task, and I hope everyone has fun reading about and discovering the bands I introduce. Perhaps one of them will become your new favorites? And now, February's Live Band of The Month!

Though hardly new to the scene, Michigan pop-punk band The Swellers made quite a buzz in 2009 with the release of their sophomore album, "Ups and Downsizing".

Formed in 2002 by brothers Nick (lead vocals) and Jonathan (drums) Diener, The Swellers booked their first show only a week out of the gate. Through a few years of touring, the band caught a break when they were signed to indie label Search and Rescue Records in the summer of 2005. That same summer they were also able to land a few dates on the Vans Warped Tour. In 2007 they put out their first full length album titled "My Everest".

Through their infectious live shows, undeniably catchy songs, and word of mouth, The Swellers began to garner the interest of another pop-punk band. Upon inking the deal with Fueled by Ramen, The Swellers set off on tour as support for label mates, and fans, Paramore.

 I myself was lucky enough to catch these guys filling in for the band Set Your Goals for the Alternative Press Fall Ball Tour 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska. Having never heard their music before, I found myself automatically hooked. They performed with so much gusto and passion that anyone could see music was the biggest thing in their lives. After a short 5-6 song set, I was sad to see them go. Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to meet them, nor have I experienced their live show since, but that will definitely not be the last time I see The Swellers.

Favorite song: “2009”

Current tours lined up for 2010:

• Motion City Soundtrack (opening act)
• Vans Warped Tour

Check them out at: www.myspace.com/theswellers, theswellers.com.