In 1990 London’s indie-rock guitar scene was developing a distinctive new psychedelic sound: swirling, dreamy, mysterious and very much of the British Isles. One band stood out by hot-wiring that sound with the subversive energy of some American bands of the era and that band was Swervedriver. They had the liquid distortion of shoegaze combined with the cool swagger of Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth, and Dinosaur Jr – giving them a unique sound and attitude.
Relocating from Oxford to London, guitarists Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, bassist Adi Vines and drummer Graham Bonnar debuted with a series of landmark Creation Records EPs, Son of Mustang Ford, Rave Down, and Sandblasted. Their full-length debut, 1991’s Raise, to this day is hailed by Pitchfork as an album full of “muscular, scorching guitars” that “still bring the noise like nobody’s business” with Mojo stating that Son of Mustang Ford “remains one of the most glorious tunes to emerge in the wake of the so-called grunge explosion of ’89, matching Adam Franklin and Jim Hartridge’s motorised guitar-weaving with a beguiling, below-the-line vocal melody and lyrics that celebrated the joy of wide-open American freeways.”
More roadblocks came to be in their way though: highly revered third album Ejector Seat Reservation came out in 1995 but was never released or toured in the US and although the band returned strongly with their fourth full-length 1998’s 99th Dream, the energy was dissipating and they imploded at the end of an Australian tour resolving to go on hiatus.
Going their separate ways – Franklin moved to the US and released solo albums with his band Bolts of Melody – no-one really knew if the band actually was on hiatus or had split entirely. Then came an announcement in late 2007 that they would be performing at the following year’s Coachella and heading back out on the road. Originally reforming with Hindmarsh on drums followed briefly by the return of Bonnar, they finally settled on Mikey Jones of Heaven and Bolts of Melody and have continued touring and appearing at festivals internationally.
In 2013 everything was ratcheted up several notches when Swervedriver released its first single in 15 years, Deep Wound. Spin Magazine called it a “warm, confidently roiling return” with Mojo adding “those same distorted pop sensibilities remain reassuringly intact” and the band debuted the song on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” in the States.
The band’s first album in 18 years was released on March 3rd 2015. Recorded at legendary studios Birdland in Melbourne, and Konk in London the album featured Deep Wound, along with new single Setting Sun. The band will set out on major tours across the globe in 2015.
SWERVEDRIVER / 2015 UK TOUR DATES
Tue May 12 – PORTSMOUTH, Wedgewood Rooms
Wed May 13 – BRIGHTON, The Haunt
Thu May 14 – CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach
Fri May 15 – BIRMINGHAM, O2 Academy2
Sat May 16 – MANCHESTER, Ruby Lounge
Mon May 18Â – SHEFFIELD, Corporation
Tue May 19 – GLASGOW, King Tuts
Wed May 20 – LIVERPOOL, O2 Academy2
Thu May 21 – YORK, Fibbers
Fri May 22 – OXFORD, O2 Academy2
Sun May 24 – BRISTOL, Thekla
Mon May 25 – NOTTINGHAM, Bodega Social Club
Tues May 26 – NORWICH, Arts Center
Wed May 27 – LONDON, Scala London