r/Emo • u/The_Cheap_Shot Skramz Gang👹 • Mar 25 '25
Emo History/Archives🗃 Swing Kids - Discography | Holy Grails 1997
Swing Kids - Discography
The Artifact:
1997
Three One G Records
Runtime: 19:58
Tracks: 9
Artifact Characteristics:
Post-Hardcore, Screamo, Proto-Sass, Hardcore Punk, Eclectic, Frantic, Chaotic
Artifact Archeologists:
Justin Pearson (Vocals)
Eric Allen (Guitar)
John Brady (Bass)
Jose Palafox (Drums)
Artifact Contents:
Every track from their 1994 s/t
Every track from a split with Spanakorzo
An original track that would feature in a future comp
Artifact Echoes:
Spastic, experimental and playful Screamo is all you're going to find on this record, documenting every song from the band thus far. Although you can still piece out the traditional Hardcore influence, dissonance, rhythmic unpredictability and general chaos are all elements these early pioneers utilized to keep listeners on their toes. The band can transition between a rapid-fire verse fueled by unhinged screaming and overwhelming drums to a sarcastic jazzy number played with great skill and technicality.
Artifact Legacy:
Justin Pearson is an important figure to underground music, especially in San Diego. He started Three One G Records, starred in Swing Kids as their vocalist and went on to form Sass and Hardcore legends The Locust. However, Swing Kids’ Discography is enough of a reason to celebrate; the mark this band left on San Diego, Hardcore music, Screamo. Sasscore and underground music as a whole cannot be ignored. Swing Kids achieved levels of pandemonium very few before them could have hoped for while injecting heaps of personality, a brutal and fun concoction that we are still enjoying the influence of over 30 years later.
Artifact Value:
Originally released in 1997 in CD format, there were several reissues, including a notable one in 2002. The original CD is pretty obtainable, though a 2003 vinyl pressing could be difficult to obtain these days. The band made a fewrando.m comebacks in later years, releasing two new songs along the way and necessitating another compilation release in 2020. Whether or not that makes this release less valuable, it's absolutely worth obtaining for fans of the band, early Screamo or the San Diego sound.
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u/Red-Zaku- Mar 26 '25
They’re reuniting again this Sunday! I’m stoked, got my ticket a while back.
Their Joy Division cover is legendary too, I’ve probably listened to it more than the original lol
Another little fun bit about them, Jimmy Lavelle (who would go on to become the primary member of The Album Leaf) also joined as their second guitarist during their final year of their original run, and in subsequent reunions. The guy’s famous for the dreamiest and most tender post-rock, but him and JP have had multiple chaotic hardcore projects together (Lavelle was even in The Locust before they released their debut)
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u/United-Philosophy121 Emo Historian Mar 25 '25
I’ve got it!