Old Tire Swingers
Album: Old Tire Swingers
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.oldtireswingers.com

Fresco (California) seems an unlikely stomping ground for an authentic string band, but that's where OTS inhabit. Paul Chesterton (banjo) and Nick Kennedy (guitar), to all intents and purposes the Old Tire Swingers, sure bring that old-time spirit alive on this their debut recording. I'll own up to being more than a mite confused here, for the band photo on the digipack clearly shows three burly bearded guys, yet the credits just give Paul and Nick, with guests Terry Barrett (fiddle), John Cogdill (mandolin) and John Bell (sublime resonator guitar playing, but only on one track, More Good Than Bad) - and the press handout mentions Frick Dau (stand-up bass) as a full-time band member (as it sounds like he is on the album even tho' he's not credited there!), along with a certain Eathan Hakker as the group's mandolinist… ho hum… methinks they need to get their act together!…

Either way tho', as far as the disc itself goes, it delivers a brilliantly hard-driving set of original compositions by Paul that mix hot (but not over-fussy or note-driven) playing with tight vocal harmonies and philosophical story-driven lyrics. An assured energy and strength of attitude characterise the Swingers' music, and the band's healthy attitude means everyone has a good time without throwing away the emotion and passion behind the songs. The irresistible menu includes plenty of ebullient uptempo numbers like Cricket Hollow, Big-Eyed Rabbit and Police and rather sad little mini-epics like 1838, so there's welcome variety and versatility on display, while the slightly ragged rough-hewn quality of the vocals, especially Paul's lead, makes for a slightly living-on-the-edge feel that appeals more than it turns off. And just to reassure those who don't like their bluegrassy old-time too predictable, the Old Tire Swingers throw in quite a few little spontaneous curveball gestures here and there which delight without any danger of upsetting the purists.

Fresh-sounding and mildly creative when it needs to be, the music of Old Tire Swingers is seriously satisfying.

David Kidman