Mundo Musique: Swearin' and Womb

SWEARIN’

For Those Who Like: Joanna Gruesome, Liz Phair, Connections

Swearin’ makes a return on Mundo Musique, marking their second appearance – third if you include their spot on our top-81 albums of 2013 – in this space, and they deserve all the attention for their rocking take of post-punk music.

But another reason to spotlight the young quartet from Brooklyn is that they are currently in the midst of an expansive tour that will see them travel up the eastern seaboard and into the midwestern US. The tour stops in Montreal tonight and then in Ottawa on Thursday night, performing at Luneta Cafe. You can find other tour stops here.

Comprising of front-woman Allison Crutchfield, guitarist Kyle Gilbride, bassist Keith Spencer, and drummer Jeff Bolt, these indie punk rockers are shredding up guitars and leaving audiences in a delusional state with their energetic, intense, and engaging live shows. The band’s tour is in support of their second album, Surfing Strange, which was released in November 2013.

The album is a collective one that sees Crutchfield, Gilbride, and Spencer share the songwriting and, thus, lead vocals. Crutchfield’s songs have a noticeable Liz Phair feel with light vocals over top the reverb of Gilbride’s guitar, such as on “Dust in the Gold Sack” and “Parts of Speech”. The songs by Gilbride and Spencer, meanwhile, are reminiscent of Sonic Youth and Pavement – melancholic songs filled with distortion and lyrics that speak to either angst or liberation.

Despite the divergent styles, the band’s sophomore album is cohesive and excellent. The shifts in melody, rhythm, and distortion between songs keeps the listener engaged, as Crutchfield, Gilbride, and Spencer take turns telling their stories.

Catch Swearin’ wherever you may be. If you’re in the Ottawa area, maybe I’ll see you at Luneta Cafe.

Bandcamp – http://swearin.bandcamp.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Swearin/250793881642442
Twitter – https://twitter.com/aqcrutchfield (for Alison Crutchfield)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1Nrx2j14Rs

WOMB

For Those Who Like: The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Vamos!, Reignwolf

There aren’t many things that Ajax, Ontario is known for (no offence to this growing city), but for many people it’s considered a suburb of Toronto. However, Womb wants to put the 90,000 people city on the music map, much like Avril Lavigne did for Napanee, Ontario, and Shania Twain for Timmons, Ontario.

Womb are a three-piece band that plays garage-rock-blues with a touch of swing. What does this exactly mean? Think the grittiness of garage-rock but had guitar hooks that will get you dancing and jumping, at least on the faster tracks, such as “Baby Don’t Love Me”, which was included on their second EP (simply titled EP). Before that, they recorded a three-song EP called, Basement Filth, which was released in 2012.

The songs are raw, but there is a lot of potential. They will be taking their show on the road starting Thursday with shows across Ontario, including stops in Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal in April. Check their Facebook page for tour dates.

Womb comprises of Chris Woozle on guitar and lead vocals, Joey Slegtenhorst on bass, and Ray Cara on drums.

Bandcamp – http://wombofficial.bandcamp.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/WombOfficial
Twitter – https://twitter.com/WombOfficial