My Excitement for Our 3/31 Appearance

Why is this show worth going to? We built a big beautiful backdrop which we'll be debuting, there's a grand piano, Kari bought a weird synth, and it's a triple bill we're sharing with two acts whose music I thoroughly enjoy myself. I'll include those obligatory links below.

The show is at 92Y TriBeCa on March 31, 2012. ‪Markéta Irglová‬ (a personal hero of mine) is playing there tonight (3/22). It's incredible to be playing the same stage as her just days later. To celebrate, we got awesome posters printed up! A special thank you to my friend Chris (cmcanndesign.com) who drafted them up on such short notice. There's only fifty printed, and they're all hand-numbered. If you want one on your wall or locker or whatever, pre-order a ticket to the show and we'll have one waiting for you at the door. If you already pre-ordered your ticket, don't worry! You're already on the list.



You can order tickets, get more details, and check out photos and music from the other performers here: 92Y TriBeCa website.
Here's the Facebook event.
Don't forget to tweet @talltalltrees @plumegiant , and us, duh! @swearandshake

See you then,
Adam
Swear and Shake

Mercury Lounge

It's happening!

Finishing Maple Ridge

You've all been very patient with us, so I thought I'd give you a rough timeline on the release our first full-length record, "Maple Ridge."

In January 2012, We'll release our documentary on the record-making process. Shot on location at Maple Ridge, filmmaker Michael Oshins did an incredible cutting together the most musical week of our lives. It's also chock-full of interviews with Kari, me, and producer Ben Goldstein, who wears a crazy ass shirt. You'll have to wait for the finished doc to see the shirt, but here are some stills:


Around mid-January, they'll be a few tracks available for streaming. Most certainly "Marbles," a track that features 10 different players, including a circus of Louisiana-style woodwinds and horns, a ton of gang vocals, and an expansive world of percussion that pushes the song along. You can here a rough live performance of that tune here, but it's night and day compared to the studio recording.

By the beginning of February, you'll be able to sing along as you watch our music video for "These White Walls," a high energy folk rock tune where you can really hear Kari pour her heart out. Friend and photographer/filmmaker Ben Morse insisted we do some of the shooting outside, despite the freezing cold rain. It was totally worth it. Here are some mobile uploads from the day:


You can view some of Ben Morse's other work here.

By the start of March, you'll have heard two or three of the ten songs on the record. The official release party will be mid-March. We're planning on making it our biggest show to date: getting all of the many musicians that played on the record out to perform with us, and packing out whatever NYC venue we decide on. By the end of March and into April, we'll be touring with the record at many more east coast cities.

Today's important too. I'm releasing the album artwork. Visualize it with me: a retro uncoated finish with foil stamping for the letters and maple seed insignia.

Thanks so much for your patience. Now that's it's nearing completion, I couldn't be more proud. This record means a lot to me, and I look forward to sharing it with all of you.

Much love,
Adam
P.S.
If you want to stay up-to-date with our album release schedule, please sign the mailing list here.

"For Better, For Worse" - A New Single

While spending almost all of our time working on the Maple Ridge LP, touring around the country, and writing new material, we also had a unique opportunity to cut a single with some very sharp NYC producers. The clip below is a new tune we'll soon be releasing as a single (iTunes, Amazon and more) titled, "For Better, For Worse." It was mixed by Brian Malouf of Cookie Jar Recordings, Los Angeles, CA, (All American Rejects, O.A.R. and more).

Check out these photos that we took while recording as you listen to the track, and please let us know what you think on Twitter and Facebook and here on our blog!

For Better, For Worse by Swear and Shake

Shaun laying it down.

The view from the studio: Madison Square Garden.

Producer Lee Nadel

The single cover.

Plenty of Shows to Cap Off October

Morning Friends---

The end of October is going to be something else for Swear and Shake.

NYC

This Saturday (10.22 - 4:00 p.m.) we play a free CMJ Showcase at The Living Room in Manhattan. The CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival began in 1980 as a new way to showcase breaking talent to industry professionals. Now that CMJ is in its 31st year, we're proud and excited to have our hard work pay off and be a part of it. Thanks to Paper Garden Lovely Hearts Club for hosting us.

NYC

This Tuesday (10.25 - 8:00 p.m.), we open a show for Radical Face at the Studio at Webster Hall. Radical Face is an amazing-sounding act originally from Florida. You might know one of their tunes from a recent Nikon commercial: "Glory". Tickets are available here.

NEWBURGH, NY

For residents of the Hudson Valley: This Thursday (10.27), the band will travel to Newburgh, NY, to film a music video for our original number, These White Walls. That night, we will be playing a show at the newly renovated and awesome-ized Railroad Playhouse with Alpha Male Gorillas. Thanks so much to WDST for their endless support-- here's a radio snippet you can stream. Tickets and details are available here.

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA (VT - NY BORDER)

David Wax says, "Houses will never replace traditional venues, but many artists have come to consider them an indispensable part of their touring routine." Friday (10.28), we will travel to Williamstown, MA, to play at the Billsville House Concert series, just like acts such as David Wax Museum, Pearl and the Beard, and many more have done before us. Details and tickets can be found here.

Thanks for sticking with us. And remember, you can also check shows directly from our website, www.swearandshake.com/shows

Adam 

Swear and Shake

Show Fliers

Show Fliers, a set on Flickr.

Chords to Johnnie by Swear and Shake

We've been getting a few email requests for chords for our tune "Johnnie." I hope this makes things easier! I'm only going to paste the basics here, there's too much extra pizazz to tab out. There's a capo on one, putting the studio version in Db. Here are the chords:

VERSE

C

Johnnie all your hundred songs

F

learned them on the guitar

C

played them in the mirror

G

pretended they were mine

C

Johnnie what a knack for words

F

each one cuts me deeper

C

strong enough to make you near

G E7

when you're far away

CHORUS

Am B/G C

Johnnie is your suitcase tight?

F

you say goodbye to no one

C

leave a mess of paper

G E7

and make way for the coast

Am B/G C

Honey all your bridges burned

F

should you find your boots worn

C

I will patch your soles

G

if you swear you'll walk with me

Then the verse chords repeat:

Johnnie, I could be your queen
No more nights of long dreams
You could be the stronger man
To sleeps between these sheets
But never with your lips sewn shut
I can only do so much
Won't lift a finger
'Til you show me where it hurts

CHORUS

BRIDGE

C F Gaug

It's the way I'm gonna love you

C F E7
It's the way I'm gonna love you

Am
It's the way I'm gonna love you

Am/G#
The only way I know to

G D7
And I'll lay my candid loving on the line

F Gaug C
It's the way I'm gonna love you