Riot Fest | Swingin' Utters

Swingin' Utters

Swingin' Utters
Tow Cits: Reconvening and Regrouping
By: Bill Molloy
Originally Published: February 2009

Think about how much things have changed in the last six years. Back in early 2003 we weren't quite yet interminably stuck in Iraq, gas was less than $2.00 a gallon and most of the world had no clue who the hell this Barack Obama character was. It really has been that long since the Swingin' Utters released their last proper LP, 2003's Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass and Bones.

Of course if you're inclined to think the members have been taking is easy then you obviously haven't been paying attention. While the headlining moniker of the Utters hasn't been as prominent, the amount of side projects spawned by these five men takes almost two whole hands to count. Even guitarist/vocalist Darius Koski has trouble keeping them all straight, saying "There are 6 at the moment... but I think it was around 8 or so a while ago... It's kind of convoluted and incestuous..."

However, for the first time in ages, the main event's coming back. As 2008 closed down the Utters released their first b-sides and rarities compilation, Hatest Grits: B-Sides and Bullshit The collection covers a decent amount of the innumerable 7"s and comp appearances made by the Utters throughout their career, several completely unreleased tunes and a couple recently unearthed home demos. Being one of the more prolific punk bands out there for a time, many of their finest songs ended up on label samplers and limited 7"s, such as the five and a half minute epic "I Follow" from 2000's Live Fat Die Young sampler and the punchy "Annual Pimple" off of a long out of print split 7" with AFI from 1995. Darius even admits some past mistakes in saying "...a lot of [the songs on Hatest Grits] didn't make the record we were recording at the time, but I think a bunch of them should have."

Despite pushing 80 minutes in length, Hatest Grits is nowhere near a complete portrait. Koski, ever the pack rat, claims to have a copy of every recording the band has made in its 20+ year history. "I've saved everything over the years ...There are also some really badly recorded (like, recorded on a ghetto blaster at a practice session) songs that have never been released, mostly because they're just not good songs." Koski remains at peace with some of the C-material in his past, as long as it stays there, saying "So, I think there's always going to be some stuff that people won't hear, but I think it's, uh... for the better."

As that old sage Mike Watt once said, "Records are flyers for the gigs." In that spirit, with the b-sides collection finally out, the Utters have prepared their first venture eastward in over five years as part of the first annual Crooked Drunken Sons tour with professional pro-union songsters the Street Dogs and our very own Shot Baker. Koski, for one, can't wait. Darius excitedly proclaims that "We're going to be touring more regularly again, finally. I really just want to be a real band again, that releases records and goes on tours."

With the flurry of activity surrounding the Swingin' Utters, Koski finally let the cat out of the bag regarding their long awaited seventh LP. "I'm hoping that we'll be in the studio in May, for a new full length on Fat, but who knows if it's going to happen in May..." he says. More realistically, Darius says to "...expect a new record somewhere between fall '09-early spring '10." The upcoming album will be the first recording with rhythm guitarist Jack Dalrymple, formerly of One Man Army and currently of Dead To Me, who joined in early 2004. Koski doesn't mince words about his friend, saying "I think we sound better than we ever have. I know that sounds like something some asshole rock star or professional athlete would say, but it's true. ...he's an awesome rhythm player, has a beautiful voice."

The upcoming year also promises, of all things, a Swingin' Utters tribute album. Long time fan and friend Toby Jeg of Red Scare Industries already began the process and hopes to get it out before the year's end. Already on board for the record are three-chord superstars Teenage Bottlerocket, the supreme smart asses of Dillinger Four, Celt-punk chart toppers Dropkick Murphys and many more. Some well placed sources have even whispered about a contribution from hardcore-contrarians-turned-indie darlings Fucked Up. Slightly unaware of how exactly to take the concept of a tribute record to his own band, Darius decided to let the project gestate on its own, saying "It's really flattering... [but] I'm not all that involved in it. I've been asked to be more involved, but that feels a little weird and self-important to me."

With all the activity surrounding the Utters camp one would believe the year to be 1999, not a full ten years later. In any case, with the state of punk rock and the world at large these days a no-bullshit band like the Swingin' Utters is needed more than ever. Cliché or not (and it, really, really is), it's the truth.