Swans

Swans came out of the no wave scene in the centre of New York and they are known for their confrontational, dissonant, repetitive yet revolutionary concerts. The band, fronted by Michael Gira, has undergone quite a number of changes over the years, from mechanical proto-industrial to a more layered acoustic sound, to sonic tornadoes.

Swans was founded in 1982, releasing the dissonant debut album “Filth” in the same year. Between 1982 and their original disbandment in 1996, the band stood for destructive heavy-hitters, led by the remarkable voice of Gira. Their biggest statement was yet to come however, when Swans suddenly returned in 2010 with “My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky”. The record was very well received. With “The Beggar”, the band released their sixteenth album, another classic in their career. The songs are brought to an even higher level during live performances, partly because of a sound system that will push the volume dials deep into the red.

In 2025, perhaps their very last studio album ever is coming out, “Birthing”. The band has indicated that they are going to quit. Nowadays, next to Michael Gira (vocals, guitar, keys) and Kristof Hahn (guitar, lap steel, vocals), the band consists of Normal Westberg (vocals, guitar), Larry Mullins (drums, percussion), Phil Puleo (drums, percussion), Christopher Pravdica (bass) and Dana Schechter (bass, lap steel).