THE SWAGGERTS Bill Collins (guitar), Paul Mayer (bass), Kerry Miller (drums)

No one knows what to do with the Swaggerts. Fusing Irish, country and old style Rock'n'Roll, the sounds that gave birth to surf, swing, and multi-generation punk rock, many may look to their ideas with "newborn" eyes and hastily label them Rockabilly. The growing success of the New Haven trio has landed them with 2 Nashville produced full lengths, and performing on a list of impressive bills which include Hall of Famer Link Wray and Hank Williams III. It seems they know exactly what they're doing. Bringing new energy to classic styles maintaining more personal stories than blatant punk and more fun than the tragedies of Irish lilts; The Swaggerts are not restoration rock but rock progress.

Their combined experience has allowed them to embrace to the music industry with seasoned footing. Paul Mayer met New Haven newcomer, Bill Collins after he arrived from the California punk circuit playing with bands such as Fang, and MDC. In the late 90's the two joined up in The Big Bad Johns, and later formed the Swaggerts. When their original drummer bailed the night before their first show, Mayer looked to Mad Haleen drummer Kerry Miller, who practiced at Mayer's recording spot; Nervus Chet Studios, to fill in on the kit and the three have stuck together since.

The Swaggerts took their sound to Chelsea Studios in Nashville to record their First release on Feralette Record, The Whole Story, which debuted in the Top 50 of the Americana Roots charts in 2001. The thrust of the 24 track Studer Analog used to capture their songs bring an exhilaration to their recordings absent from present day overproduced pop tunes.

Currently touring on their new sophomore release, Keepers of the Quaich- The pursuit for Whiskey, roots, and rock, the Swaggerts bring a harder edge to their sound, and more uplifting themes to their repertoire. Where The Whole Story drinks towards tales of despair in an unraveling marriage, Keepers of the Quiach is undoubtedly more uplifting and fun.

Bill Collin's uncompromising leads resonate with ingenuity and wisdom, while the catwalk bass of Paul "Nervus Chet Pervus" Mayer ground the sound across the train track hypnotics of drummer Kerry Miller. The Swaggerts tap into the veins of Tennessee ghosts that may have been left lingering in the studio.

Contact: nervusc@aol.com