Culture

Phat Kat Swinger Jives in 21st Century Style

Phat Cat Swingers (from left) Laura Prieto, Tim Porter, Matt Burdick and Sebastian Western add style to swing.

The booming tom drums‚ wailing horns‚ jive guitar riffs and mellow vocals might recall the ’30s and ’40s‚ when swing was king and “band” meant dance band. But Phat Cat Swinger is anything but retro kitsch.

This band of 20-somethings knows how to shake the rafters with Benny Goodman- and Glen Miller-inspired tunes‚ but the nine members of Phat Cat Swinger are making music all their own. It’s classic but with a distinctly in-the-moment edge. Think the Squirrel Nut Zippers crossed with Louis Prima‚ with a little Latin tang added.

“I honestly love everything‚” says band leader and sax player Marco Palos‚ of the group’s musical influences. “Yes‚ we play swing music‚ but our influences come from everywhere. Successful music has something catchy about it‚ something people remember‚ whether it’s a lyric or a musical line. We’re trying our best to do that – swing as if it were modern day.”

The hottest – and maybe the youngest – new band in the area began in 2002‚ when Palos and fellow sax wiz Will Pattinson played together in the Victor Valley College jazz band. Over time‚ they found or stumbled on additional members‚ who now include Matthew Burdick‚ drums; Sebastian Western‚ guitar; Tim Porter‚ lead vocals; Stephanie Salib‚ tenor sax‚ clarinet and vocals; Phil Clevinger on trombone and tuba; Laura Prieto‚ bass; and Ted Schumacher on trumpet.

“The biggie was finding people who had good personalities‚ as well as talent‚” Palos says. “We’re in this for the long run‚ so we need people we can be compatible with – it’s like marriage or a family. Between rehearsals and shows‚ you spend a lot of time together.”

That togetherness is growing of late. The band now plays 70 or 80 dates a year‚ mostly around Southern California‚ and has a growing group of enthusiastic fans who range in age from kids to people who remember swing from their own early days. In fact‚ the Swinger’s fortunes are rosy enough that the group has been able to hire an accountant and allow Palos to quit his day job – a major milestone for a professional musician. The group’s self-titled‚ self-financed debut album is attracting attention‚ and it enjoys a big online presence on MySpace.

The band will release its second album in the latter half of 2007‚ an effort Palos says will be a bit of a departure from the first.

“Every song will be different‚ and they will range from rockabilly to circus tango‚” he says with a laugh. “If I were shooting it in a music video‚ I would imagine it in a circus.”

Like the first album‚ which the band financed by socking away all its profits for several years‚ the second album will be an independent effort. Which doesn’t mean a major record deal wouldn’t be welcome.

“We’re going about this as if no one is ever going to help us‚” says Palos. “But if someone comes along‚ that would be great.”

Story by Laura Hill
Photo by Jessica Crane photography

Site Sponsors

Local Advertisers

Site Sponsors

Contact Us

Local Advertisers

Culture

Additional Culture Articles