Today’s Hits is James Francis Swanberg, Andrew Martin, and Kenny Alden. James has recorded a song a day for over two and a half years.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do. My name is James Francis Swanberg. I am a liquor store clerk for about 52 hours a week. I like to root for the Chicago Bulls and listen to the musical stylings of my friends. I am a cancer.
How long have you lived in Chicago and what brought you there? I have lived in Chicago since November of 2011. I came for my godson’s first birthday party under the guise that I would occupy the basement of my brother and sisters home to help with said godson, Jude Huckleberry Swanberg, until I could find a job and move out of the household. I have my own place now and things are cool.
What kinds of things are influencing your music right now? Time. Alcohol. The same girl.
What are some recent, upcoming or current projects you are working on? We have a brand new 7″ record out from Randy Records, based here in Chicago, entitled ‘Sex Boys’. I am also the drummer for another band The Lemons and our split Cassette “Hello. We’re The Lemons” on Tripp Tapes and Gnar Tapes and Shit is worth listening too if you are reading this! Hey, thanks for reading this! You are the best! Also there are 50 free songs being offered by Burger Records on their bandcamp. I also write a song every day for about 1000 days now.
What other musicians/bands are you interested in right now? Oh man I am going to pick this question even though I fear it means I leave somebody out. Colin Kellogg. The Shivas. The Memories. Gap Dream. White Fang. Pizza Riot. Raw McCartney. Twin Peaks. La Luz. La Luz. Jovontaes. Juan Waters. The Sueves. Magic Milk. Slushy. Strange Faces. Miranda Lambert. The NEC. Gringo Star. 2 Chainz. Cherry Glazerr. Street Gnar. Idiot Glee. Trailblazer. Dr. Paul. Dan. Kendrick Lamar. The Hair Things. Shawnthony Calypso. The Creeps. Funkle. Emotional. BOOM! Poochie. WARM. Jib Kidder. Dig Shovel Dig. DJMRTHEBEST. Tribal Arm Band. The first Astrud Gilberto record. Norris Turner. Kraftwork at the other speed. SLADE.
What past trends in music do you think should never come back? People not dancing.
Who would you ideally like to collaborate with? Rihanna.
What do you want a viewer to walk away with after hearing your music? A t-shirt. Oh I’m just joking. I would like them to want to pick up a guitar or a bass or a bucket and play that thing better than me and know that they could play it better than me and make me shut up and not be able to do this anymore because everyone would be better and I couldn’t get a gig and there would be no need for me.
What are you reading right now? Coldlandia. It’s a fictional book that my mom just wrote and sent to me about a young girl, in the midst of a near future iceage of sorts, who must leave her town for her own safety but soon finds safety is tough to find anywhere. It’s absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it once published.
Any upcoming shows or tours we should know about? I will be down in Austin, Texas under the guise of Twin Hits as the boys from Twin Peaks attempt to showcase me during SXSW. In Chicago, we are doing a festival for Eye Vybe on March 21st at The Empty Bottle. We are playing a free show at The Whistler on April 3rd. Also what seems like a lot of other house parties and stuff that I do not know if I can talk about and most likely even more by the time you read this, so come out to those! Also any time you see The Lemons come on out! Especially March 1st at The Leland Tap. We will also be going on tour with The Memories in late May and in to June and most likely July covering North America and letting them know love is the only thing real.