SWOMP

SWOMP re-visits our September 28, 2024 interview with P.O.D. vocalist Sonny Sandoval and guitarist Marcos Curiel at Louder Than Life 2024, on a soggy day in Louisville, Kentucky. 

In recent news, the platinum selling superstars have revealed a fresh take on their hit single "I WON'T BOW DOWN," with a collaboration with singer and guitarist Andrés Giménez of Argentinian metal band A.N.I.M.A.L.

The original is taken from P.O.D.'s most recent studio album, 2024's VERITAS.

"I'm very happy to have received this wonderful invitation about making a new English/Spanish version. It's really fantastic,” says Andrés. "P.O.D. and A.N.I.M.A.L together are pure brotherhood. I have a truthful respect, admiration and appreciation for P.O.D."

Giménez co-founded A.N.I.M.A.L., who exploded out of the Buenos Aires scene with their blend of groove and thrash metal in the 1990s. They gained huge success selling out shows in Argentina and touring across Latin and North America as well as Europe, playing with the likes of Pantera, Bad Religion, Megadeth, Sepultera, and Slipknot as well as taking part of the legendary 2000 Warped Tour alongside Green Day, No Doubt, NOFX, and Papa Roach. They released eight studio albums, including 1998's Poder Latino which was produced by Max Cavelera and featured Robert Trujillo, Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory), and Jimmy DeGrasso (Megadeth/Suicidal Tendencies/Ozzy Osbourne).

P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel adds, "As we journey through life, certain songs emerge that resonate deeply with our generation and those to come. 'I WON'T BOW DOWN' is one of those gems. It's heartfelt in every sense of the word and anthemic to the core. Enjoy it, turn it up, sing along and always remember: Never bow down."

P.O.D. will join U.S. hard rockers Godsmack as special guests on their March/April World Tour 2025.

All of the details can be found at https://payableondeath.com/.

Emerging Canadian country artist Angelica Appelman, who just released her compelling new single 'Finding My Feet' on January 31st via all streaming platforms, caught up with SWOMP for an interview. Listen, below:

Following a devastating car accident that left her with a serious brain injury and other long-lasting effects, Angelica is sharing her journey of healing, hope and resilience with "Finding My Feet”.

With raw vulnerability, she carefully crafts this message as she navigates her own personal struggles.

The song was co-written by Angelica, Jesse Slack (Robyn Ottolini, Jade Eagleson), Daryl Scott (Zach Brown Band, Guy Clark) and Rich Cloke (Paige Rutledge, Elias James), and is the third track to be released from her forthcoming EP.

Kitchener-born and Stratford-based artist, Angelica Appelman introduced herself to the Canadian country music scene with her 2022 debut single 'Happy Place', which has garnered over 150,000 streams to date.

Building on that success, she released her A Reason or a Season EP, followed by her single 'Ringtone', which made waves at radio, earning her the Country Futures Feature on Country 93.1 and the Fresh Pick Feature on Bayshore Broadcasting Country Stations.

Angelica’s live performance experience includes playing the Cavendish Beach Music Festival Kitchen Stage, supporting Dean Brody at the Kemptville Live Music Festival and opening for Robyn Ottolini at the Country Hoedown in Chatham-Kent.

She also headlined a sold-out EP release show at Toronto's Rivoli, has graced the main stage at the Boots in the Creek Festival and showcased at the CCMA Country Crawl in Edmonton.

For more information, please visit www.angelicaappelman.com.

Roots-Rock band The Matinee recently shared a fresh remix of their irresistible track, “Eddie Vedder.”

SWOMP caught up with frontman Matt Layzell for an interview to discuss the song.

For this version, Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties, Said The Whale, Dan Mangan) worked his magic, giving a new spin to a song that 3am Revelations described as “the kind of catchy, roots-rock jam you’d expect from the band.” The original single was recorded live off the floor at Afterlife Studios in Vancouver, their hometown.

The original version of "Eddie Vedder," co-produced with Steve Dawson, was part of their End of Scene - B-Sides EP, released on November 1, 2024. These tracks were the hidden gems that didn't make it on their 2023 album Change of Scene.

Frontman Matt Layzell shares about 'Eddie Vedder':

"We grew up listening to Pearl Jam. Their album TEN came out at a formative time in our lives, and watching the band continue to evolve and stick it out together has always been something to aspire to. I was in a bit of rut, feeling like I was attracting nothing but bad luck. The kicker was my car breaking down after a road trip and having to fork out my whole taxi return. I took a walk with my dog to the dog beach here in Vancouver and remembered the moment the trouble light came on was around the Vedder river. Vedder. Eddie Vedder. I don’t know why, but I just said it out loud, “I wish Eddie Vedder was a friend of mine”. I perked up quite a bit as I realized my day wasn’t so bad sitting on a log, watching the waves. I started thinking about the things I’d ask Eddie if he was there, just chewing the fat with me. Eddie, if you hear this song, let’s grab a coffee sometime—it’s on me."

Two-time 'Roots Artist of the Year' winners at the BCCMA awards, The Matinee have established themselves as one of Western Canada's finest live acts.

Their debut single 'Young & Lazy' reached number 1 in Canada and topped the MuchMusic Video charts.

Five albums later, and with countless tours under their belts (and 5 tour vans... 1 caught on fire, but that's another story), the band released their latest single, 'Eddie Vedder (Steve Bays Remix)' on January 22, 2025.

The song was recorded live off the floor at Afterlife Studios in their hometown, Vancouver.

It was co-produced by the band and by Nashville's own Steve Dawson and mixed by the whiz-kid Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat, Mounties, Said The Whale, Dan Mangan).

With comparisons to Nathaniel Rateliff, The Band, and Dawes, it's once again showtime for The Matinee.

Follow the band at https://www.thematineemusic.com/.

Alternative band Violet Night has recently released their new single “Does It Even Matter?”.

Produced by Father Bobby Townsend (JESSIA, Margø, Laur Elle) and Randor Lin (Our Lady Peace, Bishop Briggs), the new single ushers in the start of a new era for Violet Night and more music to come in 2025.

SWOMP caught up with vocalist/guitarist Connor Pohl to discuss the new track track.

"‘Does It Even Matter?' is about my tendency to romanticize the past, even the tough moments (like weeks of sleeplessness) that somehow look beautiful in retrospect, through rose-coloured glasses," Pohl said.

"It captures the bittersweet tension between joy and pain, the strange way we search for meaning in moments after they’re gone, and maybe, just maybe, learning how to be okay with it."

Violet Night are on a path to becoming the new torchbearers of the alternative scene.

Hailing from Western Canada, and spearheaded by the visionary vocals and multi-instrumental talent of Connor Pohl, the band's beginnings as a solo project blossomed into a collective force.

Their music merges alternative rock, indie pop, and ambient layers, creating a sound that's both ethereal and unfiltered.

Drawing inspiration from personal experiences and the human condition, Violet Night’s songs often explore themes of self-discovery, introspection, existentialism, and the complexities of relationships.

Featuring hauntingly emotive vocals, combined with the band's lush instrumentations, creating an immersive sonic landscape that invites audiences to delve into their introspective narratives.

Violet Night is Connor Pohl - Vocals, Guitars and Tay Ewart - Drums and Percussion.

For More Information, please visit: www.violetnightmusic.com.

The Band Feel is set to open up for one of our favourite Canadian artists, Big Wreck, for three dates in New York in April of 2025, they are also on the incredible bill for the Bourbon and Beyond Festival, which we discussed in our last episode, in Louisville, Kentucky this September.

Follow the band at https://www.thebandfeel.com/.

SWOMP had the opportunity to chat with lead singer Garrett Barcus back in November 2024.

This band is a group we stumbled upon by accident late in 2024, but have had them on our daily playlist ever since.

They deliver a sound that captures the raw energy of late ’60s and ’70s rock, with up-tempo guitar riffs, acoustic-driven melodies, and progressive elements layered with R&B and soul. 

Have you seen the lineup for Bourbon and Beyond 2025?

It’s phenomenal.

Organized by Danny Wimmer Presents, the World's Largest Bourbon, Food & Music Festival is taking place September 11-14, 2025 in Louisville, KY.

Headliners include Jack White, Phish, Noah Kahan, The Lumineers, Sturgill Simpson, also on the bill, Ringo Star and his All-Star Band, Cage the Elephant, Alabama Shakes, Benson Boone, Pixies, Pat Benatar and the list goes on.

Tickets are available at https://bourbonandbeyond.com/.

We’ve been to this festival a couple times over the years, seeing Eddie Vedder solo in 2017 and also Pearl Jam and Greta Van Fleet back in 2022.

The event is held at the Highland Festival Grounds, and it basically transforms into a small city, thousands and thousands of people, it’s a brilliant experience, awesome food, this is the place where I first tried a rattlesnake and rabbit sausage, it was delicious. It’s the same venue as Louder Than Life, which SWOMP has covered the past couple of the years.

It’s a four-day festival and the days are jam packed with performances running all-day long, on multiple stages, 110+ performers this year alone.

One of the artists on the bill is Savannah Georgia native Jonah Kagen.

SWOMP had the opportunity to interview Jonah ahead of his performance at the Sommo Festival in Cavendish, Prince Edward Island last year.

So, from September 14, 2024, SWOMP re-visits our LIVE interview with Jonah Kagen.

Renowned Canadian / International vocalist Holly Cole released her 13th studio album, Dark Moon, on January 24, 2025.

Teaming up with her long-time live performance partners, along with additional musicians to create rich harmonies and layers, this album is a true ensemble project that highlights her signature style.

Dark Moon is available via Rumpus Room/Universal Music Canada.

SWOMP caught up with Cole for an interview to discuss her album.

"I really wanted this album to embrace the spirit of spontaneity," Cole said.

"At the same time a quintessential part of the sound of my music is in the arrangements. So, we did very little rehearsal in advance, and the songs were incredibly fresh for us while we were in the studio. The musicians that I play with contribute greatly to the arranging of the songs, and I wanted to hear the sound of when the light goes on for each one of us and many of the arrangements fell together as we played them. What we end up hearing on this record is the moment when we discover what we love about the song, and what its essence is for me."

Cole isn’t one of those artists who falls into any one category.

Her smoky voice is sultry, her arrangements smart and sexy and all the while she and her musicians very uniquely reshape traditional Jazz, Pop and Country standards this time particularly from the New American Songbook writers including Marty Balin, Peggy Lee, Hal David, Burt Bacharach and Johnny Mercer.

Follow Holly at https://www.hollycole.com/.

Brighton, UK’s Tigercub is releasing The Perfume of Decay (Redux) on March 28, 2025. 

The album is a reimagined version of The Perfume of Decay, which was Tigercub’s third album released on June 2, 2023, via Loosegroove Records, the label co-founded by Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard. 

The ‘Redux’ version features new, stripped-down arrangements.

They’ve sharing some of the tunes on their social media, most recently alongside a haunting video of ‘Play My Favorite Song’, which looks like it was shot in an old attic, filled with cobwebs, really a grainy, cryptic aesthetic, which is just amazing and absolutely on point with front man Jamie Hall’s vibe and art. 

You can pre-order now at Loosegroove Records website, lsgrv.com.

For a bit of context, we recently started publishing our interviews for SWOMP on an array of different platforms, basically wherever you can listen to your podcasts, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Podbean, Player FM, Podchaser, Listen Notes and BoomPlay. 

Up to this point we’d just been uploading our interviews to YouTube and of course embedding them onto SWOMP.ca.

So as opposed to just dumping all of our interviews onto these new podcast channels in bulk, we wanted to slowly re-issue some of our favorite ones, but at the same time, share new information or the latest news of the different bands, musicians and artists that we’ve spoken to.

So the stars aligned with this first episode.

‘Redux’ album from Tigercub?

Time to start re-issuing our interviews into this new podcast format!

The episode features a LIVE interview Dana did with Tigercub on September 21, 2023, when we first met the band and right after their opening performance at the Louder Than Life Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

The episode concludes with a May 2023 interview, even prior to the release of Perfume of Decay, with Dana and Tigercub front man Jamie Hall. 

They go in depth about the making of the record, signing with Loosegroove Records. 

Follow Tigercub at https://www.tigercubtigercub.com/.

And follow us at https://swomp.ca/.

Chart-topping, JUNO Award-winning powerhouse Crystal Shawanda just released a brand new single 'Would You Know Love' on January 10, 2025 via New Sun Records on all streaming platforms.

Shawanda told SWOMP in an interview the song is set to be on her forthcoming album, which set to be released in April.

Produced by Crystal’s husband and long-time collaborator Dewayne Strobel, 'Would You Know Love' is a heartfelt ballad that beautifully explores the depths of love.

The track features Crystal's unmatched raspy vocals and strikes a perfect balance between old and new, blending the raw emotion of the blues with the storytelling soul of country.

“When I sing it I get emotional thinking about who wouldn’t be in my life, if I had let love slip on by,” said Crystal, in a press release.

“I think sometimes people walk away from love too easily when it gets tough, but that’s what makes it love. It endures.”

Crystal was the first Indigenous woman to win a Canadian Country Music Award for Female Artist of the Year (2009) and the first to win a JUNO Award for Blues Album of the Year (2020).

She became the first full blood Indigenous woman to appear in the Top 20 on the American Billboard Country chart, sell over 300k records and to sing at the Grand Ole Opry.

Her album Midnight Blues debuted at #8 on the American Billboard Blues chart in 2022, making her the first Indigenous woman to appear in the Top 10.

Her debut single "You Can Let Go" (2008), was the fastest climbing single on the Canadian Country Singles Chart since Carolyn Dawn Johnson's "Georgia" (2000) and reached the Top 10 in only five weeks.

Born and raised in Wikwemikong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario, Crystal discovered her love for blues music through her brother and old-time country from her parents.

Her professional music career began in country music, signing with RCA Nashville in her early 20s.

Her debut, Dawn of a New Day (2008), topped Canadian country charts and set a record for a Canadian Indigenous country artist.

After leaving the label, she launched New Sun Records, and made the change to the blues with 2014’s The Whole World’s Got The Blues.

Follow Crystal at https://crystalshawanda.co/.

Copenhagen’s Trentemøller is set to embark on a North American tour, which includes a February 6, 2025 stop in Toronto, Ontario at the Axis Club.

SWOMP caught up with Anders Trentemøller to discuss his brand new album 'Dreamweaver' and his North American tour.

The tour begins on February 5 at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, in support of last year’s Dreamweaver (In My Room).

Receiving praise from outlets like Stereogum, KEXP, Brooklyn Vegan, FLOOD Magazine, Under The Radar, XLR8R, PopMatters and many more, the record offers another artistic leap for Trentemøller, fusing together psychedelically-tinged elements of shoegaze, dark wave, motorik, noise rock, and somber, introspective takes on electronic dream pop. Tickets are on sale now here.

Dreamweaver is an absolutely lush endeavor that demands to be heard live.

The chronology of its 10 songs are an immersive experience with repeated listens promising new rewards; from geysers of white noise propelling songs further forward, to jarring otic dissonance playing against honeyed vocals, and jangling guitar bends blanketed in tidepools of reverb.

With Icelandic singer Disa along for the ride again after featuring on two singles in 2022 (“Into The Silence,” and a cover of The Raveonettes “Cops On Our Tail”), her contributions sit in the balance between vocal performance and instrumentation.

The album’s singles provide a perfect preview for the rest of the music held within.

More information and ticket details can be found at https://www.trentemoller.com/.