Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
You could tell that the members of Swiftholly were very excited to release their first CD Swiftholly Vol. 1.
But their almost more excited about going back into the studio to record the new music they’ve been writing. Before the performance , lead vocalist Terry Connelly enthusiastically revealed that the evenings set list had a couple of songs that they hadn’t played out yet ( new tunes “Bad News” and “Bird in Hand” ), as well as two songs ( “Start It” and “Empty Hed” ) that will be on the CD they record in April.
But tonight was about their newest release, and their set reflected that by having 6 of Volume 1’s 10 tracks. The band took the stage and unleashed their own brand of hard rock at full throttle. Opening with their new album’s lead-off track “Unbreakable”, it was evident that these guys aren’t timid. Their website bio claims they blend styles such as pop, rock, punk, and metal ( which initially sounded vague and somewhat broad ), but was spot on. Most of the songs they played could easily be heard on the big radio stations alongside songs from groups such as Fuel, Linkin Park and other contemporary hard rock
acts.
Frontman Terry Connelly is a s vocally talented as
he is charismatic. From the melodic lines of “Sniffing Glue”
to the haunting shrieks in “So Bad” , this guy has the pipes
and the energy. The guitar attack of Terry’s brother Larry (
who also provides harmony and backing vocals ) engulfs the
listener in a wall of sound replete with heavy riffing and the
occasional wah-wah solo. Bass player Jon Dell pumped the
low end throughout, and got a chance to step forward during
the intro to “ Start It ”. But the most pleasant surprise was the
precise unrelenting animal behind the drum kit, Jason Heiser.
Sporting an early Iron Maiden t-shirt, Heiser balanced crisp
fills with a punishing aggressive style from beginning to end.
Swiftholly is a tight, professional band. But they know how to have fun and enjoy themselves as evidenced in their encore tune “ Love Juice ” , a funky raucous affair that involved Connelly provocatively spraying beer into the jumping crowd. By the end of the show though, it was the band that was soaked—with perspiration from the energy that they poured into their live act. So if you’re looking for a high octane hard rock band that doesn’t let up, go see Swiftholly.
- T.R. Masino
Discography
-Dec 2001 immediate release of Christmas single-All I Got This Year For Christmas Was You
-March 2002 released their debut CD
-Nov 2002 song Anniversary included on Garageband Records compilation CD- EVOLVED
-Jan 2003 release of their follow up CD
-Christmas track was featured on the radio program Now Here This on 99.1 WHFS
-Christmas track thrown in rotation christmas day on 98 Rock
-Swiftholly tracks, Anniversary, Sniffing Glue, & Jons Tone played on Baltimore stations 99.1 WHFS and 98 Rock
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
From the Baltimore/Washington area SWIFTHOLLY was formed by brothers Terry and Larry Connelly and childhood friends, Jon Dell and Jason Heiser. An explosive burst of energy and sound, SWIFTHOLLY have people talking all over the Mid-Atlantic Region and beyond. SWIFTHOLLY embarked on a journey to create songs without losing their individual musical tastes, incorporating styles as varied as pop, rock, punk, and metal. With the release of their debut CD in March of 2002, SWIFTHOLLY’s critically acclaimed song writing and extreme live show have earned them the respect of music fans throughout their region, playing with such national acts as Hoobastank, Our Lady Peace, The Vines, The Strokes, Sum-41, SR-71 and New Found Glory to name a few. SWIFTHOLLY’s song Anniversary also landed a spot on Garageband’s Evolved compilation CD, released in October of 2002. Diverse, as they are memorable, SWIFTHOLLY hopes their songs have an emotional impact the listener won’t soon forget.
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