The Rivals

Local blues rock trio The Rivals have recently dropped a new single called “The Island.” The soothing tune is practically a rock and roll lullaby sung by frontman Rob Swift, and is the perfect soundtrack for any breezy fall day. Simple lyrics like “Song bird / lonely is the night where you fly. / Move through / tell me there’s a way back home,” make it a peaceful, easy listen. The Rivals released two LPs, Divine Lorraine and Nomad, in 2012 and were long overdue to share new tracks. Swift and band members Wayne Gallagher, Tom Williamson, and Skip James Robinson will take the stage at MilkBoy on September 28th. For tickets and more information head over to the XPN Concert Calender. Below, listen to “The Island.” - WXPN, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia’s The Rivals have shared a new song, “Confessor,” to kick off 2015, a year the rock quartet plans to “fill…with a flood of new Rivals music.” This new song gets them off to a good start, fitting the sound their bio describes as “a dark and brooding mix of blues and rock and roll.” Listen below. - http://theswollenfox.com

With a vibe straight out of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack the fine fellas of The Rivals took the stage to headline the night at Ortlieb’s. The band invited a professional dancer up on stage for artistic support to enhance the mood of the set, but really the band didn’t need the addition. There’s something undeniably sexy about the Rivals and their attention to detail and sheer rock ability. With or without a dancer’s hair flips and on stage, The Rivals are over the top no matter what. Two weeks later, I can still vividly remember the set-up including their Mardi Gras masks, mannequin bust and other antics. Still, it’s the skills that impressed the most, Wayne Gallagher on the Wurlitzer, Tom Williamson’s fuzzy bass, and Rob Swift is just sick on guitar. Going in out of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” on their hit “Make Me Shiver” was a highlight, while the aroused crowd demanded more after a rowdy “Bow Down”, howling for an encore. The Rivals and pal Reilly Somach from The Rupert Selection on drums kindly obliged with a rousing “Kings Clothes” to cap the night!

Ortilebs 2-28-14
The Rivals Set List

1. Apache - The Shadows
2. Warning Shots
3. Zydeco
4. Where Did You Sleep Last Night/Make Me Shiver
5. Neon Age
6. You Judas
7. Bow Down
** encore **
8. Kings Clothes - Root Down in The Shadow