Concerts
March 1, 2007March 9
March 5, 2007
While cover bands seem to be the most popular items on the musical menu in the Tri-parish area, one local band has been making a name for itself through its original work and energetic live shows, featuring a mixture of classic rock, heavy metal and alternative influences. The sound, described by band member Grant Falgout as “cutting edge,” has separated Swing Arm from others in the local music scene.
“The way the band is, we have two singers,” says Falgout. “I sing lead vocals and play bass. And Ricky Fayette, he sings and plays bass.”
Rounding out the band is Eric Orgeron (guitar) and Donald Falgout (drums). The band lists a variety of influences, including Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains, Ozzy Osbourne, Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, AC/DC and similar heavy hitters.
Falgout says it is that variety of influences that helps create the unique mixture of style. “Our originals are kind of a mixture of classic rock and alternative,” he said. “It kind of gives us an edge. Our CD that we have out right now is different than pretty much anything that’s out there. It’s good hard rock, but it’s got classic rock roots and a lot of new alternative and heavy metal stuff.”
Although Swing Arm focuses much of its time on its original material, it does perform covers at live shows throughout Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. Still, don’t expect today’s pop-rock hits that many other cover bands perform.
“I hear bands that play a lot of the same songs,” says Falgout. “Especially on cover songs, we play a lot of different stuff that others don’t play. It’s still popular stuff that people know, but it’s not the same things.
“Our covers range from some new alternative stuff like Crossfade and Godsmack, and then we play classic rock too, like Ozzy, AC/DC, Alice Cooper and stuff like that,” he explained.
The band released a CD in August of 2006—“Just Another Day”—but is most
known for its energetic live performances.
“Our live shows are the real deal, man,” says Falgout.
“It’s nothing planned. It’s an old rock and roll show. We’re into our music, and it’s real. It’s no gimmick shows.
We try to get our crowd into what we’re doing.”
And Falgout’s claims are supported by fans.
“It’s not a dead show,” he says. “This (statement) is coming from the people.
What our band has over a lot of other bands is experience. We’ve been playing for years. If you’d put all of our years together, we’ve probably got over 100 years experience, but the people who come see us, it’s a large variety of age groups.” Swing Arm officially formed in 2001, but the seeds for the band were planted while the members were in high school.
Grant and Donald were in the same homeroom class at Central Lafourche High School and eventually formed a band with other friends. “Ricky Fayette was a little bit older,” says Falgout. “Me and Donald used to go watch him play. He was a guy that we had a lot of respect for, and we ended up playing in the band Class X with him, in the ’80s.”
Grant said he “went his own way” for about 15 years, playing in different bands before rejoining his old friends in 2001.
“Finally, I said, man I’m going back to my roots,” explains Falgout. “Bands come down to who can get along. We’re a great family, now. Swing Arm is not just a band.
We’re really, really close. It’s a real good situation.”
The band’s first release, “Just Another Day,” touches on “tragic reality,” says front man Falgout. One song is dedicated to the soldiers in Iraq, while another is dedicated to Natalee Holloway, an 18-year old female that has been missing since 2005.
“It’s pretty much our outlook on what’s happening out there today,” explains Falgout. “It’s a real powerful thing.”
The band is currently working on a second CD, but has a ways to go before completion.
“Right now a lot of music is written for it,” says Falgout. “There’s no lyrics for it yet.”
For more information on the band, visit their Web site at ” www.swing-arm.com.
The site also lists Houma play dates, which were not final as Gumbo went to press.
Tracks can be heard at the band’s
MySpace Web site, www.myspace.com/ swingarm.
