The Swami John Reis Band – consisting of Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, PLOSIVS, Sultans, Night Marchers) on vocals and guitar, Tommy Kitsos (Night Marchers, CPC Gangbangs) on bass and guitar vocals, Joe Guevara (Jejune, Lee Rocker and Lady Dottie and the Diamonds) on keyboards and vocals, Mark Murino (Radio Wendy and Dirty Sweet) on lead guitar and Richard “T-Bone” Larson (Bartender’s Bible, Mr. Tube and the Flying Objects) on drums and vocals – will make their first-ever appearances on select California dates in August.
Touring in support of Ride The Wild Night, Reis’ recently released solo debut album on Swami Records, the tour kicks off Friday, August 5 in Sacramento, Calif., and concludes with an appearance at the Casbah in San Diego, Calif., Tuesday August. 9. Tickets for all shows are on sale now, and a full list of dates and media can be found below.
Out now, Ride The Wild Night, Swami John Reis’ first solo album, is neither completely similar nor dissimilar to Reis’ previous bands, but the sound is immediately familiar and reassuring – like an old friend you’ve lost touch with. contact and who comes back into your life only to ask to borrow money.
The music is an amalgamation of ’60s folk-punk, ’70s punk-punk and pre-Vietnam War rock ‘n’ roll, filtered through Reis’ unrecorded and signature sensibilities. “I wanted to celebrate some of my favorite rock ‘n’ roll in its transitional times,” Reis said. “Flaming Groovies, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Kinks, The Saints and others have created some of the most exciting recordings while connecting the musical past to its future. That really appeals to me.”
Recorded by Reis at City Of Refuge (Night Marchers, Black Lips, The Spits) and mixed by Ben Moore (Hot Snakes, Diamanda Galas) at Singing Serpent, Ride The Wild Night is built on a Stentorian bedrock of wild percussion by J. Sinclair K. of Hot Snakes and the pounding acoustic piano of Joe Guevara.
Chris Prescott (Pinback), Gar Wood (Hot Snakes), Glen Galloway (Truman’s Water), Jacob Turnbloom (Mrs. Magician) and Jordan Clark (PLOSIVS) also add their expertise to the mix. With this accompaniment, Swami John Reis completes it with his raspy bass and arms the files with roaring electric guitars, fast acoustic guitars and basses.
“All of these stories are real – they may not be completely true,” adds Reis. “Words come from what I hear through my fence, what I see across the street, images I see in my head, experiences I can’t forget or whose I’m grateful to remember.” If there is a loose theme throughout the record, it offers: “Musically and lyrically, there is a drive to surrender to a restless, impulsive spirit that can only be satisfied by breaking things. Create rubble for better or for worse.”
Critics and fans alike have long referred to Reis’ signature vocals as “The Velvet Yawn,” and that description has never been more apt on Ride The Wild Night. Hear his defiant howl on these 11 tracks in what might be his most autobiographical work to date.
The Swami John Reis Band will make the following appearances in California in August. Dates below.
AUGUST TOUR DATES
05 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post (with Stella Crest)
06 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill (featuring Thanks for Coming, Atom Age)
07 – Long Beach, CA – Alex’s Bar (with Golden Grease, Clown Sounds)
08 – Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge (with Kate Clover)
09 – San Diego, California – The Casbah (with the nephews)
