I've been drumming for over 20 years, including multiple national tours and albums.
Learning drums from private lessons, marching band and big band at school, and from playing along with tapes of legends like Al Jackson, Larry Mullen Jr, Ringo, John Bonham, and Jimmy Chamberlin. Currently, I find inspiration in the sensitive, textural elegance of Brian Blade and the swampy New Orleans funk/jazz playing of Stanton Moore.
My current top 10 musical artists in no particular order:
- U2
- Radiohead
- Elvis Costello
- Billie Holiday
- The Beatles
- The Beach Boys
- Morrissey
- Pixies
- Daniel Lanois
- Rufus Wainwright
Studio sessions:
Rachel Taylor Brown
Chris Robley & the Fear of Heights
Hello Morning
Boy Eats Drum Machine
Great/Grand/Wonderful
The Lesser Gentry
Jeremy Thom
The Holidays
Helix Worship Project
The Electric Co.
L Mix R
My live performance resume:
Capstone
Spring/summer 95 - my first high school band. Grungey.
Lance Manyon
Summer/Fall 95 - my second high school band. Grungey, but more thoughtful. Where I met David Hughes, my musical collaborator for the next 9 years.
The Lesser Gentry
Winter 95 - Summer 97 - my end of high school band, where I met Jeremy Thom, with whom I played for the next 10 years.
The Holidays
Summer 98 - Feb 04 - I co-founded, co-wrote songs, and drummed (and occasionally played guitar on cover songs) for this slightly mathy power pop band with my longtime friends Lucas Adams, David Hughes, and my brother - Jamin Swenson.
Hinson Church Music team
Spring 2000 - Fall 03 - drummer for the weekly services
Pale Green Pants
2002 - Dave Matthews-esque pop/rock band.
The Jeremy Thom Band
2000 - 2006 Rock worship band. Played numerous church and youth events with 200-1500 people.
Jaycob Van Auken
Fall 02 - Fall 03 - Americana rock singer/songwriter. Played for a Democratic rally at PSU where Alyssa Milano was the guest speaker.
Stereo Crush
July 03 - Feb 04 - Modern new wave band. I was the last of probably 5 drummers to play for this band.
Southlake Church
2004 - occasional church services
Helix Worship Project
Fall 03 - Fall 07 - regular drummer for the weekly services
The Four Pounds
Fall/Winter 04 - Trad jazz quartet
L Mix R
Feb 04 - Oct 05 - Electro rock project. 1 song played on KNRK. Morphed into BEDM.
Boy Eats Drum Machine
Nov 05 - Jan 08 - IDM/rock/dance project. Played on the BEDM album "Two Ghosts".
The Electric Co.
2007 - Alt-rock cover band, doing songs from our favorite 80s/90s bands. Played a wedding, then a festival at the Wonder Ballroom.
Real Life Church
Fall 07- Present - weekly drummer for church services
Cloverdayle
Summer 08 - Polished country pop
Separation State
Fall 07 - present - Moody/Vibey worship rock ala Album Leaf/Daniel Lanois/PJ Harvey.
Hello Morning
2008 - present - My band. I love it. We write songs & make great music together. In the vein of Radiohead, Blonde Redhead, and maybe some WIlco.
Chris Robley & The Fear of Heights
Fall 08 - Present - I'm the touring/backup/secondary drummer for Chris Robley, a wonderfully creative singer/songwriter who explores a variety of musical genres. Two west coast tours, CD release extravaganza, many NW regional dates. Recorded drums/percussion on a few songs for his next album.
Samm
June 09 - Present - Epic, heavenly-minded rock in the style of Coldplay/Killers/U2, with the occasional Pink Floyd or U2 cover. He's got a development deal with EMI and we recently sold out the Aladdin Theater. Big fun music. He's going to be huge.