I don’t know if there’s a phrase to describe the musical artist equivalent of love at first sight, where from the first power chord of a band’s set you know they’ve got a sound that’s heading straight for your heart. Two years ago I stumbled across Swim School as they opened for The Amazons, with their 90s influenced rock sound and impeccable chorus hooks quickly drawing me in. Since then a maiden headlining UK tour, various European festival slots, a new bassist and drummer Billy McMahon sadly shearing his iconic tache have all led up to the release of their debut album. And where there’s an album release there’s inevitably a celebratory album release tour to follow…
Arriving on stage at Sheffield’s Sidney and Matilda for date three of the tour, the band launched straight into three songs from said debut album. With much of their new material leaning toward the shoegazing side of the band’s repertoire, these early tracks showcased singer Alice Johnson’s dreamy vocals entwining with guitarist Lewis Bunting’s spiky guitar lines to mesmeric effect. Green Eyes (I Want It All) particularly took on a new life when performed live, throbbing away as a not too distant cousin of The Cure‘s A Forrest – the association reinforced with the band swathed in the same green light that Robert Smith and co perform their claustrophobic classic under.
Then though it was back to the band’s rock roots, with Alice grinning from ear to ear as she bounded around the stage through live favourites BORED and Give Me a Reason Why. Whilst Sydney and Matilda may only hold three hundred people, the latter especially was given the sort of introductory build up worthy of a veteran band about to throw their greatest hit upon a stadium of adoring fans. Indeed, Swim School‘s modus operandi still appears to be to to write songs fit for arenas and then wait for the world to catch up with their lofty ambitions.
As the set progressed the highlights came thick and fast; Heaven and its warnings of destructive lust seeing the moshpit erupt, Delirious then saw Alice venturing into and controlling said moshpit as she rolled out her anti-misogynists in the music industry anthem and On and On feeding the audience a perfect chorus line too irresistible not to be hollered back at the band. With the planned walk off to herald an encore cancelled because the band were enjoying themselves too much to stop the set, ‘oldies’ Let Me Inside Your Head and See Red finished off the evening, the intro riff to the latter played with such ferocity that it gave the impression the band had the energy to hurtle through their set and still have fuel to burn.
Swim School‘s debut album closes with Alice softly singing “Am I good enough now?”, pondering the self doubt that the words of others had put in her mind, as the musical storm created by her bandmates fades behind her. With live performances as good as this it’s hard to believe that anyone could ever have questioned that they had the talent and quality to succeed, with the final exuberant ovation from the audience more than deserved. And the exciting thing is that you get the feeling that the band still have much more still to give.
Have you seen Swim School on their current tour? Make sure to leave your thoughts on their live show and album in the comments box below.
Swim School performed:
Always On My Mind
Green Eyes (Want It All)
Alone With You
BORED
Give Me A Reason Why
Say It All
Crimson Red
Am I Good Enough Now?
Heaven
Delirious
Waste Your Time
On & On
Let Me Inside Your Head
See Red
Alex Reviews Gigs 
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