The resistance to pun is futile – it must be said.
The Swells are one swell band, one swell group of people and, it turns out, as much fun to talk to as they are to hear play.
“I think we’re really a party band,” says co-founder Ken Stolzberg, who hammers the drums while delivering ramped up vocals. “The energy is fantastic when people are partying and dancing.”
The Swells have been playing their mix of classic and contemporary rock laced with new country and little-heard but awesome vintage tunes throughout Muskoka for the last two years. The four members of the Port Carling-based rock band have solid friendships forged by a mutual love of music and of playing together. Each has worked in the music business either full or part-time for decades.
Ken and mate/co-founder Shirley Hudson, whose husky, wailing vocals and friendly banter are audience favourites, played together in a band in Burlington, On., while in high school.
“Oddly enough, my best friend, John, was Shirley’s sister’s boyfriend back then, so I actually knew her sister better than I knew Shirley,” recalls Ken during a break at a recent rehearsal at the couple’s bed and breakfast in Port Carling.
“My boyfriend was Ken’s band’s bass player, and they kicked him out and kept me,” laughs Shirley. The two future mates pursued separate paths after graduation, but always knew what the other was doing.
Ken worked full-time as a professional rock and country drummer for eight years. His career included a memorable stint with Keyboard Eddie, a renowned Hamilton musician who was a super salesman at The Brick by day. Eddie had lots of bookings, and the jobs allowed Ken to play with a number of excellent musicians including guitarists for Powerhouse and Ronnie Hawkins. But eventually drumming became a part-time gig while an auto industry job paid the bills. John and Ken were living in Hamilton when fellow city resident Shirley decided to knock on their door. The couple have been together now for 12 years.
Guitarist Mike Turk picked up the guitar when he was eight, and began writing music at age 25. A part-time professional musician and full-time computer expert for most of his life, Mike moved to Bracebridge just over three years ago and launched into a new musical phase when he answered Ken’s ad in a local paper for a guitarist. He’s known among many guitar players as the guy who invented a superior guitar pickup, an instrument-mounted device that lets players change instrument vibrations into an electrical signal that can be amplifi ed into a desired sound.
“I took guitar lessons as a kid for five years and just kept at it, driving my parents crazy with the loud amps,” he recalls. “The band hasn’t played any of my music yet. My writing is more Beatles-style and doesn’t really suit our band right now.”
Huntsville resident and bassist Neil Borrowman is the group’s newbie who arrived last summer. His day gig is engineering design control systems for industrial applications, but his heart belongs to rock.
“When you see everyone up and dancing while you’re playing, it’s really great,” says Neil. “We pick songs that suit the band’s style and that we can reproduce. Some new music is hard to pull off because it’s so overproduced.”
When asked if he sings, Neil is cut off by Ken who says everyone is supposed to sing, but somehow the drummer ends up doing most of the vocals. Neil nods in agreement.
“Bass players like to stay in the background – it’s a typical bass player attitude,” he explains. “I’d much rather be grooving in the background than be out front singing.”
Despite the gentle ribbing, Ken is extremely happy his ad attracted these two guitarists.
“Sometimes when you speak to a person on the phone, you just know they’re the one you want,” he says. “It was that way with both these guys. When Neil called, I just knew he and Mike would get along. Now they’re almost best buddies.”
Ken was less sure of Hudson’s musical talents. Because she likes to sing karaoke and he only listens to live bands, Ken didn’t hear Shirley sing as an adult until he heard her belt out the role of Darlene Love in the Bracebridge Rotary musical Leader of the Pack two years ago.
After that, he was convinced and The Swells was born.
Was the band named after its nature? No.
After months of collective cogitation on names, Mike’s choice of New Squids on the Dock looked like the champ. But when Mike told Ken that a trademark steel guitar sound made with a volume pedal was called a swell, the word stuck in his mind and eventually became their moniker.
“There’s also swells on the lake,” adds Shirley, “and it was sure shorter than New Squids on the Dock.”
The Swells’ most recent mega gig was their popular debut at October’s Bala Cranberry Festival. The crowd’s enthusiasm has Shirley looking for more festival work in 2008 to complement their gigs at bars, private parties and weddings. Swells’ shows are entertainment events featuring Shirley’s fearless forays into the audience in energetic rocker girl-style. Fans often shout out requests to her including White Rabbit, the defi nitive Jefferson Airplane tune.
“I know my main goal is to entertain and make sure people have a good time and remember us,” she says.
Amazingly, all band members play by ear – only the lyrics are written down.
Shows always include lesser-known tunes by classic bands, like the Byrds, that are new for audiences. You’ll also likely hear songs by Tom Petty and The Northern Pikes. But don’t expect to hear any traditional country music. Well, almost none.
“We only play one old country tune, but no one knows it’s country,” says Ken. “It’s a Merle Haggard tune called Working Man Blues. We rocked it up, but ended up going back close to the original version. I like it because a lot of people listening identify with it and appreciate it.”
Like all Muskoka bands, The Swells have had to deal with local problems like a lack of performing venues. Though urban area bands are usually hired from Thursday to Sunday, bands here play Friday or Saturday. As well, local resort preferences for family pleasing Las Vegas-style shows over live bands has decreased the job market. Though they’d rather not travel, The Swells recently started looking for an agent to get them bookings elsewhere in the province.
“In my Muskoka experience, longevity makes it a little easier to get your foot in the door,” explains Ken. “Word of mouth is a big thing.”
Word of mouth for The Swells is boosted twice a year by winter and summer party performances at Ken and Shirley’s home on the Indian River. In summer, boats drop anchor and rock on as The Swells play outdoors. Serious musicians are invited to jam at the parties, making the events musical extravaganzas.
A Spring Fling in Port Carling featuring The Swells and other local bands is in the works to keep the party rolling and raise money for charity. And that means more new music for The Swells’ fans.
“We learn new stuff all the time because we don’t want to get stale,” says Shirley. This Swell band get stale? No way.
The party’s on.
Musician Profile: The Swells
The four members of the Port Carling-based rock band have solid friendships forged by a mutual love of music and of playing together.
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