Swami (2021)
Every time I write about a live album (which, admittedly isn't very often) I always add in the disclaimer that I really don't like live albums. I'm not sure what it is exactly about them, but I never really have the urge to listen to them. There are, of course, some exceptions. But in general, I buy them, file them next to the other records by the same artist and there they stay for all eternity. I don't think this Night Marchers LP will suffer that fate.
In the pantheon of great live albums like Leatherface's Live in Oslo and Bum's Shake Town Live, you can now add Live at Bar Pink. I'm not sure exactly why this particular record is hitting me harder than live albums traditionally do. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't been to a show in over two years. Maybe I'm just predisposed to love anything the Swami releases. Or maybe it's because they managed to capture a hell of a set.
Most of my Night Marchers favorites are represented. "Branded," "All Hits," "Scene Report" and other fantastic selections from the two full lengths the band put out are all here. There's not as much banter as you'd expect from a Swami show and there are places where it sounds like there may have been cuts made to excise some of that from the album. The songs, however, sound unbelievably great and really show what a potent live band they were. That's not really a surprise since all of the Swami bands are known for their killer live shows, but something special was captured on this night.
Of all of the bands that Swami/Speedo/Slasher John Reis has been in, I really think that Night Marchers is the band that has been most overlooked. They cranked out some pretty flawless songs. Even if the band doesn't play again, they've left a heck of a legacy behind. Live at Bar Pink just gives me one more way to listen to these great songs.
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