november 12, 2002 - limerick, ireland - the high stool

excerpted from the limerick event guide

Anyway back to the rock action! On November 12th, the wonderfully named Swearing At Motorists play the High Stool (Catherine St.). These guys have been around since 1994/95 direction. Swearing At Motorists were formed in Dayton, Ohio, which is also home to the Breeders and Guided by Voices. David Doughman started the band when a couple of friends from other bands used to call round his house after a few beers. They'd usually end up recording stuff, using a borrowed four track. One of those friends, Don Thrasher, would stick around as drummer of S.A.M. until 2000. The name actually came from fliers that Dave used to make for an imaginary band! MOJO Magazine described Swearing At Motorists as "the missing link between Hank Williams, Neil Young, and The Who." High praise, indeed.

The current lineup is Doughman (guitar/vocals) and Joseph Siwinski (drums). Yep that's right, there's just two of them! Not that you'd realise listening to their current (third full length) LP This Flag Signals Goodbye, which was released in June. It's a tale of drink, drugs, and relationships held together with Doughman's distinctive vocals and an almost alt country hometown malaise. Doughman's rapport with Siwinski is crucial to the quality of the record. They have developed a tight outfit, which will surely make many wonder how there is only two players on each track. This Flag Signals Goodbye opens with a meaty riff on "Over The Middle Bridge." However, while the album has some mighty riffs, there is no room for indulgence. The 14 tracks clock in at a fat-free thirty minutes. Highlights include the more mellow "Doors Are Closing," which opens with the refrain of "there are lots of things I don't care about and none of them are you," and the more upbeat "Anything You Want" with its summery "ba ba ba" harmonies.

While the LP contains a sort of "couldn't give a fuck" attitude thanks to its ability to rock, Doughman's heartfelt lyrics give it a deeper meaning. They've played over 200 gigs in the last two years, and are considered to be one of the finest touring bands in the States. Highly recommended.

shows | tour diary | show previews and reviews | show pics | booking | posters | setlists

for questions or comments contact: webmaster@swearingatmotorists.com