10 feb 2006 - tallahasse - beta bar

from tallahassee democrat

Steady On

Well, no wonder Swearing at Motorists' new CD, "Last Night Becomes This Morning," sounds so live - it was recorded on the road, according to the band's "letter to the media" that accompanied the disc's release. Indeed, the disc's 15 rough-and-ready tracks are as boozy and raw as a winter Saturday night at closing time in the duo's hometown of Dayton, Ohio. That's the same gritty territory that produced Guided by Voices, and S@M singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Doughman once served as GBV's soundman. His laconic baritone rides on waves of chunky instrumental glory, with cohort Joseph Siwinski thwacking it out on the drums. The disc more than lives up to the pair's declaration that it's the "indie rock version of Jackson Browne's 'Running on Empty.' Where 'Running on Empty' told of the battle to cope with fame and fortune, 'Last Night . . . ' chronicles the struggle to live life on the road in spite of lack of fame or fortune." S@M's Midwestern anomie is an apt foil for the urgent and ironic, guitardriven compositions of tour-mate the Plastic Constellations. The Plastic Cons' fresh CD "Crusades" pulses with music fueled by stream-ofconsciousness lyrics and sinuous, stop-and-go guitar riffs. Indie rock is served piping hot and with a twist when S@M and the Plastic Cons join the Hold Steady and Gettysburg for an all-ages show at 8:30 tonight at the Beta Bar.

--Kati Schardl

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