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The Swinging Lights

Date: Friday, January 10 2025

Live Music

Time: 7:30 PM to 11:00 PM

The Swinging Lights are a 5 piece Americana/Alt-country band from Salt Lake City, UT.   Influenced by bands Wilco, Dr. Dog, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, and all the outlaw country greats, The Swinging Lights aim for authenticity.  

James Orme, music reviewer for Slug Magazine had this to say about their most recent album - 

“When it comes to genres like alternative country and Americana, we can sometimes get artists who are seemingly dry and ultimately noncommittal to any traditional roots genre.  As a devotee of roots music, I’ve noticed that so much of what gets assigned these designations becomes forgettable.  However, there are the rare exceptions that bring so much to the table that they can’t help  but make an indelible impression.  The Swinging Lights are an amalgam of many genres, but as they transition from one musical style to the next - like folk to gospel - in the same song, it’s clear that this is done with purpose. Even though each track on their most recent record, Trouble With The Truth has characteristics that make them unique, everything comfortably fits under a singular umbrella of artistic vision."  

“Heaven is Having a Laugh” is a country track that makes me want to feel open air on my face.  It has a loose feeling like the rest of the record, in the same way The Rolling Stones records in the ’70s were loose.  This feeling is something that I imagine is hard to capture intentionally, as it can only be the result of a group of musicians who trust each other and enjoy the process of making a record together.”

The Swinging Lights frequent local music venues The Garage on Beck, The International, Hog Wollow,  The Cabin, and Wooy's Moab.  They have also performed in many festivals such as the Utah Arts Festival, Avenues Street fair, Porch Fest, Urban Lounge Backyard Concert Series, Kimball Arts Festival, and Helper Saturday Vibes .  They have also performed on local radio station KRCL .

The Swinging Lights Released Smokestacks in 2020, and have since reoriented towards are more rootsy, country flavored feel on their upcoming album Outlaw Country Star, set to be released in July of 2023.

 

Band Members

  • Justin Carrell
  • Chris Hanna
  • Elliot Goldman
  • Matthew Gooch