{"title":"Swami","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSwami is an American independent record label based in San Diego, California. Founded in 1999 by John Reis, the label specializes in punk rock, indie rock, and garage rock. With a focus on supporting emerging artists and showcasing their unique sound, Swami has become a prominent force in the music industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince its inception, Swami has been dedicated to promoting diverse talent and pushing boundaries within the punk rock scene. The label's roster includes renowned *artists* such as Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From The Crypt, and many more. These *performers* have made significant contributions to their respective genres and continue to inspire new generations of musicians.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its headquarters nestled in the vibrant music scene of San Diego, Swami has established itself as a driving force behind the city's thriving underground culture. Through their commitment to quality music production and unwavering support for their *artists*, Swami continues to shape the landscape of punk rock while staying true to its independent roots.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ride-the-wild-night","title":"Ride the Wild Night","description":"\u003cp\u003eSwami John Reis celebrates his 100th year in rock ’n’ roll with a brand new band and record! \u003ci\u003eRide The Wild\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eNight\u003c\/i\u003e is neither completely similar nor dissimilar to his previous bands (Hot Snakes, Night Marchers, The Sultans, Rocket From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, etc). Yet the sound is immediately familiar and assuring (like an old friend you lost touch with that comes back into your life only to ask to borrow money). The music is an amalgam of ’60s folk-punk, ’70s punk-punk and pre-Vietnam War rock ’n’ roll, filtered through the Reis’ unregistered, trademark sensibilities. “I wanted to celebrate some of my favorite rock n roll in its transitional periods. Flaming Groovies, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Kinks, The Saints and others created some of the most exciting recordings while also connecting the musical past to its future. That really appeals to me”.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlthough titled a “solo” record it is predominantly in name only. The record is built on stentorian bedrock of savage drumming by J. Sinclair K. of Hot Snakes and the pounding acoustic piano of Joe Guevara. Also adding their expertise to the mix is Chris Prescott (Pinback) Gar Wood (Hot Snakes), Glen Galloway (Truman’s Water), Jacob Turnbloom (Mrs. Magician) and Jordan Clark (PLOSIVS).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith this backing, Swami John Reis finalizes it with his throaty basso and weaponizes the files with roaring electric guitars, rapid acoustic guitar strum and bass.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHear his defiant, croak-howl in what might be his most autobiographical work yet. “All of these stories are real. They just might not be completely true.” Reis adds, ”The words come from what I overhear through my fence, what I see across the street, pictures I see in my head, experiences that I can’t forget or am grateful to remember.” If there is a loose theme throughout the record he offers, “Musically and lyrically there is a motivation to surrender to a restless and impulsive spirit that can only be satisfied by breaking things. Creating rubble for better or worse. “\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMusic critics and fans alike have long referred to Reis’s signature voice as “The Velvet Yawn” and never has that description been more apt. “Ride The Wild Night” was recorded by Reis at City Of Refuge (Night Marchers, Black Lips, The Spits) and mixed by Ben Moore (Hot Snakes, Diamanda Galas) at Singing Serpent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swami","offers":[{"title":"Green | LP","offer_id":50511360852299,"sku":"1144476","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/9f2a9e6b-dd7f-44a0-80e4-75cd6b2156c0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727888003"},{"product_id":"time-to-let-you-down","title":"Time To Let You Down","description":"\u003cp\u003eA savage blast of junk shoppe punk from John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCelebrating 55 years in the music business! Swami John Reis is back with his second LP in eight months. \u003ci\u003eTime To Let You Down\u003c\/i\u003e is a savage blast of junk shoppe punk that kicks you in the ding ding. This eleven track LP is chock full of fist pumpers, head bumpers, stinky dumpers, meaty thumpers and toe stumpers. The tempos are often breakneck and the dense arrangements tumble like bricks into hot cheese. The undeniable sonic girth barges at will into lathered ear tubes allowing these barbaric anthems to echo in hollow domes. Feel the whip crack break skin on the acne scarred backs of our cultural oppressors. The sound is tough. The songs are a bitch. Incite your expectations with the single “Fed To The Dogs” or the title track. Salty leather and wobbly chain link fences can’t contain its rebel intent.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese recordings took place Oct. 2024 and features Swami John Reis on guitar and vocals with contributions from Jason Sinclair (Hot Snakes), Joey Guevara (Swami and the Bed Of Nails), Jacob Turnbloom (Mrs. Magician) and Glen Galloway (Truman’s Water). The record was produced by John Reis, engineered and mixed by Ben Moore and mastered by Dave Gardner.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTime To Let You Down\u003c\/i\u003e is pressed on virgin, Egyptian pellets and available in limited, colourful vinyl that have been hand-swirled. You’ll not only clearly hear the difference, you will see it as well\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e.For fans of Hot Snakes, The Marked Men, Buzzcocks, The Spits, Judas Priest, The Damned, The Dickies, Guida.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swami","offers":[{"title":"LP - Yellow","offer_id":51245577077067,"sku":"2239345","price":31.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Time_To_Let_You_Down_d90a2e2b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1739225297"},{"product_id":"shipwrecked","title":"Shipwrecked","description":"\u003cp\u003eFirst time vinyl release of 2004 classic \u003cem\u003eShipwrecked\u003c\/em\u003e by \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Reis\u003c\/strong\u003e-led band (Rocket From the Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, etc). Remastered from original tapes, includes four bonus tracks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sultans formed in 2000 and were \u003cstrong\u003eJohn Reis\u003c\/strong\u003e \/ Slasher and Tony DiPrima and at times also Andy Stamets \/ Black Flame (Rocket From The Crypt’s ND) and Dean Reis \/ Black Velvet (Mannequin Piss, Spider Fever, The Heartaches, Los Dug Dugs).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eShipwrecked\u003c\/em\u003e was the band's second album and was released only on CD in 2004. This reissue is a labour of lust with maximum attention to detail in resurrecting these masters from their deteriorated, analog state. The result is a louder, thicker and even more bristling slab of triumphant rock ’n’ roll.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEverything on this reissue cuts deeper and breaks the digital glass into razor-sharp shards and then shits on the 1s and 0s. Added to the original are four bonus tracks, one being a cover of The Dils “Blow Up” and another the never released “Out Of Focus”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eShipwrecked\u003c\/em\u003e was the last record at Drag Racist (Hot Snakes, RFTC, etc) before it shuddered its doors for good.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swami","offers":[{"title":"LP - White with Red Splatter","offer_id":52760608440651,"sku":"R3438-8218","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/fa497771-451d-c50e-2963-7453fe4c5e07_aab2db6d-a587-4647-aabd-a1d412cc15a9.jpg?v=1752256250"},{"product_id":"yell-at-cloud","title":"Yell At Cloud","description":"\u003cp\u003eFour years later, supergroup featuring Rob Crow (Pinback, Heavy Vegetable etc), John Reis (Hot Snakes, Rocket From The Crypt etc), Atom Willard (Against Me etc), and Jordan Clark (Mrs Magician etc) returns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver four years in the making, \u003cem\u003eYell At Cloud\u003c\/em\u003e is the follow up to the Plosivs critically hailed debut. Why so long between releases, you ask?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNov. 2020 the band was invited to be the first guinea pigs at No Fun Club recording studio in Winnipeg, Canada and baptize the brand new facility. The band would live and record in the studio and be densely immersed in the forming of this new record. It was still during the days of COVID lockdowns and the earliest stages of permitted, international travel. Producer, engineer and studio designer Mike Bridavsky (Deerhoof, Magnolia Electric Co., The Cowboys, Durand Jones and The Indications, Half Japanese, The Residents) welcomed us with open arms and helmed the controls. Unfortunately, a massive Arctic storm (even by Winnipeg standards) descended. The compound was without power for the first five days. Using generators running on diesel and heat powered by sheep tallow, the band had to resort to using as little electricity as possible. Most of what you hear on \u003cem\u003eYell At Cloud\u003c\/em\u003e was recorded in the dark or by candlelight in below freezing conditions. It wasn’t as romantic as it sounds. Due to Canada’s regulations for foreign travelers during the pandemic, we had to forge out on foot once a day in blizzard-like conditions to a clinic a mile away where we had to be swabbed nasally, between the toes and in the groin area in order to be tested for COVID so we could be allowed to stay in the country for another 24 hours. Imagine a band trying making a record in John Carpenter’s The Thing. This had a massive influence on the material and the way it was captured to tape. Finally the sessions became so intense the band members could no longer sustain focus to completion and decided to return home to finish the record at a later date. Months turned to years. Drummer Atom Willard was now the full time member of the Alkaline Trio. Guitarist John Reis focused on Hot Snakes and his solo recordings and shows with Swami John Reis. Singer and guitarist Rob Crow continued with Pinback and a myriad of projects both musical and visual. Bassist Jordan Clark reconnected with his band The Frights and began touring and recording with them once again. There was such a massive emotional dust cloud kicked up during the recording of \u003cem\u003eYell At Cloud\u003c\/em\u003e that it took four years to settle. Finally, Ben Moore (who recorded and mixed the bands debut) stepped in and mixed Yell At Cloud. In order to a create seamless continuity with the original tracks, Ben mixed the majority of these files in the dark with the brightness of his screen turned to the lowest setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is a claustrophobic album that searches for an oasis within. From lurching dissonance to uplifting harmonic convergences Yell At Cloud is a stark, black and white departure from their debut.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swami","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":53510978830667,"sku":"R3564-0140","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":53510978863435,"sku":"R3564-6374","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/5d864dfa-8b5a-d0cf-c084-79991c68773a.jpg?v=1759314360"},{"product_id":"spiritual-hangover","title":"Spiritual Hangover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMrs. Magician has always bent surf music and punk into something delightfully off-kilter — sun-soaked, hook-heavy power pop with a lyrical fixation on life’s darker undercurrents. Their 2012 debut, \u003cem\u003eStrange Heaven\u003c\/em\u003e, was a nihilistic pop statement that grew into a cult classic. The 2016 follow-up, \u003cem\u003eBermuda\u003c\/em\u003e, sharpened the edges with punchy, nervy songwriting. Both records were produced by John Reis (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu), cementing the band’s place in Southern California’s underground lineage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNow, Mrs. Magician reemerges with their long-awaited third LP,\u003cem\u003e Spiritual Hangover.\u003c\/em\u003e Recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 and Singing Serpent Studios with producer Christian Cummings, \u003cem\u003eSpiritual Hangover\u003c\/em\u003e finds songwriter Jacob Turnbloom trading youthful nihilism for something more reflective. Where earlier records wrestled with existential dread through anthemic defiance, this new collection embraces uncertainty — an admission of ignorance in the face of the human condition, paired with a genuine longing for connection and understanding.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe humour remains. The hooks are sharper than ever. But the perspective has shifted. These songs feel less like a declaration of dominance and more like a celebration of fragility — an acknowledgment that life is fleeting, confusing, and still worth enjoying.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album features Andrew Montoya (drums) and Mark Rivera (bass) of The Sess, Ian Fowles (guitar) of The Aquabats, and John Reis (guitar).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eSpiritual Hangover \u003c\/em\u003echannels the bright urgency of late-’70s power pop through a distinctly Californian lens — warm, melodic, and irresistibly alive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swami","offers":[{"title":"LP - Yellow and Red Marbled Swirl","offer_id":56709780177227,"sku":"R4974-4165","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/ae57d3ff-f163-2e93-53b0-3eaaf73fcec4.jpg?v=1772797934"},{"product_id":"ghost-ship-1","title":"Ghost Ship","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSultans \u003cem\u003eGhost Ship\u003c\/em\u003e LP was originally released on Sympathy For The Record Industry in 2000. While RFTC looked for a new drummer, Speedo (armed with an 8 track tape machine and 3 microphones) devised yet another alias as “Slasher” and concocted this primordial ooze of moped scuzz, punk rock and roll. Ghost Ship was met with enthusiasm by those seeking blistering relief from the weak, whiny, wretched and wimpy wannabes du jour. The sound is full on, straight ahead with only starting gates and finish lines between songs. The band played some shows around California and would slightly evolve on their second LP \u003cem\u003eShipwrecked\u003c\/em\u003e. Ghost Ship is Sultans at their most thuggish and hairiest. Taking inspiration from Australia’s Chosen Few, Ramones bootlegs, Misfits bootlegs and then challenging themselves to be as thrifty and impatient as possible, the songs are intentionally brief, similar and burly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter this was recorded these tapes lay dormant in a shed for over 20 years. 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