Paramore's Pick: Swellers Unplug at SPIN Office
Video
Flint, Michigan, quartet the Swellers aren't the first aspiring rock outfit to try something crazy to land their big break. While they were performing Wednesday at SPIN's NYC office, Swellers frontman Nick Diener revealed how a giant bumper sticker helped his band work their way into the heart of Paramore singer Hayley Williams:
"We saw Hayley's car, with a bunch of band stickers all over it. [Guitarist] Ryan [Collins] decided it would be a good idea to get one of the Swellers stickers [which are massive] and put it on the back of her car. We had never met Hayley before. We had no idea if she'd ever heard of our band or anything.
"A couple weeks later, we heard that she found the sticker and loved it," Diener continued. "She already had our record and stuff. And thus began the most beautiful friendship on earth!"
The Swellers, who are opening the Paramore tour through Nov. 11, share Williams' label; their Fueled by Ramen debut, Ups & Downsizing, is out now. Next, they'll open for Less Than Jake's nationwide jaunt through the end of 2009.
Their four-song set at SPIN provided a taste of the band's uber-catchy pop-punk, led by Diener's gutsy wail -- and spiced up by drummer (and brother) Jonathan Diener's percussive touch on the salt shaker.
Watch the performance here and tell us whether you'd slap a Swellers sticker on your car!
20 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By BassLineBauer
10.22.09 7:02 PM
When I ordered my Paramore shirts I got a Swellers sticker and slapped it onto my French binder for school along with a Paramore sticker. :-D
- Posted By Cappy8
10.23.09 1:02 AM
it bums me out that everyone knows of the swellers cause of paramore and twitter. Although I'm glad people are listening to them at all.
I've been listening to these guys for about 5 years and their music is so good. It's energetic, catchy, heart felt and I've hung out with the guys. They're awesome people and real friendly. I can't wait till they come back to Seattle.
- Posted By 石班
10.25.09 8:33 AM
Personally, I think these guys are a bit over-ambitious. They should tone it down a bit, and then they'll be great. Right now, they sound early-Less Than Jake, which I'm pretty sure is why they're playing with them. The lead singer may need some projection lessons, because from his facial expressions, he looked like he was gasping for air. Also, the video is out of sync.
- Posted By yeffie
10.30.09 6:38 AM
i think that anyone that has ANYTHING negative to say about the swellers? probably have NONE musical talent themself and dont knowww what the eff they are talking about . . amazing guys. fun, punk rock . . and if you are comparing them to an older band than you obviously havent moved on and need to yourself sonnnn . . they are fresh as fuck. and fuck is what ima do to your mom. KEEP IT COMING SWELLERS! THIS HIT RECORD IS THE FIRST OF MANY!! Feet First= amazing . . every song from my everest . . makes me horny
10.22.09 6:35 PM
i love them. one of my favorite bands. amazing live