Martin Swinger

Martin Swinger, broad smile and commanding presence, drew us into the story of his song like a gripping novel that keeps the light on til 2 AM. He knits silly with serious, petty with poignant, leaving you asking, "How did he do that? How did we get from there to here? That was amazing!" From the first song, in my heart I was on the little red chair in the front of the room in first grade class where we sat and listened to Mrs. Simpson read those incredible stories. Time disappeared as you hung on the next phrase--only now it was set to music and delivered by tenor voice so clear it sparkled. Our 20 sojourners in the audience could have been in Carnegie Hall and we would not have had more pleasure than we enjoyed at the River Tree.

I sat thinking between songs, "Who is he like?" The complexity of sound and lyric were unlike anyone I had ever heard. Songs of grief, love, and depression delivered with humor, hope and delicacy. In one brief night at River Tree, I am a fan. His song Betty Boop and Budha capture his approach to life and music by pairing the most unlikely couple--the silly and the serious--to show how they coexist and inform us each of the other.

If you love music and good songwriting, do yourself a favor and click on the link above and listen to some of his work like the "Consider the Oyster", or "Gravity" to get a feel for this master of the ballad. You can buy his work in CD's or downloads from his website. An artist of this caliber must be shared and supported.

Ginger and I stumbled into the presence of genius last night. We are better for it. - David Wheat: Blogger: Geezer Thoughts

I have been invited to join the roster of Arts Are Essential, Inc. in Acton Mass. For ANY future bookings contact: Jean Butler (978) 263-0108, jean@arts-are-essential.org - NEWS Worth Listening To

Swinger's songs are among the
strongest released in 2011.
Martin Swinger, much to his own
surprise, was the first to record a full-fledged album
of music directed at an audience of Bears — and we
hairy, often bearded, likely as not (how shall I put it?)
meaty men have as a group, I'm afraid I must report,
barely noticed. That CD, BearNAKED, arrived in 2000,
often with a furry frame hand-glued to the edges of the case by
Swinger and his husbear themselves.
M O O N arrives after years (since 2004) without a new CD from
Swinger, partly due to that undeserved lack of notice. A true labor of
love, the results transcend the limitations of producing a CD independently.
I haven't room here to praise every wonderful song, but
will expand on this review over the coming weeks at my new blog.
"Little Plastic Part" starts as an amusing observational song: "I was
cleaning, vacuuming the room…/ The motor faltered… I'd broken…
some Little Plastic Part/ …that makes the whole thing work/ …It's
never gonna start/ cause there is no replacement for that Little
Plastic Part." Then comes a twist and — well, that
would be telling. I wouldn't ruin it for you.
"From Your Gravity" is as beautiful a song as
you're bound to hear this year. And its video can
be seen at my new Bill Realman Radio blog. According
to Swinger himself, "Gravity [was] inspired
on Route One driving from Houlton Maine
to Presque Isle, following the large scale model
of the solar system. And [by] a difficult phone
call. My sweetie and I worked it out and are still
together celebrating 25 years!"
But "Gravity", in my not so humble opinion, is
not even one of the three best songs on the album.
That honor goes to the three songs that
conclude M O O N — "Wooden Boy", "Betty Boop
& Buddha" and "Music In The Rafters". Together
those are the three strongest songs on the home
stretch of any album I've heard in years.
Swinger's website MartinSwinger.com features
the story behind the song "Wooden Boy" (and
much more). What inspired it is important, of
course, but I'll allow you to discover that, too,
for yourself. Because although most of us, we —
you and I — are not ourselves likely to have suffered
under the same condition as "Wooden
Boy"'s inspiration, I can attest to knowing his
same feelings as a child. Thinking back to at
least as young as 8 years old, I felt a deep connection
with Disney's Pinocchio, even becoming
him for Halloween. Then in high school, nearly a
decade before I took on the name Realman,
among the ways I saw my life were two long
poems I wrote titled "Real Life Stories" and "Real
Life Dreams". I have seen my experience, my
sense of hiding inside for some reason, some
need, reflected in the people around me, in
their quiet shyness, in their angry lashing out.
It's tough enough for most people to express
their loneliness and depression. Why it is practically
taboo to admit deep disconnection from
the world, I don't know. It's the universality of "Wooden Boy" that matters most, more
than its origins. And I've not heard its like
before.
Martin Swinger is just as deft at having
fun and being joyful as he is at expressing
anything else. "Betty Boop & Buddha"
has been delighting audiences in concert
for years now. Friends, upon hearing it
has arrived on CD at last, have confessed
how eagerly they've awaited it, and how
much they want M O O N for it if nothing
else. " One simply cannot help going from
zero to happy when "Betty Boop & Buddha"
plays. It's an inspired pairing, a romance
for the ages, and you'll be tapping
your extremities, wiggling your wiggleables,
and committing every "Bop-bop-aloo-
bop" and "Boo-Boop-i-Do" to memory,
as with each verse Nirvana comes closer
to fruition.
As if that one-two punch of the poignant
and the joyful weren't enough, finally "Music
In The Rafters" brings the album to its gentle, rousing conclusion.
When I hear "Rafters" — and I can barely stop playing it — I am reminded
of the finest performers in the American Folk tradition, of
the Pete Seegers and Holly Nears, and of the finest songs, of the
"Rainbow Race"s and "We Are A Gentle Angry People"s. Launched from
the sight and sound of a bird's nest being built, from modest "…songs
of hunger being answered / as little wings learn how to fly / and
make music", a sweet wise plain philosophy takes flight in song.
"Rafters" is filled with small inspired moments, little touches like
the just-subtle-enough cymbal to illustrate "shimmering", the doubled
flutters of strumming guitars not tethered to each others'
strum, the pull of a sense of community with the addition of mandolin
and handclaps for the final rounds of the chorus, the complex
but understated lead vocal, the duet vocal by Kathy Slack and the
vocal harmonies, enhanced, I'm told in the credits, by "ImproVox +
Referendum = Hot Buttah!" It could all have turned out too precious,
but feels found afresh. One can only imagine
the depth of preparation it took to enable
such spontaneity in the performances.
If ever there was a song that epitomizes
what I mean when I say "Music is the Highest
Common Denominator," "Music In The Rafters"
is it. "Rafters" is like a gift you didn't
know you wanted but love dearly from the
moment you've received it.
I've been praising the hell out of M O O N
and especially "Rafters" and, until now, I've
silenced the voice of restraint. I know the
disappointment of raised hopes dashed. But I
can't be dishonest about "Music In The Rafters":
The recording itself is a great example
of how to open up a great song with great
arrangements, production and recording.
(And kudos to all those credited in the liner
notes whose names I can't fit here.) But
scratch that, focus just on the melody and
lyrics, and "Music In The Rafters" deserves
to take a place of honor among the great
songs of our lives.
Unlike all the manipulative demands of contemporary
Pop musicians to herd fans into
acting "impulsively" ("Put Your Hands In The
Air!" "Say 'Hey'!" "Dance!"), Swinger wants to
reach you one-by-one, and one-on-one.
Maybe once, twice a year, an album greets my
ears with songs that often cause me to tear
up in witness to their beauty. It's an intimacy I
can't tell you of; it's up to you to put yourself
in a place where your heart is open to be
touched, to let the music touch you. I
wouldn't casually encourage you to embrace
such artistic intimacy. Embrace the M O O N,
and let the M O O N touch you. And, as requested
in big, bold letters at the end of the
lyric booklet, Please Sing! - Bill Stella Realman

Performance Reviews
“ I have hired Martin more frequently than any other performer on my list. I recommend him without reservation.”
Bill Berlinghoff,
Owner - Passing Tone Music

Martin’s ability to bring people inside his music is a wonderful talent. Aside from the fact that he is a fine songwriter, Swingers warmth and humor connects with his audience and leaves them wanting more.
Sid Stutzman, Program Director - East Sangerville Coffee House

Martin was a real hit at our Turtle Hill Folk Festival last year. He is talented as a singer and musician, presenting interesting, fun and thoughtful material, including covers as well as originals. He is an entertaining guy on and off stage, and a skillful songwriter to boot....His music was a perfect fit for the event.”
John Stevens, Chairperson -
Turtle Hill Folk Festival

“ Martin, you just draw people into your stories and engage them, it’s a comfort and intimacy that you exude on stage. I saw you just make everyone feel like they were good friends you wanted to relate to...you are truly inspirational to me...”
Freddy Freeman, Producer - BEARAPALOOZA NYC/Nashville

I feel I have never heard anyone sing quite like that before. You just threw your head back and let your voice come out from someplace deep inside. It was so beautiful. You seemed so unself-concious and unnervous -- like you had this incredible gift to share with us and it was the most natural thing in the world.

Gail Henderson -
Unsolicited Fan Mail

" Man, you sing the crap out of shit! "
Glen Loper, Extra-ordinary mandolin player
- Various sources

SCRAPBOOK
I get a ton of them...pounds and pounds of plastic each week and only a few precious ounces of real music. Do you realize how special your SCRAPBOOK is? Every singer/songwriter feels s/he is blessed, but so few truly are. Our listeners – and my fellow on air hosts – just love it.”
Marilyn Rea Beyer, Radio Host - WUMB Boston

This (SCRAPBOOK) is a first class recording from a first class group of musicians. Martin also has one hell of a voice. If I had any connections at Austin City Limits I would be on the phone today.
Charlie Harrelson - Evor Music Group

MOCKINGBIRD:
“This is a great CD for entire families to enjoy together. Adults be warned: you will be playing this CD for yourself long after the kids have gone to bed!”
,
Erin Lee Kelly, Member -
Children’s Music Network

Coney Island Lullaby is my favorite. This morning I played it for myself, by myself, with my child not in the house even,,,,, kind of like a secret treasure you are.
Mary, Northern Maine -
Unsolicited Fan Mail

"Can I buy your CD?" Pete Seeger
- Various Sources