Swingset In June

SWINGSET IN JUNE released an 8 song cassette E.P. in 1998 as a split label release between Prime Directive Records (#3) and Tribute Productions. 5 of the songs were recorded at Doubletime Studios in San Diego, while the other 3 were recorded with Paul Miner at For The Record in Orange.

By the time of the cassette's release, the band, who began in the summer of 1996 with a slightly different lineup (drums and guitar) was on the verge of breaking up. However, according to Sean Rosenthal, the band wanted something "to remember the hard work we put in over the short 2 year period" of its existence. After some discussion, Prime Directive pitched in some (or all?) of the money for the actual cassettes, while Tribute Productions did the envelopes, labels, and booklets. The cassettes were packaged in a white envelope with a booklet (designed by Paul Miner) in a one-time pressing of 200.

If I'm not mistaken, the cassettes were only sold at a single Swingset In June show, which happened to be their last - October 30, 1998 at Showcase Theater with Adamantium (release show for "From The Depths" LP), Throwdown (release show for "S/T" 7"), and Farside. Interestingly, the Swingset In June tape outsold both the Adamantium CD/LP and possibly the Throwdown 7" at this show.

Taking influences by the emo and indie bands of their day [Sunny Day Real Estate, Jimmy Eat World, Mineral, Christie Front Drive, Braid], the line-up featured:

Steve - Vocals
Sean Rosenthal (Adamantium, Farside) - Bass
Garrett Link - Guitar
Brandon Love (Throwdown fill-in) - Guitar
Ken Floyd (Eighteen Visions, First Day Somber) - Drums

Here's the "S/T" E.P. for DOWNLOAD.

Disembodied (Part 1)

Disembodied began in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995 and broke up in 2000. They released some EP's, a couple LP's, had a few songs on compilations, and did some touring - with Endeavor, One Eyed God Prophecy, Overcast and Shai Hulud among others.

They also had a monumental effect on the hardcore scene at the time. While they might tell you they wore their influences on their sleeve, most hardcore "kids" were oblivious to what those influences were. Disembodied were borrowing elements from certain metal bands, combining it with a hardcore background, and creating heavy, dark, and - most importantly for the future of metallic hardcore - seriously down-tuned music.

One of their first, if not the first, West Coast appearances was at Goleta Fest on July 19, 1996. Either through mailorder or when Justin [drums] had driven, alone, from Minnesota to California for Unbroken's last show in November 1995, a few copies of their "Existence In Suicide" CDep had reached California by this point - resulting in a palpable excitement for their set. This anticipation was somewhat shared by the band, although in a different form. As their bassist, Tara, told me: "I was fucking scared when we got there and they said we were playing last." My recollection is that she had nothing to be scared of as Disembodied absolutely slayed - even with their fill in singer. Again, according to Tara, "Aaron [regular singer] had either quit or got kicked out or both [so] Jodi from Chicago, the singer for [Everlast]" filled in. "We ended up leaving him in Boston on that tour and Justin finished the tour singing and Joel played drums."

Disembodied at Goleta Fest 1996:


3 days after Goleta Fest they played a church (!) on Orange & Cabrillo in Costa Mesa, CA with Enewetak, Endeavor, and Collapse. (Note: Immediately after this show ended, a group of us went directly to the Huntington Beach Library to see Texas Is The Reason & Gameface -- what a great combination of shows). Disembodied would return to Southern California a number of times over the next 4 years steadily becoming one of the largest out of town draws, especially at venues like the now defunct Showcase Theater in Corona, CA. After their break up in 2000 Joel [guitar], Tara [bass], and Justin [drums] formed Martyr A.D. who I had the honor of touring with a few times.