Album review: THE INTERNATIONAL SWINGERS – s/t

In this hour special, Pete Feenstra chats to James Stevenson about his music (58:39)

More at Mixcloud

THE INTERNATIONAL SWINGERS

All The Cats Recordings [Release date 06.05.16]

The main selling point, I guess, of The International Swingers (putting the Benidorm ‘swingers’ association to one side for a moment) is the ‘super group’ line up.

Having spent his teenage years in Australia where he was singer for glam/punk rock band Supernaut, Gary Twinn returned to the UK and formed Twenty Flight Rockers with Mark Laff of Generation X.  When called on in 2012 to tour home turf, he called up friends Clem Burke (Blondie), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and James Stevenson (Generation X) to ‘form a band for a bit of a holiday down-under’.

They took a handful of each band’s songs, gave them a ‘stripped down and bare bones’ rock ‘n’ roll treatment, and took them on the road.  A sold out tour ensued after a solitary LA debut.  New songs and US and UK gigs followed, culminating in this eponymous debut album recorded at the Foo Fighters Studio 606 in LA.

Cynics may ponder on the placement of the single FBI in Sylvester Stallone action film Homefront, and of the album sleeve in a scene in London Has Fallen.  But hey, these guys have ‘connections’.  So why not use them?

But the reality is that the album doesn’t need them  it’s a riot.  A good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll affair  great songs, crunchy guitars, and sing along chorus lines that are impossible to ignore.  Yes, Twinn has an almost inevitable hint of Billy Idol in his vocals (you can almost hear the lip curl in places), and Burke’s drum fills are unmistakeable, but it’s Stevenson’s marvellous guitar work that ices the perfectly baked cake.

The International Swingers sit comfortably next to Alice Cooper’s Hollywood Vampires as seasoned pro’s just plugging in, and having a blast.  It’s sort of ironic that the punk generation have become the establishment.  But if there’s one thing about old pro’s, they sure know how to give you a good time.

This is not rock for the thinking man.  It’s for having a good time.  And it delivers that in spades.  ****

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 25 February
Next session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 25 February 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 27 February 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 4 March 2024

COLLATERAL Glass Sky (Big Shot Records)
THE ZUTONS Pauline (ICEPOP)
THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS Rise Above It All (Mascot)
MATT PEARCE & THE MUTINY From Here To The Moon (indie)
THE BLACK VULTURES Never Say (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 4 March 2024

09:00-12:00 LEE AARON Tattoo Me (Metalville)
12:00-13:00 THE END MACHINE The Quantum Phase (Frontiers)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply