Swarm of Eyes Play Jeff’s Birthday Bonanza in Beverly
On January 30, 2016, Swarm of Eyes celebrated the birthday of bassist Jeff Grossman — that fretboard lighting, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighting, heart-igniting son of a gun — in grand style at the Spotlight Tavern in Beverly, Massachusetts.
Playing to a packed house, Swarm of Eyes played a memorable set, prancing around the stage looking like Steel Panther’s Care Bear Cousins. The ’80s themed event saw Swarm of Eyes doing something special for one of their own, as well as the fans who turned out for the show. It also saw them decked out in enough spandex and Aqua Net spray-mounted wigs to make a revival of Rock of Ages look like Law and Order: SVU by comparison.
The Eyes guys played a mixed bag of original songs and a few classic punk, rock, and metal covers. New songs “Left to Burn,” “Tell Your God To Ready For Blood,” and “Cursed in Blood” were trotted out to the approval (they hope) of the live crowd in preparation for the band’s upcoming EP. Old favorites like “Endless Ashes,” “The Day That God Went Mad,” and “Humanemic” rounded out Swarm of Eyes’ original offerings for the night.
On their cover of Motley Crue’s “Looks That Kill,” Swarm of Eyes were joined onstage by Chris Harvey, lead singer for Guns N’ Roses tribute band Cocaine Tongue, who provided a wicked nasty (and awesome) contrast to Randy’s growling vocals. Misfits’ tribute band 138 put in an appearance with the group’s lead singer chiming in on Swarm of Eyes’ rendition of “Where Eagles Dare.” Rounding out the covers were The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop,” and Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell,” which brought the show to its fist-pumping conclusion.
You only turn 30-something-ish once, and the Swarm of Eyes guys and their fans made damn sure it was a fun and memorable night for Jeff, as well as their fans. Thanks for coming out!
Thrash N’ Bang Interview and Review SOE
Metal website Thrash N’ Bang caught up with Swarm of Eyes at the band’s most recent live show. Thrash N’ Bang’s singlularly-monikered Slimedog sat down with the Eyes guys to chat about everything from how the band came together, who contributes the most, and how lead singer Randy Carter gets his hair so gosh-darn pretty. The entire interview can be read here.
Thrash N’ Bang were also on-hand to see the band at The Lucky Dog on January 28th, 2012. If you weren’t lucky enough to catch SOE that night, experience a sliver of the magic through the site’s co-creator Andy Bang’s review of the live show, which also featured The River Neva, Sweet Destruction, Ratchaburi, and Supernaut on the bill, as well.
Swarm of Eyes would like to thank Thrash N’ Bang for all of the love they’ve sent the band’s way. We really appreciate it and love Andy Bang and Slimedog back… In a totally hetero, metal comrades-in-arms kind of way!
Swarmies, please show some love to Thrash N’ Bang and check out all of the stellar news, reviews, and interviews (Hey! That rhymes!) available on their site. Do it! NOW!
“Designing the Dystopia” makes PopBlerd!’s “Top 11 of ’11”
It’s that time of year. Not for grossly overspending and obligatory visits to Grandma’s house, but for year-end “Best of” lists”!! Swarm of Eyes’ debut album, Designing the Dystopia, was named #9 on PopBlerd’s “Top 11 of ’11” list in the site’s weekly Metal Monday feature. Swarm of Eyes is honored to be included among the likes of fellow list-ees Dir En Grey and Motherboar. Thank you for all of your support, Popblerd!