About

We are THE SWAGGER – an original 4 piece Grit-rock band from Hornsey, North London UK formed in March 2011. The band consists of two brothers Lee Stevens (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar),Paul Stevens (Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals), Kyle Lapsley (Bass Guitar), Rory Smith (Drums) originally playing small London pubs and clubs as The Mad Hatters UK, The Swagger was born in 2011.

With influences including The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, and Stereophonics, The Swagger’s music is modern acoustic pop-rock with a catchy yet gritty aesthetic, combining melodic 60’s style harmonies and classic 90’s Britpop indie-alternative.

The band recently took a year out to re-group and are now back with a bang with their brand new single penned ‘Chin Up Boy’ planned for release in October 2019 and will be touring The West Coast of America in September playing shows in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Long Beach California, San Diego & Phoenix Arizona.

Previous single ‘Heart ‘N’ Soul’ which was released 31.08.18 as a FREE Digital Download via Bandcamp received rave reviews/press from around the globe – Ahead of this the band previewed their new video which features a surprising story line and unexpected ending, cloaked in dark humor – a clever road trip with a twist, showing they have a true sense of irony. The Swagger recently played a SOLD OUT show in London @ The 02 Academy Islington for their single launch and have also giving away a FREE download of brand new demo penned “Want It All” which has already got people talking.

Both singles recorded at Far Heath studios in Northamptonshire UK, produced by The Swagger & Mike Bennett (Ian Brown, Neville Staple, Doctor & The Medics) and engineered, mixed & mastered by Angus Wallace (Wishbone Ash, Spiritualized, The Fall).

The Swagger debut EP was made up of four original tracks penned ‘She Gonna Blow My Mind’, ‘Stoned’, ‘Keep On Fighting’ & ‘Ride’ which caused quite a stir during their live performances and have captured peoples attention. Their eponymous debut EP self-released via Bandcamp limited edition of 100 CD each hand numbered on July 22nd (2016), , recorded at the famous Konk studios owned by Ray & Dave Davies of The Kinks in North London and was produced by Graham Bonnar (Swervedriver / The Brian Jonestown Massacre), engineered by Josh Green (Madness, Robbie Williams, Franz Ferdinand) and was mixed & mastered by Pat Collier (The Vibrators) at Perry Vale studios, South London.

The band originally recorded their first demos at Tigersonic Studios (Holloway, North London) in late 2015 with co-producer Felix Macintosh, and pretty soon found their way to Konk Studios in Hornsey, North London with Producer Graham Bonnar and guitar tech Brendan Quinn (Divisionists) who also helped shaped their sound.

“I saw The Swagger in a local bar near Turnpike Lane. They came on and blew my head off. Live they have the same energy as the early punk bands,” explains Graham Bonnar. “Lee has written over a hundred songs and they all could be singles, so I offered to produce their debut EP. We got Pat Collier from The Vibrators fame to mix. Pat did a stellar job. We go way back as he also did Swervedriver’s first single “Son of Mustang Ford. I also brought in Brendan Quinn of Divisionist, who I played some shows with last year in Europe with Rosco and Pete Bassman from Spacemen 3”.

The band has supported Creation Records’ Hurricane #1, arranged through supporter Alan McGee, as well as Slydigs and Trampolene in addition to headlining The Cavern Club in Liverpool for the IPO Festival 2017, also headlining Bannerman’s Bar in Edinburgh and receiving positive acclaim by John Power (Cast/The La’s) at Brixton Jamm, London in 2014.

If any new band from the British Isles can show their original character on guitars, drums and bass, and also have a talent for writing a good rock song, they shall thrive! Similar to the US, Britain too has numerous live clubs and the tradition in throwing parties very easily and fast. The Swagger grew up in these walls and the groove, the fun, and the required English humor and wit run in their veins, traditionally!

These fine young Englishmen are original indie rockers following Albion’s heritage along the same streams that have been bringing monumentally successful records since the early, mid-eighties. They are Londoners, they are indie, they live for playing on stage, they only breathe in the muddy festivals, and they sleep with the same everlasting thoughts every night: when will the next gig be!