31 Seasons In The Minor Leagues

Description

Probably the first album entirely written and recorded in a Bundesliga stadium, namely FC St. Pauli's Millerntor Stadium in Hamburg. Don't worry, it doesn't sound like stadium rock at all. Quite the opposite... Lo-fi without being abrasive and minimal without sounding sparse. DaveDoughman is the heart and voice of Swearing At Motorists, who perform and record primarily as a duo. Since 1995, Swearing At Motorists has built a cult following thanks to their raw energy, heartfelt songwriting, and relentless DIY spirit. Nicknamed "The World's Local Band" and "The Two Men Who," they have traveled countless miles performing worldwide, sharing stages with iconic acts like Guided By Voices, Songs:Ohia, The Breeders, Spoon, Unwound, Brainiac, The Lemonheads, My Morning Jacket, and many more. After an 11-year hiatus, the band is back and performing shows to support this album. Swearing At Motorists has come a long way since its birth in Dayton, Ohio. In the late 90s, Swearing At Motorists released a series of 7" EPs on various labels. After receiving multiple plays from John Peel and favorable international press, the band signed a deal with the new Secretly Canadian label. They released two EPs and four LPs on SC, including Number Seven Uptown in 2000 and This Flag Signals Goodbye in 2002, both of which were voted "Underground Album of the Year" by MOJO magazine in their respective release years. Swearing At Motorists moved to Berlin in 2005, where they released their last LP for Secretly Canadian, Last Night Becomes This Morning, the following year, before quietly disappearing into the eternal Berlin night... Eight years later, the band (now joined by Martin Boeters on drums) resurfaced in Hamburg, Germany, with a new album titled While Laughing, The Joker Tells The Truth, released in September. Released in 2014 on Anton Newcombe's label, A Recordings Ltd (and recently reissued on BB*ISLAND), the album, co-produced by Dave and Rick McPhail (from the legendary German band Tocotronic), chronicles those eight "lost" years in classic Motorists style. "...full of catchy pluck, meaningful low notes, chamber rhythms, choruses, etc., all for endless pleasure...", writes Camden Joy. Eleven years later, the band resurfaced in Hamburg, Germany, after another break, with a new album, 31 Seasons In The Minor Leagues, self-produced in a studio at Millerntor Stadion, Hamburg. Interestingly, Doughman has a unique connection to FC St. Pauli, the famous Hamburg football club. His admiration for the club reflects his passion for underdog stories and the authentic elements of the underdog spirit that permeates his music. The album title is obviously a testament to this. It's about holding on to dreams (or delusions) even when success doesn't materialize. "31 Seasons" could evoke a life full of attempts, failures, and small triumphs. Critically acclaimed, yet largely overlooked, Swearing At Motorists remains an underground indie rock essential, returning to the stage with new stories to tell.