Sinners, Harlots and Hooligans (reissue). The Legendary Swagger

Only on second inspection did the word reissue get noticed by me. By then I had long decided to do a write up on the album. In fact, a few songs were more than enough for that. The fact that this is re-release is irrelevant. Sinners, Harlots & Hooligans is such an urgent album.

I had never heard of The Legendary Swagger before a single or two on this blog. That is not totally surprising. Sinners, Harlots & Hooligans was released in 2008 and only in 2022 the band's second was released. Later this month there will be a new album, but first Sinners, Harlots & Hooligans.

The Legendary Swagger is a band from Long Beach, California and its choice of music is punkrock. With a singer whose voice is nicely greased and a guitarist who knows how to finetune his guitarsound to rock. My reference here is the L.A. band Social Distortion. In other words punk with great melodies, huge voice and a fine solo here and there.

This band is not afraid to show its pop side by creating great melodies, no matter how tough a song may be/sound. In 'My Evil Ways' there's even a female soul singer, Robin Nivens, who sings like the song is supposed to be sang at a Sunday morning service. That would be a nice shock come to think about it. To me it shows how thin the barriers between popular music are, that a blend like this can be made in such a successful way.

I'm not certain, but this could be the people playing on the record, Richie Mendez, (Drums and Vocals), Jim Perrault (Bass and Vocals), Skot Pollok (Guitars) and Geoff Yeaton (Vocals and Saxophone). Yes, that saxophone sets The Legendary Swagger rather apart from most punkrock bands. It's used sparingly but certainly effectively.

If anything defines Sinners, Harlots and Hooligans, it is the surge of energy coming from my speakers. It's circa 17 years since the release and I certainly did not know the album at the time, but the re-release is totally justified. This is a punkrock, garagerock album that any fan of the music should get to know and Rum Bar is presenting that option to us all. "She is Perfect" Yeaton and background vocalists sing in "Perfect". It sounds like the right description for Sinners, Harlots and Hooligans to me.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order Sinners, Harlots and Hooligans  here:

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sinners-harlots-hooligans-reissue