External links
- Official site
- Swami Records publishing catalog at MusicBrainz
| Swami Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | John Reis |
| Genre | Punk rock, rock |
| Country of origin | U.S. |
| Location | San Diego, California |
| Official website | swami-records |
Swami Records is a San Diego-based independent record label specializing in punk rock and rock music. The label was founded in 2000 by John Reis, who also has his own radio show, Swami Sound System, on station 94.9FM KBZT in San Diego.
| Year | Artist | Title | Format | Type | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Rocket from the Crypt | All Systems Go 2 | LP, CD | compilation album | SWA 2001 |
| 2000 | Hot Snakes | Automatic Midnight (co-released with Sympathy for the Record Industry) | LP, CD | studio album | SFTRI 602 SWA 2002 |
| 2001 | Beehive & the Barracudas | Plastic Soul with the White Apes (co-released with Sympathy for the Record Industry) | CD | studio album | SWA 2004 SFTRI 631 |
| 2000 | Sultans | Sultans (co-released with Sympathy for the Record Industry) | CD | EP | SWA 2006 SFTRI 633 |
| 2000 | Sultans | Ghost Ship (co-released with Sympathy for the Record Industry) | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 2007 SFTRI 634 |
| 2001 | Tourettes Lautrec | Red All (co-released with Sympathy for the Record Industry) | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 2008 SFTRI 644 |
| 2002 | Hot Snakes | Suicide Invoice | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 111 |
| 2002 | Rocket from the Crypt | Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud (re-release of 1995 LP and 1999 EP) | CD | compilation album | SWA 112 |
| 2002 | Hot Snakes | Automatic Midnight (re-release of 2000 album) | CD | studio album | SWA 113 |
| 2002 | Beehive & the Barracudas | Plastic Soul with the White Apes (re-release of 2001 album) | CD | studio album | SWA 114 |
| 2002 | Drive Like Jehu | Yank Crime (re-release of 1994 album) | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 115 |
| 2003 | Pitchfork | Eucalyptus + Saturn Outhouse (re-release of 1990 album and 1989 EP) | CD | studio album | SWA 116 |
| 2003 | various artists | Swami Sound System Vol. 1: 2003 Sales Conference | LP, CD | compilation album | SWA 117 |
| 2003 | Testors | Complete Recordings 1976–79 | LP, CD | compilation album | SWA 118 |
| 2003 | Beehive & the Barracudas | In Dark Love | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 119 |
| 2003 | The Husbands | Introducing the Sounds of the Husbands | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 120 |
| 2003 | Dan Sartain | Dan Sartain vs. the Serpientes | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 121 |
| 2003 | various artists | Swami Southwest Séance | 7" | EP | none |
| 2004 | Sultans | Shipwrecked | CD | studio album | SWA 122 |
| 2004 | Demolition Doll Rods | On | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 123 |
| 2004 | Rocket from the Crypt | Circa: Now! +4 (re-release of 1992 album) | CD | studio album | SWA 125 |
| 2004 | Crime | San Francisco's Still Doomed (reissue of 1991 album San Francisco's Doomed ) | LP, CD | compilation album | SWA 126 |
| 2004 | Hot Snakes | Audit in Progress | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 127 |
| 2004 | Hot Snakes | EP in Progress | CD | EP | none |
| 2005 | Hot Snakes | Peel Sessions (7" version co-released with One Little Indian Records as primary publisher) | 7", CD | EP | SWA 128 (CD) 469TP7 (EP) |
| 2005 | Penetrators | Basement Anthology: 1976–84 | CD | compilation album | SWA 129 |
| 2005 | The Marked Men / Sultans / The Heartaches | "Wait for You" / "She's Gone" / "Prisoner of Love" | 7" | EP | SWA 130 |
| 2006 | Demolition Doll Rods | There Is a Difference | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 131 |
| 2006 | The Marked Men | Fix My Brain | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 132 |
| 2006 | The Husbands | There's Nothing I'd Like More Than to See You Dead | CD | studio album | SWA 133 |
| 2006 | The Bronx | The Bronx | LP | studio album | SWA 134 |
| 2006 | Hot Snakes | Thunder Down Under | LP, CD | live album | SWA 135 |
| 2006 | Dan Sartain | Join Dan Sartain | CD | studio album | SWA 136 |
| 2006 | The Heartaches | Too Cool for School | CD | studio album | SWA 137 |
| 2006 | Rocket from the Crypt | RFTC 10-31-05 | DVD | video album | none |
| 2008 | The Night Marchers | "Scene Report" / "Big Enough" / "Love, Death & Cell Phones" | 7" | single | none |
| 2008 | The Night Marchers | "Mystery Machine" / "Rock-a-By Maybe" | 7" | single | none |
| 2008 | The Night Marchers | See You in Magic (co-released with Vagrant Records as primary publisher) | LP, CD | studio album | VR 496 |
| 2008 | The Night Marchers | "Whose Lady R U?" (co-released with Vagrant Records as primary publisher) | 7", CD | single | VRUK 078S |
| 2008 | Rocket from the Crypt | All Systems Go 3 (co-released with Vagrant Records as primary publisher) | CD | compilation album | VR 508 |
| 2008 | Beehive & the Barracudas | Pure Commotion | CD | studio album | none |
| 2008 | CPC Gangbangs | Mutilation Nation | CD | studio album | SWA 138 |
| 2009 | Mariachi El Bronx | Mariachi El Bronx | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 139 |
| 2011 | The Night Marchers | "Thar She Blows" / "All Hits" | 7" | single | SWA 140 |
| 2012 | Mrs Magician | Strange Heaven | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 141 |
| 2013 | The Night Marchers | Allez! Allez! | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 142 |
| 2013 | The Night Marchers / Mrs. Magician | "La Gloria" / "Despicable Things" | 7" | single | SWA 143 |
| 2013 | Rocket from the Crypt | "Love Is Lies" | 7" | single | SWA 145 |
| 2013 | Rocket from the Crypt | "In League with Satan" | 7" | single | SWA 146 |
| 2013 | Rocket from the Crypt | "Baker Street" | 7" | single | SWA 147 |
| 2013 | Rocket from the Crypt | "Spinning 'Round" | 7" | single | SWA 148 |
| 2013 | Rocket from the Crypt | "Shy Fly" | 7" | single | SWA 149 |
| 2013 | Rocket from the Crypt | "My Blues Away" | 7" | single | SWA 150 |
| 2014 | Swami John Reis & The Blind Shake | Modern Surf Classics | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 144 |
| 2015 | Sonny Vincent and Rocket from the Crypt | Vintage Piss | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 145 |
| 2016 | various artists | Hardcore Matinee | LP | compilation album | SWA 146 |
| 2016 | Mrs Magician | Bermuda | LP, CD | studio album | SWA 147 |
| 2016 | Mrs Magician | "Eyes All Over Town" / "I'm Glad You're Dead" | 7" | single | none |
| 2016 | METZ & Swami John Reis | "Let It Rust" / "Caught Up" | 7" | single | SWA 150 |
| 2016 | Rocket from the Crypt | "Don't Drop the Baby" | 7" | single | SWA 151 |
In the United States, California is commonly associated with the film, music, and arts industries; there are numerous world-famous Californian musicians. Hardcore punk, hip hop, country, and heavy metal have all appeared in California. Furthermore, new genres of music, such as surf rock and third wave ska, have their origins in California.
Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. It was formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis, ex-members of Pitchfork, along with bassist Mike Kennedy and drummer Mark Trombino, both from Night Soil Man, after their two bands disbanded in 1990. Drive Like Jehu's music was characterized by passionate singing, unusual song structure, indirect melodic themes, intricate guitar playing, and calculated use of tension, resulting in a distinctive sound amongst other post-hardcore acts and helped to catalyze the evolution of hardcore punk into emo.
Rocket from the Crypt is an American rock band from San Diego, California, originally active from 1990 to 2005, then active during 2011 and again from 2013 to the present.
Hot Snakes are an American post-hardcore band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1999 in San Diego, California. Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, after which Reis had found international success with Rocket from the Crypt. Hot Snakes disbanded in 2005 but reunited in 2011.
John Reis and also known by the pseudonyms Speedo, Slasher, and The Swami is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005. Prior to this he was the guitarist in the post-hardcore band Pitchfork, and also played in Drive Like Jehu during the early 1990s. In 1999 he formed the Hot Snakes, and in 2000 also formed the Sultans, in which he sang and originally played bass before switching to rhythm guitar. He played in both these bands until their breakups in 2005 and 2007 respectively. He also released a solo recording under the name Back Off Cupids, which was recorded in 1994 but not released until 1999. Over the years he has performed in many other musical acts including Conservative Itch, Stacatto Reads, Custom Floor, and Beehive & the Barracudas. He is the owner of Swami Records, a label he founded in 1999. He frequently works with bands in a studio capacity and releases albums by many southern California groups through his label. He also hosts the "Swami Sound System" program. Reis remains an influential figure in the San Diego underground music community and is currently performing with San Diego bands The Night Marchers and PLOSIVS, with Rob Crow.
Hot Charity is the third album by the San Diego, California punk rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1995 on the fictitious record label Perfect Sound Records. The original release was limited in number and soon went out of print, however it was re-released in CD format in 2002 by singer/guitarist John Reis on his Swami Records label as part of the compilation album Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
The Sultans were an American rock and roll band led by John Reis, formed in 2000 in San Diego, California and disbanded in January 2007. Over the course of the band's lifespan they released two full-length albums on Reis' Swami Records label. The band took pride in their "stripped down" rock and roll approach, using a simple guitar/bass/drum structure and recording quickly using pre-used equipment and borrowed instruments in order to maintain a loose, spontaneous feel.
Pitchfork was an American post-hardcore band formed in 1986 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 1990. They are most well known as the first "real" band of guitarist John Reis, who would later gain fame as the frontman in Rocket from the Crypt, and as the first collaboration between Reis and singer Rick Froberg. As an aspiring visual artist and illustrator, Froberg provided most of the band's artwork while Reis developed his studio skills by acting as producer on their records.
Circa: Now! is the second album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 1992 by Cargo Music and Headhunter Records. It was the band's first album to include drummer Atom and saxophone player Apollo 9. Intense touring following the album's release gained the band acclaim in underground music circles, scoring them the first of many "minor hits" with the song "Hippy Dippy Do." The band also filmed music videos for the songs "Ditchdigger" and "Sturdy Wrist."
Automatic Midnight is the first studio album by the San Diego, California post-hardcore band Hot Snakes, released in 2000 by Swami Records. Both the band and the album began as a "side project" for John Reis in June 1999, during time off from his main band Rocket From the Crypt. Reis wrote and recorded a batch of songs in San Diego with Delta 72 drummer Jason Kourkounis. To provide vocals for the tracks Reis called in Rick Froberg, whom he had played with in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu from 1986 to 1995. Most of the material from these sessions was used to create Automatic Midnight, which became the first release for Reis' newly formed Swami Records label.
Suicide Invoice is the second studio album by the San Diego, California rock band Hot Snakes, released in 2002 by Swami Records. It was recorded in a similar manner to the band's previous album Automatic Midnight, with guitarist John Reis taking time off from his main band Rocket from the Crypt. As a visual artist and illustrator singer/guitarist Rick Froberg provided the album's artwork, while Reis released the album through his Swami Records label.
Audit in Progress is the third studio album by the San Diego, California, rock band Hot Snakes, released in 2004 by Swami Records. It was recorded in a similar manner to the band's previous two albums, with guitarist John Reis taking time off from his main band Rocket From the Crypt. In comparison to the band's previous albums, Audit in Progress is more aggressive and primal. Audit in Progress would be Hot Snakes' final studio album until 2018's Jericho Sirens, as the members decided to disband following a tour of Australia in Spring 2005.
Peel Sessions is an EP by the San Diego, California rock band Hot Snakes, released in 2005 by Swami Records. It was recorded in the Fall of 2004 while the band was on tour in the UK, for broadcast on BBC Radio 1's John Peel program. Hot Snakes would be one of the last groups to record such a session, as Peel died shortly afterwards. It is also the only Hot Snakes release not to feature artwork created by singer/guitarist Rick Froberg.
Shipwrecked is the second and final album by the San Diego, California rock and roll band Sultans, released in 2004 by Swami Records. When the band reconvened to record the album in November 2003, original guitarist Andy Stamets chose not to rejoin the group. Singer/bassist John Reis took over the guitar position and his brother Dean Reis joined the band on bass, taking the stage name "Black Velvet."
Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud is an album by the San Diego rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 2002 by Swami Records. It combines two of the band's out-of-print vinyl releases, the 1995 LP Hot Charity and 1999 EP Cut Carefully and Play Loud, into a single release on CD. It includes liner notes by singer/guitarist John Reis detailing the recordings of both releases.
Since the mid-1970s, California has had thriving regional punk rock movements. It primarily consists of bands from the Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura County, San Diego, San Fernando Valley, San Francisco, Fresno, Bakersfield, Alameda County, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Oakland and Berkeley areas.
Dan Sartain vs. the Serpientes is the third album by the Birmingham, Alabama rock musician Dan Sartain, released in 2003 by Swami Records. It was Sartain's first commercially available album, his previous efforts Crimson Guard and Romance in Stereo having been self-produced and self-released. Several tracks from these albums were re-used on Vs. the Serpientes, while others were re-recorded. Several additional musicians from the Swami label recorded on the album, including members of Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Sultans, Beehive and the Barracudas, and The Heartaches.
Join Dan Sartain is the fourth album by the Birmingham, Alabama rock musician Dan Sartain, released in 2006 by Swami Records. Several additional musicians recorded on the album, including Swami Records owner John Reis.
The discography of Rocket from the Crypt, a San Diego-based alternative rock band active from 1990 to 2005, consists of seven studio albums, two EPs, one live album, two DVDs, twenty-eight singles, and eight music videos.
"Surfin' U.S.A." is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys, credited to Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson. It is a rewritten version of Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" set to new lyrics penned by Wilson and an uncredited Mike Love. The song was released as a single on March 4, 1963, backed with "Shut Down". It was then placed as the opening track on their album of the same name.
