DAVE SWANSON’S MYSTERY AIRSHIP Debut Single Out Now on Get Hip!

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“Nothing To Lose,” the new single taken from the spectacular ‘D.S.M.A.’ debut album, is a collision of Dudes era Mott, Tommy Who and the early San Francisco sound of the Airplane and We Five. The soaring lead vocal of Jessica Horvat commands attention while the harmonies are pure heaven with a no-bullshit production that graces the likes of every record you have in your personal record collection.

~Greg Prevost-Rochester, NY June 2024

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Dave Swanson’s Mystery Airship

Veterans of the Cleveland music scene, one and all, Dave Swanson’s Mystery Airship came together over personal tragedy (the death of Swanson’s wife) and a love of music that goes far deeper than ripples on the water. These are crashing waves going on.

“I had written a bunch of songs,” recalled Swanson. “I wanted to record them but had no real plans to put a band together.” Of course, that’s when a band happens, as old friends came calling. Bassist Jeff Herwick and drummer Scott Pickering had both played together, and with Swanson, at various times. The rhythm section had recently done some session work and were all fired up which got Swanson thinking maybe this was the way forward. Swanson has been involved with many bands including Guided By Voices, New Salem Witch Hunters, Rainy Day Saints, the Cynics, Chamber Strings, Death Of Samantha and the Reactions.

The trio began rehearsing these new songs, twisting them into shape, they noticed there was something special going on. They needed to find a singer to complete the picture. “I didn’t want to sing and we didn’t want to reach back to others we had played with, we wanted a fresh start,” said Swanson. “That’s when I thought of Jessica.”

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Jessica Horvat is the vocal and focal point of the band. Her singing style falls somewhere between Grace Slick and Peggy Lee. “Jessica was an old friend who I had reconnected with and when I asked if she’d be interested, she was very excited to join in.”

The band entered Noise Floor Studio with engineer/producer Mark Klein and recorded around 16 songs, 12 of which are on their debut album. Their music crosses several lines from rock to pop to psychedelia to blues to folk to jazz and back again. It’s not easily pinned down and that’s how they like it. From the psychedelic invocation of ‘DSMA-25’ to the blues stomp of ‘ Here We Go Now’ on through the hypnotic ‘Over And Over’ to the grit of ‘No Man’s Land,’ a lot of ground is covered.

“We want the freedom to go wherever the music takes us,” Herwick said. “That could be a three minute rocker, or a 12 minute adventure.” Horvat’s vocals have given the band the freedom to experiment and let things just happen. “We just want to make music,” Swanson emphasizes. “We’re doing this for ourselves and hoping people come along for the ride!”

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Dave Swanson’s Mystery Airship:
Dave Swanson – guitars, vocals, Ebow, Korg, Mellotron, melodica, percussion
Jessica Horvat – vocals, percussion
Jeff Herwick – bass guitar
Scott Pickering – drums

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Other Releases Featuring Dave Swanson:

LPs

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Compact Discs

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• RAINY DAY SAINTS “ALL THESE STRANGE GHOSTS“  GH-1162CD (GET HIP)
  • Cleveland’s underrated singer/songwriter/guitaris/drummer/producer Dave Swanson has had a solid lineup full of talent for his long-loved project RAINY DAY SAINTS and it’s reflected in this new album: tight and brilliant both in songwriting and production.
    
    
• RAINY DAY SAINTS “DIAMOND STAR HIGHWAY“  GH-1131CD (GET HIP)
  • CLEVELAND, OHIO STRAIGHT-OUT POWER-POP COMBO SECOND ALBUM – DRAWING FRO MTHE BEST 60s/70s AND 80s POP INFLUENCES DAVE SWANSON AND HIS BAND CREATE A POWERFUL NEW R&R GEM
    
    
• RAINY DAY SAINTS “REFLECTED“  GH-1152CD (GET HIP)
  • Amazing third album by underrated Psychedelic Garage Rock band from Cleveland!
    
    
• RAINY DAY SAINTS “SATURDAY’S HAZE“  GH-1116CD (GET HIP)
  • PERFECT POP MELODIES & ROCK JAMS FROM CLEVELAND BAND LED BY THE TALENTED DAVE SWANSON AND FEAT. AN ALL-STAR CAST OF VETERAN SEASONED MUSICIANS!