Neon Swing X-perience
Bouncing, honking, thumping, jumping, Neon Swing X-perience jitters the new-found bug in six oldies-but-goodies along with four similar-sounding songs written by the band.
This seven-guy group has been glowing with bluesy, deliberately retro stuff for nigh on 10 years, and the latest thing is the group’s sixth CD, Here to Stay. Bouncing, honking, thumping, jumping, Neon Swing X-perience jitters the new-found bug in six oldies-but-goodies along with four similar-sounding songs written by the band.
Sometimes supplemented by five other musicians, the band goes in for vocals with five singers variably up front, blending like fraternal descendents of the Andrews Sisters. Often you’ll hear the gritty lead voice of founding member and nominal leader Mike Urick of Monroeville. A couple of trumpets, an array of saxophones, guitars, basses and a piano pop are in there too.
Among the familiar songs: Glenn Miller’s 1939 hit “In the Mood”; Louis Prima’s “Jump, Jive & Wail”; and from the Satchmo regular book there’s “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” The above are evidently regular audience favorites according to Urick, who’s also among the contributors, in terms of original writing, as is Mount Washington’s John Rokosz. You can find this happy sound all over the Web site map, as well as in actual bookstores. More info at neonswing.net.
This article appears in the January 2009 issue of Pittsburgh Magazine
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