The Swingin’ Utters – Live In A Dive

Swingin’ Utters is a band name that most people are familiar with. They’ve released 6 albums and one seven inch on Fat Wreck Chords since 1996, each one to good press. They are many people’s favorites street punk band, and Fat Wreck decided to capture that and display the band in a live setting. So what does that leave us with? Well, it means that we get the sixth installment in the label’s Live In A Diveseries, and are able to picture a live show by these punkers.

Now, if you are like me and don’t know too much by the Utter’s, then after one listen to this 23 track CD, you will wish you knew more. With each song you get pretty much the same layout, steady drum and guitar beats, with Johnny Bonnel’s sore vocals rounding it all off. But yet, each song is still unique and they know how to change it up when needed. Like the acoustic Fruitless Fortunes, or the accordion onMother Of The Mad and London Drunk. Each song is fast and full of energy, its not often that a band can rip through 23 tracks in only an hour; but the Utters are able to without missing a beat.

Another good thing about this Live In A Dive CD by The Swingin’ Utters, is that they play songs from practically their entire catalog. This lets you hear songs from almost every CD they’ve released, so you get a feel of them all and then can go and buy your favorite from your nearest record store! Plus, like all Live In A Dive releases, they have a nice cartoon with it. This time its the band in a Scooby Doo theme being haunted by the punks of the past. And then, once you pop the CD in your computer you get two live videos and interview! That’s some good bonus stuff there.

Swinging’ Utter‘ Live In A Dive is a good live CD. The quality is nice and clear, and you don’t really miss anything because of the sound quality. You can listen to it over and over again without getting bored, and it introduces you to the band if you didn’t know much by them beforehand.