Swiftumz

Swiftumz capture the essence of the San Francisco Bay Area's noise pop vitality during the 2010s and 2020s by mixing punk's clattering drive, the bright tunes of old-school indie pop, and the intimate lo-fi aesthetic from '90s bedroom recordings. This is clear from their 2015 release Everybody Loves Chris, a noisy gem, and the 2024 album Simply the Best, which is taut and packed with hooks. Chris McVicker established the group after quitting his middle school marching band, finding the repertoire insufficiently exciting, which sparked his entry into rock music. He participated in numerous groups across punk and additional genres, including Special Ed alongside Tina Lucchesi, formerly of the Bobbyteens. Via this association, his composition "Don't Cha Want Me Back" appeared on a 2009 single by Hunx & His Punx. Seeking independence, McVicker pursued solo endeavors, issuing his first album Don't Trip in 2011 via Holy Mountain Records. There, he and associates crafted tracks evoking C-86 indie pop as well as the eccentric early-'90s lo-fi figures. He assembled a performing ensemble to present the material live throughout the Bay Area and further afield. Following two 2013 singles titled "Love Ya 4 Eva" and "Willy," Swiftumz delivered Everybody Loves Chris in May 2015 through the local Melters imprint. Subsequent to the 2017 Fruits & Flowers release "Game Six," McVicker commenced preparations for Swiftumz's follow-up full-length. Over six years of effort involving collaborators such as Kelley Stoltz, Alicia Vanden Heuvel formerly of Aislers Set, participants from the Bananas and the Dirty Ghosts, plus guitarist Chris Guthridge responsible for every solo, Simply the Best emerged in June 2024 on Empty Cellar Records. The record maintained the punk-indie pop fusion of its predecessor while adopting a more focused and conventional approach.