Biography
What appears to be a band called the Swallows actually began as the solitary endeavor of Glenn Milchem. He first issued his own songs under that name while serving as drummer for the Canadian country-rock group Blue Rodeo. Although he values the stability Blue Rodeo has provided since 1991 and the income that has supported his two children, the recordings issued as the Swallows represent the music closest to his own creative core. Mastering guitar and vocals had long been ambitions, yet self-doubt lingered after the modest reception of his earlier cassette-only solo effort, Acting Natural, which appeared in 1986 during his tenures with Whitenoise and Vital Sines. The desire to sing, play guitar, and present original material persisted through the ensuing decade. In 1997 Milchem finally moved forward by launching the project Turning Blue, which surfaced two years later as a fully self-contained recording that highlighted his multi-instrumental abilities. Anne Bourne contributed vocals and cello, while Ian Blurton supplied guitar. With the Swallows’ self-titled follow-up album in 2000, Milchem assembled a working band that included guitarist Clive MacNutt, bassist John Borra, and drummer Randy Curnew. He continues to fulfill his role in Blue Rodeo and simultaneously performs with his twin, John Milchem, in the group Starvin’ Hungry. Earlier associations encompass Blurtonia and Big Sugar, among others; during the 1980s he played in the Toronto bands Plasterscene Replicas, Groovy Religion, and the Garbagemen. Milchem first held drumsticks at age eight and acquired his own kit two years later. Late in 1991 he auditioned for Blue Rodeo and replaced Cleave Anderson.
Albums