Biography
Whirlwind Heat, a Moog-driven rock trio whose moniker derives from the artwork on Sonic Youth’s Goo, comprises vocalist and keyboardist David Swanson, bassist Steve Damstra, and drummer Brad Holland. The three friends from the Grand Rapids, Michigan region first assembled in 1996 with a conventional guitar-bass-drums configuration, drawing early inspiration from the Melvins and Mudhoney. Swanson moved to keyboards in 1997 for a St. Patrick’s Day performance supporting Arab on Radar; the following summer the band joined that group for a national tour.
During 1999 the trio issued its first single, Whirlwind Heat/Mechanik, on the Offsite label, recruited guitarist Jason Eberspeaker, and performed at the Gold Dollar in a show witnessed by Italy Records founder Dave Buick. Through Buick they cut a single for his imprint and were introduced to Jack White of the White Stripes, who proposed a recording session. That partnership produced the 2000 single Glaxefusion on Italy and placed the track “Decal on My Sticker” on Sympathy for the Recording Industry’s 2001 anthology Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit. After Eberspeaker departed to focus on fine arts, the remaining members sustained recording and live work, sharing stages with the Dirtbombs and MC Paul Barman.
In 2002 White again produced the band, capturing the full-length debut Do Rabbits Wonder? over four days at Brendan Benson’s studio; Dave Fridmann later mixed the album at Tarbox Road Studios. Whirlwind Heat’s rendition of the White Stripes’ “You’re Pretty Good Looking” appeared on the Hot Chick soundtrack that same year. Third Man and V2 co-released Do Rabbits Wonder? in spring 2003, and the group served as an opening act on the White Stripes’ tour. The Flamingo Honey EP arrived on Dim Mak in 2004, after which the band supported the Kills, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Beck on the road until the 2006 release of Types of Wood.
During 1999 the trio issued its first single, Whirlwind Heat/Mechanik, on the Offsite label, recruited guitarist Jason Eberspeaker, and performed at the Gold Dollar in a show witnessed by Italy Records founder Dave Buick. Through Buick they cut a single for his imprint and were introduced to Jack White of the White Stripes, who proposed a recording session. That partnership produced the 2000 single Glaxefusion on Italy and placed the track “Decal on My Sticker” on Sympathy for the Recording Industry’s 2001 anthology Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit. After Eberspeaker departed to focus on fine arts, the remaining members sustained recording and live work, sharing stages with the Dirtbombs and MC Paul Barman.
In 2002 White again produced the band, capturing the full-length debut Do Rabbits Wonder? over four days at Brendan Benson’s studio; Dave Fridmann later mixed the album at Tarbox Road Studios. Whirlwind Heat’s rendition of the White Stripes’ “You’re Pretty Good Looking” appeared on the Hot Chick soundtrack that same year. Third Man and V2 co-released Do Rabbits Wonder? in spring 2003, and the group served as an opening act on the White Stripes’ tour. The Flamingo Honey EP arrived on Dim Mak in 2004, after which the band supported the Kills, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Beck on the road until the 2006 release of Types of Wood.
Albums
