Swear and Shake

SWEAR AND SHAKE is a New York-based indie-folk-rock quartet that features singer-songwriters Kari Spieler and Adam McHeffey, bassist Shaun Savage and drummer Tom Elefante. While studying at SUNY Purchase in 2009, Adam and Kari collaborated on a simple one mic demo. Shortly after realizing the potential in their musical chemistry, the duo was joined by Shaun and Tom, adding a colorful new energy to their melodic and catchy songs. Although Swear and Shake is still a new band, they have shared the stage with notable acts including the Avett Brothers, Alison Krauss, Ray LaMontagne, and Levon Helm at the 6th Annual Mountain Jam Festival, and continue to play venues across the tri-state area with frequent stops in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side. Their five track EP is a great portfolio of the young band’s lyrical edge and honesty, as well as their creative, masterful instrumentation. Spieler’s smooth warm voice slips over witty, introspective lyrics like scotch over ice, accompanied in perfect harmony by McHeffey’s heart-string-taut tenor, sharp acoustics and driving beats and bass. Grammy-winning folk singer Mike Doughty has sung the praises of Kari’s “smokey voice” which has  been compared to Sarah MacLachlan, Joan Osborne, and Dar Williams, “with Joan’s gusto and Dar’s high note reach.” As a writer and performer she’s been applauded for a “singing style and insightful writing [that] are remarkable for her age.” Adam has been praised for his songwriting, citing, “harmonies that can be hummed by every generation; his lyrics are everything from magical to inspirational, extremely interesting and fun.” For more information visit swearandshake.com Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.