29 NOV 2005

The band is now back from their tour. Apparently they cut things short due to van problems. Their next show will be opening for Death Cab For Cutie at a sold out show in Portland.

09 OCT 2005

Swords were recently featured in SPIN magazine's "band of the day".

01 SEP 2005

An entire new set of tour dates have been added. Some American cities will have the fortune of multiple visits by the band this year. For obvious reasons, we did not post the New Orleans show scheduled to take place on November 11th.

08 AUG 2005

I came across a recent article about the band and their new album. Please visit the scissorkick site where you can download one of the new songs called "The Mark".

You can also find that song and a couple of others on the band's MySpace page.

02 AUG 2005

The shows page has been updated with a bunch of new dates. Most of the performances will be with their label mates and fellow Portland residents Talkdemonic.

16 JUL 2005

From all accounts "The_Project" has been dropped from the band's name, leaving us simply with SWORDS. We are also proud to announce that the new album Metropolis will be released on September 20th!

The ARRCO site has been updated with new info and media relating to the band. The cover art is spectacular! Joey has created something truly original and beautiful, which is a perfect marriage with the music.

For those who cannot wait to get their hands on new material, please visit Hush Records. They are selling a new two disc compilation called PDX POP NOW 2005. Swords have a song from Metropolis on the first disc called "Radio Radio". You can also find the album in some record stores. The CD release party will be next Thursday (7/21) at Holocene.

21 MAY 2005

It appears that the new album will not be released until September. We expect that there will be a full tour to support the release of the record. Two shows have been announced so far.

12 MAR 2005

Metropolis is the title of an amazing new record from The Swords Project. We can expect to see the release date to be sometime in June or possibly sooner. Matt Bayles (Minus The Bear) assisted the band with his mixing expertise.

Fans will hopefully be able to see the band begin performing live again in May or June with a tour of North America to follow sometime this summer.

17 FEB 2005

Starting next month this site will be located on our new server. Please update your bookmarks.

The band's new album is finished and Joey is currently working hard on the artwork and layout. One of the songs did not make the final cut, so there are a total of ten tracks on the record. Several remaining instrumental tracks will hopefully appear on an upcoming EP, that with any luck will be released before the year is over.

08 JAN 2005

The Swords Project are now putting the finishing touches on their new album, and both the mixing and mastering should be completed in the next several weeks. Right now the expected release date will be either mid April or mid May. There will be a total of eleven songs and all but two of them have vocals. The compositions are much more traditional in structure compared to previous material. Only two tracks are over six minutes long with a total running time of about fifty minutes. I am sure the record will be worth the long wait!

If we are lucky, fans in the Pacific Northwest can see the band perform again sometime in March. A full tour of North America is being planned for the late spring to support the release of the next album.

29 SEP 2004

Many of you are no doubt familiar with a band called Tarentel. We are proud to announce a new site that was created with Danny Grody for his side project called The Drift. They are an amazing instrumental band from San Francisco with a heavy jazz influence. Fans of Do Make Say Think and Tortoise should not hesitate to check them out!

27 JUL 2004

In order to make room for another site we are building, the Lewis & Clark College video footage has been taken down. Soon we will be sending the band DVD's of all the performances we have filmed, so if you want a copy please ask The Swords.

05 JUL 2004

The band is scheduled to perform a couple of local shows in September with The Wrens.

'Turn of the Century' is the tentative title given to the next album.

21 MAY 2004

Due to the outrageous price of gasoline and other unforeseen factors, The Swords will only be touring next month along the west coast.

A fifth song has been recorded for the new album. That makes about half of the songs laid to tape, but there will be much more work done over the next six months. Things look very good for a mid-winter release date.

11 MAY 2004

Portlanders can see The Swords play this coming Saturday night. Unfortunately, I will be in town that evening but filming Tarentel at Berbati's Pan instead.

While chatting with Joey yesterday we learned that the band's new album has been pushed back to a January (2005) release date. This was done in order to allow them plenty of time to finish writing and recording, and possibly work with some well known industry people. There will be about nine or more songs on the record with about a fifty minute running time. This leads me to believe that the song lengths will be much shorter than we are used to.

12 APR 2004

Do not pass up the chance to see the band play live in the next few months! Several more dates were tacked on to this month's tour, and additional shows are now confirmed for the May-June adventure as well.

08 APR 2004

Two more shows have been added to the upcoming tour. For some reason none of the official sites have all of the current dates listed? Neither the band's record label or booking agency wish to keep me informed on their own.

The Swords' website is back up, but no new updates to report. Joey did tell me that they have finished recording four new songs and might be playing a brand new one during this spring+summer tour.

29 MAR 2004

Fans now have more chances to see the band live here on the western half of the USA. Check out the shows page for details.

07 MAR 2004

Corey recently did an interview with Synthesis Magazine. We are not sure when it was conducted, but most of the questions are related to the band's most recent album.

The Swords will be playing some more shows next month here on the west coast. They will then head south and east (New Orleans being the furthest from home) where the band will be playing a handful of shows with Shannon Wright.

01 MAR 2004

Due to shoestring budget, the band will be recording the entire new album at their base of operations (Human Resources) in downtown Portland. We really hoped that The Swords would have a top notch studio to work in this time. At least it's comforting to know that Evan has done great work at his workshop in the past!

Speaking of Evan's excellent skills, he recently engineered some of the recordings on Night Mute, the soon to be released album from Ativin. Joining the sessions on drums was none other than Joey Ficken. We have no idea how much of their contributions made it on the final product, but it should be a good listen anyway.

Details regarding the Arena Rock version of Entertainment Is Over If You Want It have finally been added to the music page.

Sadly, due to an accounting issue the band's official website is still down after more than a week. Hopefully we will see it return very soon.

22 FEB 2004

Our mighty Swords have been busy working on their new album. The plan of doing a three song EP has been ditched so they can dive head first into creating a full-length epic masterpiece. I've heard that four songs are almost finished and several more are now in the beginning stages (shooting for a total of eleven). Five tracks are supposed to be completed at Human Resources, with an additional five or six recorded with Steve Fisk at SuperNatural Studios in Oregon, or with any luck at Robert Lang Studios (here in Seattle). The hope is to have the entire process done by June 1st in order for a September release date.

In related news, Hush Records will be releasing a new record from The Places this April. Not only do members of The Swords Project appear on the album, but also folks from Death Cab For Cutie, 31 Knots, Last of the Juanitas, Grails, Laurel Canyon, E*Rock, Thermals, and others.

The band will be performing tonight at WOW Hall in Eugene. Next week they will be in California for three shows, before heading back home to make more magic in the studio!

24 DEC 2003

The Swords Project are going to say goodbye to yet another year by playing a show at an excellent venue. Their hometown will get a treat on New Year's Eve if they can get into Berbati's Pan. This is by far the best place I have seen the band play, so do not hesitate if you have not seen them live!

01 DEC 2003

The band will be performing this Friday night at Graceland here in Seattle. We just found out about this show so please excuse the short notice. Fans should look forward to a new EP to be released sometime next Spring. My guess is that it will contain at least the three new songs they have been playing live, and possibly a fourth. I am still holding out hope for a studio version of Iron Made.

02 OCT 2003

Almost all of the venues for the tour have been worked out. A friend of mine is going to attempt booking a show for the band in Charlotte, NC for the 27th of this month. There might not actually be a show on that date because the The Swords could take the night off.

In order to persuade people to check out the group's new live material we have decided to add a couple of fresh little numbers we recorded this summer. Fans who have visited the official website in the past several months may recognize the second track. The working titles are: Bumps and Domes of Silence.

19 SEP 2003

The list of shows for the upcoming fall tour have been updated. We are anxious to see the band at a different venue this time around. Hopefully the sound at the Sunset Tavern can match or exceed the Crocodile Cafe.

15 AUG 2003

It appears that The Swords Project will be launching another assault upon the roads of North America this fall. We have not heard from the band since the first night of their last tour. I'm sure they have been busy catching up with the business of everyday life, just so they can go out and do it all over again in about six weeks.

17 JUL 2003

The new album was released on July 8th and we still do not have a copy. The opening track is an ambient intro which sounds mostly electronic and runs about two minutes long. We had hoped that a song we have seen the band play live (Iron Made) would make it on the album, but Jeff explained that could not decide how to re-work the song to everyone's liking.

Several new tour dates have been added. The Swords can now play in Chicago since their booking agency finally found them a venue. We hope the band is having fun!

29 JUN 2003

As usual the band put on an amazing performance last week! The two new songs we heard are fantastic (cannot wait to hear the final studio versions). Sadly the acoustics and lighting at The Showbox were less than stellar, so it is uncertain if we will add the audio or video to the site.

Evan is supposed to be mailing us a copy of the band's second performance recorded at The Tonic Lounge. According to Jeff the band played an entire improvisational set for well over an hour, so we are excited to hear what kind of journey they took the audience on.

21 JUN 2003

The mighty Swords will be playing tonight at The Blackbird with Fog, Dosh and Kilowatthours. Our local heroes will proudly be opening for Trail Of Dead on Wednesday night here in Seattle.

17 JUN 2003

The band's official site has finally been given an impressive new look. As usual Joey has come up with an artistic and exciting design. Fans should check out the interesting large photos of the band.

Jeff claims that The Swords will be performing two spanking new songs during the tour this summer. We are crossing our fingers that nothing will prevent us from capturing the video of their unveiling. As it stands right now we have permission to film the show on the 25th of June.

01 JUN 2003

Many of the venues have been sorted out for the upcoming shows. We hope to have the opportunity to interview the band when they play here at the end of this month.

09 MAY 2003

Ryan informed me last night that The Swords will be playing at Stumptown Coffee Roasters next weekend. The show starts at 9pm at the new location downtown at 3rd & Ash.

08 MAY 2003

The band's record label claims that the new album will be released on July 8th. Hopefully we can get a copy before then when the band plays live in Seattle with Trail Of Dead next month. Due to the venue's rules, it is uncertain if we will be able to film the show.

06 MAY 2003

We are proud to announce that The Swords Project will perform two local shows at the end of June before launching an extensive tour on the 4th of July. Our neighbors to the north in Canada will finally get a chance to experience the magic sounds of this incredible band. Most of the dates have yet to be confirmed, so please check back often for updates.

28 APR 2003

Since it appears that the new album will not be coming out for at least another two months, we thought fans might enjoy hearing a live & unreleased song that might be the first track on the record. The band was kind enough to dedicate this little number to me at their last show in Seattle for 2002.

24 APR 2003

According to the band's web site the release of their new album has been pushed back until sometime in July. Fortunately the record is worth waiting for because it was supposed to come out in a few weeks. When we find out the exact release date we will let you know.

16 APR 2003

Liza will be performing with The Land Camera at the new location of Stumptown Coffee Roasters. The show is part of Hello! Video - Episode 10 and you can find out the details on their site.

23 MAR 2003

Evan recently took charge of recording seven new songs for Ativin. The sessions were completed in downtown Portland at the Swords' new studio (Human Resources). Joey assisted the band's two guitar players with his always incredible drumming which was greatly appreciated. The trio will complete the album this summer and we can hardly wait to hear the finished product!

09 MAR 2003

Our mighty Swords finally have a home on their record label's site. Fans can now check out a very nice photo of all six members, which appears to be where the recent inner sleeve images came from.

If anyone has the fortune of recording one of the upcoming shows we would love to get a copy. Trades are welcome as long as the quality is top notch. Hopefully I will get a chance to film the band next month!

26 FEB 2003

The band will be playing at least two more shows on their return trip back from SXSW. Locals can look forward to seeing The Swords perform again in April.

22 FEB 2003

The revised equipment section is now complete with example photos of the gear used by the band. Thanks again to Amir for all of his help.

Next month fans in San Francisco will have two chances to see The Swords Project perform live. The band is excited to be opening for Tortoise on the 2nd, and Pere Ubu on the 8th. We suggest that you purchase your tickets soon.

19 FEB 2003

A more clean and lean version of the image gallery has been added. We apologize to the band for keeping up so many unflattering pictures of them in the past. If fans out there have some high quality photos that they would like to contribute please let me know.

The show at the Student Union Building Ballroom at the University of Idaho on the 23rd has been confirmed. Thanks to Matt from The Argonaut.

15 FEB 2003

The band is not sure if they will have time to finish the song for the Chris Bennett film soundtrack compilation. Liza performed on the song that Moon Pony donated to the album but we don't yet know which instrument she played.

Fans in Spokane may not get a chance to see The Swords next weekend. Ryan might have got an all ages show booked but we are still waiting to find out. It sounds like the show in Moscow will be at the SUB Ballroom at the University of Idaho.

14 FEB 2003

Ryan informed me that the new album should still be on schedule for the May 6th release date. He also said that the additional track that appears on the final version of the record is tentatively titled "01".

The Swords are supposed to have a song appearing on an upcoming compilation and benefit album released by The Great Vitamin Mystery. The recording is a soundtrack for a film by Chris Bennett and also features Wow & Flutter, Ativin, Potomac Accord, Tarentel, Jessica Bailiff, Early Day Miners, Her Space Holiday, Mikael Jorgensen, Unwed Sailor, Moon Pony, Tommy Guerreo, Psalmanazar, Your Friend, Darin Gray, and Dave Fischoff. We do not yet know which of the band's songs will appear on the record or if they have even selected/recorded one to contribute.

28 JAN 2003

Welcome to the new version of the unofficial Swords Project web site. Inspiration for the design came from one of Corey Ficken's beautiful and unique tattoos. We are very happy to say goodbye to the hastily created old site. Please bear with us for the next few weeks while we tweak everything to look it's best. Hopefully the final improved appearance will keep you coming back!

The band's new record: Entertainment Is Over If You Want It, is supposed to be in stores on the 6th of May. The album's artwork/packaging will receive some aesthetic improvements and the songs will get re-mastered to bring out their full sonic potential. The best news about this finalized masterpiece is that an additional track has been added!

For those fans who cannot wait until this spring to purchase the band's latest album, you can head over to Absolutely Kosher Records and order yourself a copy of the self-released version. Who knows, it may be an actual collectors item someday.

If you live between Portland and Austin make sure that you check back here for tour dates. The band is very excited to be playing with Tortoise at the Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco on March 2nd. They will then return home for a few days rest before heading down to Texas for SXSW. The Swords' new booking agency is supposed to be getting a fresh and improved web site, but we doubt they will keep me updated since they have yet to do so.

23 JAN 2003

There will no longer be a performance at I-Spy in Seattle on the 1st of February. The venue has closed it's doors and it is unknown if it will ever open again for concerts. This is very unfortunate since we never had a chance to attend a single show there.

14 JAN 2003

Jeffrey was kind enough to inform us that the band will be signing to a new record label this week. Arena Rock Recording Co. located in Brooklyn, NY will be releasing Entertainment Is Over If You Want It, along with two more albums in the future. Congratulations to The Swords Project!