To me, it was the hottest ticket in town. Others met it with no less anticipation, but presumably less giddiness. The event was a free beer tasting from the masters at Barnyard Brewing, with a performance by the Iowa-based Americana/folk pop band She Swings, She Sways. That’s enough to brighten any rainy day, and guests came out in droves despite the uncertainty of what weather was in store on Aug. 15. Because of damp conditions and the dubious notion of setting up drums and electrics during an on-again, off-again rain shower, She Swings, She Sways was limited to a four-piece acoustic set.
I chatted with drummer Jason Bolinger while four members played, at various times, acoustic guitars, bull fiddle, accordion and trumpet in a nine-song set list which began the moment the rain cleared. She Swings, She Sways is from Ottumwa, Iowa, and Bolinger said the band tours the Midwest and South at least three times a year. When they’re not on tour, “we’re weekend warriors all through the year,” Bolinger said. Troy Morgan, the man on bull fiddle – an upright, fretless acoustic bass – teaches at a local community college during the school year. The band tours in the summer and over winter and spring breaks. “We’re going into the studio for winter break,” Bolinger said. “Hopefully next spring we’ll get a new record out.”
The sound She Swings, She Sways creates, even as a limited four-piece acoustic edition, is good fun. The band produces sensible, folksy pop songs. Their pop isn’t of the “American Idol” variety, but they aren’t your uncle’s folk band outfit, either. They are catchy in the foot-tapping, head-bobbing, occasionally hand-clapping sing-along sense. And Bolinger assured me that they sound even better as a full ensemble. On this night, She Swings, She Sways played mostly original songs, such as “What I Wouldn’t Do,” and “Highway,” and they covered a few classic tunes, such as “Time After Time,” and “Ring of Fire.”
Unfortunately, the band had to pack up and leave after playing to make it to their next show in Iowa. Although the band admitted they weren’t heavy drinkers, they still missed out on some tasty brews.