Kelsey Cork
and
the Swigs
About Kelsey Cork and the Swigs
Kelsey Cork and the Swigs is a band who isn’t afraid to be themselves and have fun. With their blend of punk rock and blues, the foursome (originally a trio) creates songs celebrating life in the moment. Philadelphia is a major source of inspiration for this group--so much so that they even have a single called Center City Blues. The song includes vivid imagery on Philadelphia caricatures which create a sense of comfort for Philadelphia natives. Signed to Good How Are You Records, in 2019 they released a song named That’s Cool and this year in 2021 they released their first EP called Weird Bones. Rather than focusing on perfection, Kelsey Cork and the Swigs stray away from elitism and hierarchy. Instead, they find joy in being present, living their lives as broke, twenty-somethings who play gigs in Philly, as they like to note in their songs. They are early in their career with about 84 monthly listeners on Spotify, but they are sure to grow with their strong ability to work a crowd and light up a room. They know how to have a good time, engage their audience, and rock on. You can find them at their next gig on December 16th at Johnny Brendas!
Click here to watch Kelsey Cork and the Swigs perform their Philadelphia-inspired single "Center City Blues"
My Experience
Rock n' Roll is not typically the type of music I listen to, but I went to Philly Music Fest with an open mind in hopes of expanding my knowledge and taste of music. I was pleasantly surprised by Kelsey Cork and the Swigs and out of the three acts this show, I would vote that this group had the most entertaining performance overall. They were engaging with their audience and really put on a show. It was entertaining enough that people like me who don't know any of their songs or listen to this genre of music had their eyes glued to the stage. This band has the unique ability to turn little life moments into epic Rock n' Roll songs, reminding listeners to not take life too seriously and enjoy what's right in front of you. One song they sang that tied to this idea was called "Girl in the Bathroom" which was quite literally about some girls Kelsey met in the bathroom of a bar. They wanted the audience to enjoy the show and let go of every worry. One of my favorite moments was when one band member said "How many times in your life do you get to dance around above a restaurant in Philly?!! Let's have some fun!" Watching them perform brought a smile to my face because there were some moments (like when they were shredding on their guitars back-to-back with one another) where I felt like I was watching their dreams coming true.
Genre: Rock N' Roll
Rock n' Roll is a genre that evolved from the African American styles of blues, R&B, jazz, and gospel. In 1951, a man who worked at a radio station named Alan Freed coined the term in hopes of catering to his white listeners. At the time, R&B was popular but clearly had ties to the black community. The industry started to capitalize on white artists singing similar music under the genre that is now Rock n' Roll. It became sneaky and messy in the music industry, with white musicians taking music from black artists without permission. Because of this, when listening to Rock n' Roll, one can hear the elements of jazz, blues, and R&B--all aspects that were a part of black artist's music. In today's time, credit is given to iconic stars Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. However, the reality is that they are not the only faces that should be on the front of Rock n' Roll. Black artists like Rosetta Tharpe should be credited--she truly set a foundation for Rock n' Roll.
Kelsey Cork and the Swigs performing at Philly Music Fest