The “punk is a state of mind” mantra is so rad because it taught humans to be open in the way they look at the universe and the way they envision their creative process. Some of the most interesting music was made by people who grew up in the punk scene and then moved beyond it. They later started creating what the media would label “post punk.” A very fertile ground for this form of musical expression was in New York during the early and mid 80’s. I can’t really put my finger on it, but something special was happening on the dark streets of this city, especially in the Lower East Side. This place was a beacon for the creative underdogs on so many levels. Out of this era rose a very rad band, led by Michael Gira, called the SWANS. This group has composed some of the gnarliest music for almost three decades. From my point of view, they are more than just a post punk band, they are actually a dark seminal soul band that have changed the sound of American music. Over the years, SWANS have hypnotized crowds worldwide with their electrifying performances. Today CVLT Nation celebrates this piece of sonic history called the SWANS with a rad video essay that spans their whole career. So after the jump, I cry for you…now watch the videos!
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