New Swears recently premiered their new video for “777” to coincide with the release of their new LP, And the Magic of Horses via Dine Alone. The video was directed by Jordan Wiens, featuring a gigantic New Swears mural and the band getting tattoos, drinking beer, executing a surprisingly competent varial flip, and engaging in various other wholesome summertime activities, including an ambitious attempt to vacuum ice cubes.

“Summer finally arrived in Ottawa so we wanted to celebrate and showcase that moment here along with our good friends and Beej’s dog, Li’l Archie,” the band tells New Noise “We had our buddy Jordan Wiens (who did our ‘Stay Gold’ video) shoot it and were lucky enough to talk Jesse Germs into doing the tattoo and Pat Buck into creating that mural, which has sadly already been covered up.”

New Swears formed in 2012 when all four members shared a room and a pair of bunk beds in the infamous DIY venue the Fun Boy Club House (RIP). This scuzzy punk paradise of Scru Bar, Sammy J Scorpion, Beej Eh, and Nick Nofun included two bars, a mini-ramp, rats scurrying through broken beer bottles, and some of the wildest live shows Canada’s capital has ever seen.

“It was such a brutal situation, living in squalor, but it was also super fun,” laughs Scru Bar. “I have days where I wish I could go back to it.”

Late 2016 saw New Swears sign to Toronto’s Dine Alone Records with the release of their “Brand New Spot”/“Sugar Heavy Metal” 7”. Now, they’re racing out of the gate with their latest LP, And the Magic of Horses. With a title inspired by the classic adventure stories of the Hardy Boys, these songs combine the swagger of Thin Lizzy, the refined, hook-heavy songwriting style of Nick Lowe, and hazy country-fried laments in the vein of Kurt Vile, all delivered with the manic energy of the punk bands with whom they often share the stage.

The And the Magic of Horses recording sessions were overseen by Ottawa punk scene luminary Paul “Yogi” Granger, owner of pinball/pierogi bar House of TARG and producer of beloved albums by The White Wires, Steve Adamyk Band, and First Base. His guidance helped New Swears hone in their sharpest songs to date, matching a set of lyrics moving past the 24/7 party into existential musings on friendship, death, the afterlife, and what they hope to leave behind.

“Sustainability is the goal,” says Scru Bar. “We’ve been having so much fun doing what we’re doing over the past few years. Now that we’ve been given an opportunity to get a little more serious, it’s cool to see the impact of traveling to different cities and finding out that people were coming out to see us. We just want to keep going and going.”

“When we started this band, all we needed was a laugh,” concludes Sammy J Scorpion, quoting from the scripture of another motley crew. “Years gone by, I’d say we’ve kicked some ass.”

New Swears
And the Magic of Horses
Tracklist

1. Dance With the Devil
2. Warm Bodies
3. Halos in Hell
4. Comfortably Hungover
5. 777
6. Le Poison
7. Cry a Lot
8. Vanilla
9. Race to the Grave
10. Walkin’ to Rockin’

New Swears
Tour Dates

June 24 @ House of TARG – Ottawa, ON
July 06 @ The Moustache Club – Oshawa, ON
July 07 @ The Red Dog – Peterborough, ON
July 08 @ Elora Brewing Company – Elora, ON
July 12 @ Mills Hardware – Hamilton, ON
July 13 @ Rum Runners – London, ON
July 14 @ Warehouse Concert Hall – St. Catharines, ON
July 15 @ Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
July 22 @ River and Sky Festival – Sudbury, ON
July 23 @ L’Esco – Montreal, QC
July 26 @ L’Anti – Quebec City, QC
July 27 @ Claude’s House – Moncton, NB
July 28 @ Seahorse Tavern – Halifax, NS
July 29 @ The Capital – Fredericton, NB
July 30 @ Baba’s Lounge – Charlottetown, PEI
August 02 @ AS220 – Providence, RI
August 04 @ Our Wicked Lady – Brooklyn, NY
August 07 @ Slash Run – Washington, DC
August 12 @ Wolfe Island Music Festival – Wolfe Island, ON