SWMRS

Born in Oakland's punk scene in California, SWMRS formed around brothers Cole and Max Becker, who have played together since the mid‑2000s. Initially known as The Raining Brains and then Emily's Army, the project released the pop‑punk albums "Don't Be a Dick" (2011) and "Lost at Seventeen" (2013) before adopting the name SWMRS in 2014. With Joey Armstrong on drums and Seb Mueller on bass, SWMRS moved toward a blend of punk rock, surf rock and alternative rock characterized by fast‑paced songs, melodic choruses and lyrics focused on adolescence, internet culture and the American political situation. The first album under that name, "Drive North" (2016), affirmed this identity while remaining close to the San Francisco Bay Area DIY aesthetic, whereas "Berkeley's on Fire" (2019) introduced more indie‑rock elements and a stronger emphasis on social commentary. Strongly tied to independent venues, SWMRS built their reputation live through American and European tours, regularly sharing bills with contemporary punk and garage acts and maintaining a close connection to the Californian punk community they came from.