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Lancashire based Swing Commanders are just one of a very
small handful of dedicated British western swing bands playing
the music clubs and festivals on the British music scene. Lead
vocalist  and
rhythm guitar player Peter O'Reilly along with lead and steel
guitarist Jesse Winter formed the band around 4-5 years ago
when the their former band The Winchesters folded. Joining forces
with Peter and Jesse, percussionist Patrick Fitzsimons and bassist
Johnny Ray (No! not 'Crying' Johnny Ray) completed the foursome
at that time and released their debut self-titled album. A year
or two later fiddle player Gaynor Sutcliffe joined the band
bringing it up to its current strength of and has more recently
added her talents on harmony vocals.
With appearances at several of Britain's top country festivals
including the premier Notts Americana festival in July 2005,
the Swing Commanders are drawing a lot of favourable interest
with their highly visual and entertaining stage show.
Play It Again dazzlingly features
12 numbers opening with a passionate version of Bob Wills "New
 San
Antonio Rose", giving Peter the opportunity to introduce
the band and a somewhat deliberate slip-up of almost missing
his own cue to come in on vocals. Instantly warming the listener
towards the fun and euphoria the band creates, another of Bob
Wills' numbers "Across The Alley
From The Alamo" keeps the pace going before slowing
down with a deeply yearning cover of Pee Wee King/Red Stewart's
"Tennessee Waltz". "Pennies
From Heaven" picks
up the pace again and even offers Peter the opportunity to show
his prowess with a little scat singing ably supported by Gaynor's
fiery fiddle and some great nimble guitar-work from Jessie making
this one of the most exciting tracks on the album.
A little boogie-woogie is the order of the day with "Jump
Rope Boggie" which takes many of us back to our
early childhood when an old washing-line would be tied a lamp
post and with one of the kids turning the rope the rest would
rump the rope while excitedly recite their favourite skipping
rhyme. "Faded Love" was
the most requested number in the Bob Wills catalogue and the
Swing Commanders don't disappoint with their version of this
highly popular number. There is plenty here with the band going
back to the 1920's with "Bei Mis
Bist du Schoen" taken from a Yiddish musical and
later a big hit for the Andrews Sisters in the late 30's.
A compact portrait of the band with great steel work from
Jesse, Play It Again offers an
exhilarating combination of blues and western swing that should
not be overlooked!!!
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