There are at least two artists using the name Swank: 1) Swank is a Sacramento based rapper. He was one third of the rap trio Fyre, along with G Rider, and Stefan Burnett of Death Grips. He also has released music under the names: Swank Daddy, Doctor Nashville, and Monkey Man. 2) North Carolina-based rapper (formerly known as $wank), best known as 1/2 of the duo Swank & King Draft. Both rappers are also signed to 9th Wonder’s Jamla label. 3) Braying harmonica, raunchy gospel singalongs, banjo, yodeling and the double punch of rumbling guitars conspire to make ‘The Survival Issue’ one wild ride through Hank Williams country all the way to Rocket From the Crypt with a detour through Jon Spencer’s Blues Explosion. 9 out of 10 stars – Americana U.K. (International) Swank inhabits the lawless borderlands between Americana, Punk and Rock & Roll. It is gospel perverted by hillbillies, soul wearing three-day stubble, punk in a pasture, bluegrass sporting brass knuckles and a chip on its shoulder, folk stinking of car exhaust and a three-day bender, the blues pointing and laughing at existential dread, and country wrought from the rat-infested back alleys on the wrong side of the tracks of as west as one can go. Currently completing it’s third full-length album with producer Howard Redekopp (New Pornographers, 54-40), Vancouver-based Swank followed the accolades for its second album, The Survival Issue, on 2005 and 2006 tours of the U.K. and Ireland. Performances included two headline shows at the renowned Kilkenny Rhythm n Roots Festival. A video for Survival Issue single, How Do We Do, directed by Patrick Carroll (Spiderman - the animated series) debuted at 2005’s Indie Music Video Festival and airs regularly on Bravo. The Survival Issue is the follow up to the critically acclaimed rockabilly blues flavoured debut Pappy’s Corn Squeezin’s. Both albums – and the 2006 Hollow Tree EP – are available online and at finer music stores. The band also has songs on the Canadian rockabilly/psychobilly compilation Zombie Night in Canada Volume 2 (Stumble/Universal), on the Vancouver Roots compilation Showdown (Black Hen), and on the hockey song compilation Johnny Hanson presents Puck Rock Classics Volume 2 (Sudden Death). Swank’s songs are played on national radio, numerous international podcasts and college stations around the world. Live, the band performs up to three sweaty sets of truly original songs with high-octane, foot stomping barroom belligerence. The five members of Swank – Paul Addington (Electric/Acoustic Guitars/Vocals), Phil Addington (Bass/Vocals), Kirk Douglas (Drums/Percussion/ Vocals/Guitar/Dobro), Doug Liddle (Electric/Acoustic Guitars, Slide and Steel Guitar/Banjo/Vocals) and Spencer McKinnon (Lead Vocals/Harmonica) – have opened and headlined countless shows to an ever growing fan base in Western Canada.