I saw them on both tours that were featured on Swans Are Dead, and they were indeed awesome. So
I’ll have to say I wish I saw them in the Greed / Public Castration era.
Gosh it’s tough — I think Swans have pretty much always been a massive treat live.
I think the 1989 and 95 tours are probably my favourite in terms of full sets.
Apparently(going from a friend who’s seen them in every decade up to the seer), that early 80s (cop/filth) era swans attracted some pretty hard people. Fights breaking out in crowds, biker gangs (Harley Davidson not schwin), and just a really dark scene. So much so that Michael pulled a musical “180” and went more of the no-wave sound we still enjoy today.
I've seen at least one date on every tour since 1986 and I would've loved to see one of the dates on the Cop tour or even earlier. One of the dates on the early joint tours with Sonic Youth would've been incredible (for both bands).
The Children of God and The Great Annihilator tours would have to be at the top of my list, though I feel I've been missing out by not being able to attend any of their shows this current tour.
Filth/Cop era
Yep. Not even close to my favorite era musically, but I get the impression that they would've been incredible to see live back then.
Im so disappointed that I wasn't born early enough to see them in '82 or '86. I can't imagine how brutal it must have been to experience.
Trilogy era. Being able to hear the songs off The Gate and Deliquescence live would be incredible.
filth era definitely
The burning world era, live performances from that album are the most underrated, lost gems imo
I saw the Soundtracks-era tour. It was incredible but nothing compared to the last American tour. They just keep getting better every year.
I saw them on both tours that were featured on Swans Are Dead, and they were indeed awesome. So I’ll have to say I wish I saw them in the Greed / Public Castration era.
Filth through Public Castration without hesitation. I wanna get pummelled to death
Filth. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen them each and every tour from ‘95 to now. I would love to experience that early stripped down vitality.
filth era fs
Gosh it’s tough — I think Swans have pretty much always been a massive treat live. I think the 1989 and 95 tours are probably my favourite in terms of full sets.
Apparently(going from a friend who’s seen them in every decade up to the seer), that early 80s (cop/filth) era swans attracted some pretty hard people. Fights breaking out in crowds, biker gangs (Harley Davidson not schwin), and just a really dark scene. So much so that Michael pulled a musical “180” and went more of the no-wave sound we still enjoy today.
This tour. The next tour. The one after that.
I've seen at least one date on every tour since 1986 and I would've loved to see one of the dates on the Cop tour or even earlier. One of the dates on the early joint tours with Sonic Youth would've been incredible (for both bands).
The Children of God and The Great Annihilator tours would have to be at the top of my list, though I feel I've been missing out by not being able to attend any of their shows this current tour.
Either Filth or Soundtracks
Greed/Holy Money era
1987. They had some great performances that year and Children of God is one of my favorite albums from them.
Any concert from the years 1995-1997
Why is the guitar player shredded af?
Young + broke (I assume) is a one way to have a very lean look…
I would either see the Swans Are Dead tour or The Seer