Gypsies, Junkies & Thieves, The Legendary Swagger's new album, delivers a perfect mix of '70s punk rock and roll and classic Southern California punk influences. Lead singer/saxophonist Geoff Yeaton and guitarist Skot Pollok first met while playing in bands in the Orange County punk rock scene. The lineup on Gypsies, Junkies & Thieves reads like a who's who of modern-day LA/OC punk. Pollok and Yeaton are joined by their JJ & The Real Jerks band-mates Joe Jennings and Richie Mendez. Yeaton and Dino Everett are well-known for their membership in the mighty Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. Yeaton and Jennings both also play in The Magnificent, the Hollywood soul revue I reviewed just last week. Gypsies, Junkies & Thieves is out today on compact disc Rum Bar Records with a vinyl release coming this fall on Punk Media Research. This album, my friends, is the real deal. It combines the driving energy, melodic songwriting, and tight backing vocals of vintage SoCal punk with a heavy dose of no-nonsense rock and roll and hints of The Clash and The Saints. Now that's a recipe that works for me! If you like gritty vocals, powerful guitars, and thoughtful songwriting sprinkled with some hot sax, you are in for a treat with this album. Rarely will you hear a more perfect song than "She." Gypsies, Junkies & Thieves is a definitive work of SoCal rock and roll and a first-class affair in every respect. I always love a band that sounds like its name!
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