The Swallows might sound like the name of a band but in truth, the Swallows is simply a labor of love from one man,
Glenn Milchem. At least that's how it started out.
Milchem put out his original material under the name of the Swallows while he was still drumming for
Blue Rodeo, a country-rock outfit out of Canada. While he's proud of his work in
Blue Rodeo and it's a gig that has helped him pay the bills since 1991 while he raises two children, the music he records as the Swallows is the music of his heart. Guitar playing and singing were longtime goals for
Milchem, but they weren't things he felt totally confident doing, especially in light of a less-than-successful solo release, Acting Natural, which he put out on cassette in 1986. At the time, he was working with the bands Whitenoise and Vital Sines. In the following years, the dream of singing, playing guitar, and performing his own songs never left him. It took 11 years, but
Milchem worked up his nerve and took the first tentative steps toward his dream of making his own music when he started another project,
Turning Blue, in 1997 and releasing it two years later. It was
Milchem's project all the way and showcased his talent on a variety of instruments. Lending a hand were
Anne Bourne, who sings and plays the cello, and
Ian Blurton, who plays guitar. By the time of the Swallows' eponymous second release in 2000,
Milchem had pulled together a band to record and play live gigs under the Swallows' name. In addition to leader
Milchem, the band consists of guitarist
Clive MacNutt, bassist
John Borra, and drummer Randy Curnew.
Milchem, while continuing his duties with
Blue Rodeo, also performs with John Milchem, his twin, in a group called Starvin' Hungry. In the past, he has worked with such bands as
Blurtonia and
Big Sugar, among others. The '80s were spent in Toronto outfits such as Plasterscene Replicas, Groovy Religion, and the
Garbagemen.
Milchem was eight years old when he first picked up a set of drum sticks, and he owned a drum kit within two years. He was invited to try out for
Blue Rodeo late in 1991, when he took over for
Cleave Anderson. ~ Linda Seida, All Music Guide
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