The Triangle

Issue date: 2/12/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: The Swellers / Ryan Russell The Swellers spent two years writing their latest release "Ups and Downsizing." From Left to Right: Anto Boros, Nick Diener, Jonathan Diener, and Ryan Collins.

It is not unusual to hear a music enthusiastic declare "punk is dead." While this statement is more or less true depending on how it is applied, there is little doubt that punk rock's influence on music still prevails today. Michigan born brothers, Nick and Jonathan Diener, took their punk influences and blended them with a variety of other music to form their band, The Swellers. They are proof that the punk sound can still exist today outside the subculture of the seventies.

The Diener brothers formed their band in 2002 and had various additional members before current members guitarist, Ryan Collins, and bassist, Anto Boros joined. They have toured constantly and worked hard writing music, spending about two years on their latest release, "Ups and Downsizing." After completing their album, they searched for a label to release it on and became Fueled by Ramen's only 2009 signee. Fueled by Ramen has become known for some of its more poppy bands in recent years, but it has had a diverse lineup of bands since its foundation.

"The reason why Fueled By Ramen's so cool is 'cause you can coexist. Like the fact that Cobra Starship's on the label doesn't mean that we have to tour with Cobra Starship. Each band is their own entity which is really cool," stated drummer, Jon Diener. "And what's cool about it, too, is like bands choose their own thing … I like Fueled By Ramen so much because they're awesome enough label to just put out whatever and have it be successful."

While a few people have taken cheap shots at the band for signing to a label with bands that are currently receiving a lot of mainstream success, overall the band has received positive feedback from fans new and old. Besides, they are not a band that is too concerned with anyone trying to tear them down according to vocalist, Nick Diener.

"We love all the kids who support us and everybody else seriously, they can suck it. We don't care about anyone who's not affiliated with us. That's kind of what keeps us going, I guess, the fact that we don't care. We like making the music we do. We get on stage; we play our songs and then we hang out with anybody who cares. That's exactly why we do what we do and what makes it so fun."

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