Swingin’ Blackjacks Drop New Single “Misery Train”
Toronto/Huntsville/Stratford, ON — After more than twenty years of rockin’ stages across Ontario, The Swingin’ Blackjacks are back on track with “Misery Train,” a runaway rockabilly bopper that captures the grit, groove, and unrelenting spirit that define the veteran trio. The single leads the charge from their new full-length album, Never Tire, Never Stop, out now.
Featuring Matt Allen (guitar, lead vocals), Canadian blues stalwart Gary Kendall (bass, vocals), and jazz-trained percussion powerhouse Adam David (drums, vocals), the band delivers a lean, hard-hitting sound rooted in classic rockabilly and jump blues traditions. With just three players, The Swingin’ Blackjacks generate maximum impact — a testament to decades of combined experience and stage-tested chemistry.
“Misery Train” finds Allen channeling early rock ’n’ roll rebellion with a modern edge. Singing about hopping a train and leaving heartbreak behind, the track barrels forward with driving rhythm and twang-laced guitar, conjuring images of Saturday night juke joints and lonely whistles in the distance. Written by Allen, the song blends influences from Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, T-Bone Walker, Hubert Sumlin, and Link Wray, honoring tradition while injecting fresh urgency.
The album Never Tire, Never Stop was recorded over three weeks at Loud Mouse Studios in Etobicoke with engineer L. Stu Young, and co-produced by Allen and Kendall. Self-financed and independently released, the eleven-track collection showcases the band’s range: eight Allen originals, a Tex-Styles era collaboration with the late J. Ryan Wilson, a Gary Kendall original, and a reimagined take on The Yardbirds’ “Heart Full of Soul,” filtered through a roots-driven lens reminiscent of CCR and the Staples Singers.
The journey to this album has been marked by resilience. Recipients of the 2018 Amy Louie Grossman Music Scholarship, which supported their EP Four Hot Tracks!!, the trio weathered health challenges and the COVID shutdowns before returning to Ontario stages with renewed fire. Career highlights include backing rockabilly pioneer Janis Martin, appearances at Toronto Bluesfest and the Southside Shuffle, and a steady presence at festivals and clubs province-wide.
Gary Kendall’s legacy alone spans nearly six decades, including tenure with The Downchild Blues Band and multiple industry accolades. Adam David’s résumé includes work with Ray Charles, Ronnie Hawkins, Manhattan Transfer, Michelle Wright, and Vince Gill. Together with Allen’s relentless songwriting and guitar drive, the trio embodies a shared philosophy captured in their album title: never tire, never stop.
In support of the release, The Swingin’ Blackjacks hit the Ontario road beginning in February, with dates in Toronto, Aylmer, St. Catharines, Collingwood, and beyond. Their live shows remain hi-octane celebrations of rock ’n’ roll authenticity — music that doesn’t age, it just gathers momentum.
With Never Tire, Never Stop, The Swingin’ Blackjacks prove that great rockabilly and blues never fade — they just keep rolling down the track.
TOUR DATES:
Fri, Feb 13 @ 7:00PM - Winterfolk XXIV, Tranzac Club, Toronto ON
Sat, Feb 14 @ 9:00PM - Noonan's, Toronto ON
Fri, Feb 27 @ 7:30PM - Old Town Hall, Aylmer ON
Sat, Mar 14 @ 2:30PM - SomePlace Else, St. Catharines ON
Sun, Mar 22 @ 3:00PM - Smokeshow BBQ & Brew, Toronto ON
Fri, Mar 27 @ 7:30PM - Simcoe Street Theatre, Collingwood ON
Sat, Apr 4 @ 9:00PM - Noonan's, Toronto ON
Sun, May 24 @ 3:00PM - Smokeshow BBQ & Brew, Toronto ON
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