Singer/songwriter Jason Swensen hails from West Metropolitan Minneapolis Minnesota, where he grew up a fan of local rock heroes the Replacements and Suburbs. While jumping city buses to see his favorite bands perform at the famed First Avenue, Jason would write and record song ideas on an old 4-track cassette recorder he purchased with money working for the Minnesota Twins.
Jason was a Minnesota Twins Batboy/Club House assistant from 1987-1990. Jason celebrated with the World Series winning 1987 team that included Kirby Puckett and rubbed shoulders with visiting celebrities like Ted Nugent, MC Hammer, Fleetwood Mac, and Prince; Passing off demo tapes, life was good.
Jason immersed himself in the arts and honed his stage and vocal skills at the prestigious Minnetonka High School Performing Arts and Choir program, where he performed in musicals like Grease and the Music Man. Jason also managed to get a handful of fill-in gigs with Nite-Sounds 65, his father Tom Swensen's popular rock band.
After graduating high school Jason attended Normandale Community College, North Dakota State University, and Minnesota State University, earning a degree in Criminal Justice. Law school interested Jason, but so did music.
While at Minnesota State, Jason started a band (Bone Shakers) with his brother Jeremy Swensen. The two played as many gigs as they could find at fraternities, bars, resorts, and house parties. After securing a sponsorship from Grain Belt Premium beer, performing live in the famed Cities 97 Studio C, and opening for national acts in front of 5,000 people, it seemed the band was destined to make it in the music business.
But like most real life dramas. The story ended without a bang. No record deal ever came and Jason put his 4-track recorder in the closet and started learning cover songs. For the next 10 years, Jason performed hundreds of shows at mostly B & C level bars throughout the Midwest. An occasional big gig would come every so often, but they were few and far between. Still there was money to be made by singing the hits in Minnesota, North Dakota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and that is what Jason did. But all bittersweet things must come to an end. With a pocket full of money and wicked hangover, Jason threw in the preverbal towel and closed the door on the bar scene.
Climbing mountains have replaced endless nights. Worn cover songs are replaced with current originals. The 4-track recorder has been replaced with a 48-track recorder. Armed with a better voice, stage experience, and paid dues, Jason continues to sing. Happily married with kids and dog, the song doesn’t remain the same. It evolves and grows.