We started as Bike Rent, named after the apartments above Chautauqua Institution’s Bike Rent, where hotel waitresses lived. It was sort of a gimmick to get those girls to come to all of our gigs. And it worked.  Featuring Chris Long on bass, Dan Rolls on sax, Luke Brown on drums, Erik Swartz on guitar and Michael Salamone on vocals, Bike Rent became LaTaVon before Michael left the band and they became Swivel Hips Smith.  Brian Rovegno, an on-and-off-again member of the band took the helm after Michael’s departure.

We were never very good in the studio, but we had good live shows and lots of ‘em. I personally don’t have any of the recordings any more, or I’d put the MP3s up here.  But, a few years ago, one of our fans started a MySpace for us, and a few of the songs are still there.  They’re our really rough studio stuff, but if you’re on my website listening to music, you’re used to that.  The link is HERE.