Thad Cockrell has had a whirlwind journey with “Swingin’.” The track comes from his 2020 album If In Case You Feel the Same, which was nearly his last. “It’s as flatlined as something can be,” he told Rolling Stone about the trajectory surrounding the record. Cut to January 2021, when Jimmy Fallon heard “Swingin'” playing at a hardware store. “I just stood there and listened to the whole song,” Fallon said. “I was mesmerized.” That encounter led to a booking on The Tonight Show, some of the best validation a musician could hope for. We’ll be playing “Swingin'” ourselves all week as we feature Thad Cockrell as our Local Artist of the Week!
Sonically, the track stands out for its old-school vibe, recalling the likes of ELO or Springsteen. It’s endlessly sunny and optimistic, the perfect balm to any sort of pandemic blues—including Cockrell’s own. “If you make a record as if it’s made you a millionaire — I think that’s the only way to do it,” he told Rolling Stone. “It’s like you’re fighting your own cynicism.”
The performance is similarly bright-eyed, showcasing Cockrell totally and earnestly giving it his all. Watching it is beyond inspiring, and it feels like everything in the world is right. There are few things more satisfying than watching someone passionate about their craft getting the praise they deserve. Check it out below for an instant mood-booster.
We’ll be playing “Swingin’” throughout the week as we feature Thad Cockrell as our Local Artist of the Week. Catch it live on-air at 100.1FM on your dial or streaming live at lightning100.com.
