names

a couple years ago, i posted about how names might help determine life chances. the post was motivated by a wrestler named jack swagger i'd encountered at one of the lad's meets:

mr. swagger, captain of the woodbury high school wrestling team, is introduced at home meets as captain jack swagger, which is cooler still. i watched him take first place in the all-conference meet on saturday and i'll be pulling for him in the state tournament. john updike wouldn't name a character "jack swagger" because it too perfectly connotes masculinity and success. think about it: johnny depp played captain jack sparrow in pirates of the caribbean. swagger would be too much, but sparrow takes it down a notch so that the audience can willingly suspend disbelief.

today, ms. che swagger wrote to inform me that jack is "3rd generation rock n roll" and she chose a name that might resonate in the entertainment industry. sure enough, he's already getting steady work fronting the soviet machines and doing rooftop acoustic homages to his minneapolis forebears. swagger or no swagger, i like a kid who knows his roots. here's the email and a partial list of upcoming gigs -- i might check them out at the cabooze next weekend or the triple rock show in september.

Chris
A long belated thank you for your mentioning of my son's name Jack Swagger in a wrestling blog some time ago! It still comes up when searching his name.

It looks like you are a fan of similar music and I would like to direct you to his music page. I am his mom, Che Swagger, and I named him to have a ring in the entertainment industry and sure enough he went there. It helps that he is 3rd generation rock n roll on his dad's side.

It says you enjoy The Replacements. He is also a fan and just finished a (band) single w/producer/grammy winner Kevin Bowe. Kevin plays guitar for Westerberg.

You can find his solo stuff on myspace.com/jackswagger... His (young) band is also out there on myspace.com/thesovietmachines. They have been on the scene for about a year and are opening for Saliva at the Rock this month, among other gigs...

Aug 15 2008 8:00P The Garage W- Crash Anthem Burnsville, Minnesota

Aug 16 2008 7:00P Cabooze 18+ w/ Gingerjake, Cocaine and Fires At Nite Minneapolis, Minnesota
Aug 24 2008 8:00P The Rock w/ SALIVA Maplewood, Minnesota