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Blues & Blues Rock Music artist from Elizabethtown, KY. New songs free to stream. Add to your playlist now.

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2 x 12

Elizabethtown, KY  USA
March 06, 2004
10,187 plays
38,281 views
It's hard to question fate. A chance meeting at an Open Mic Night at Backstage Cafe' in Elizabethtown Ky, has evolved into a rock solid act called 2 X 12 (two by twelve). Their styl INVALID is a mix of Acoustic Rock, Blues, and R&B, highlighted by Kim Swickard's rich bluesy vocals. Gary Fights' edgy vocals blend well with Kim's their sound is accented by Gary's "pop and thump" percussive guitar stylings on his 12-string guitar. Kim is a native of Ohio, and even though she is relatively new to the Central KY area and to the music business, she has begun to make waves. Her musical influences include, Ani DeFranco, The Indigo Girls, Janis Joplin, and Michael Kelsey. She is also a song writer and plays guitar. In her short time in the Central KY area she has found herself in demand as a vocalist. In addition to her partnership with Gary in 2 X 12, she provided vocals on the title track of Fights' second album "Over The Edge" and is working with the band Underground Angel providing background vocals on their self-titled debut album. She has also performed as a member of the Hardin County Musicians Guild and the Heartland Songwriter's Association of KY Gary Fights is a Recording Artist/Songwriter and a native of Elizabethtown KY. He has been performing both as a solo artist and in different bands since the 1980's. His musical influences include: Chicago, B.B. King, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Prince, Michael Oldfield, and Michael Kelsey. Gary has two solo albums under his belt. "40 Days" which he released in April 2002, and his new album "Over The Edge" which was released in December 2003 and recorded in Fights 16 track home studio, called Fightmasters Music. Fights is also a member of the Hardin County Musicians Guild, The Heartland Songwriter's Association of KY, and The Backstage Cafe Traveling Road Show. As 2 X 12 Gary and Kim released an EP titled "2 X 12" on December 6th 2003, which featured one song written by Kim, three written by Gary including a re-mix of "Over The Edge" and one written by Carla Riggs-Hall. 2 X 12 released their debut album titled "We'll Play That Bridge When We Come To It" on July 31, 2004. Featuring four songs released on Gary's album Over The Edge, one song from their EP Eddy, and 11 new tracks as well. They also be released two of the songs "Moth To A Flame" and "Second Chance At Love" on the Heartland Songwriter's Association of KY's new compilation CD, Write Out Loud which was released in December of 2004. They also each released songs on the HSAOK's third release "A Heartland Christmas". In 2006, We'll Play That Bridge... was rereleased with 4 previously unreleased tracks. There was also to have been a live album released which was recorded in 2005 2x12: Live at The Mulberry, The Final Concert. That album was never released.
Band/artist history
Kim and Gary first met at Backstage Cafe' at an Open Mic night in September 2003. When he was hosting their open mic night and heard her play her song "Eddy" He knew she was the real thing. They talked for a while and discussed the possibility of creating a partnership. A few weeks later she came back to the Cafe' and they had another discussion and decided to give it a shot. At that time Gary was recording his second album and started practicing together. They decided to go ahead and put together an EP. They performed for a couple of Open mics at Backstage to warm up for the upcoming CD release party. During this time they also started working with Gordon West and Keri Riggs to prepare for a New Year's Eve Show as the Hardin County Musicians Guild. They had their first "official" show on Dec 6th, at Backstage which was a sell out. Then spent the next several months gigging and creating a local fan base, then began networking with the hope of getting gigs outside the area. At the same time they had been working on our full length CD "We'll Play That Bridge When We Come To It. Which was released on July 31, 2004 at Backstage Cafe'. They played shows around the Central KY area, both as an acoustic duo and with the Heartland Songwriters Association of KY. In late 2004 they decided to expand on their sound by adding a bassist and drummer. Creating what would eventually become The Junell Street Band or Junell Street. Kim and Gary continued to take gigs as 2x12 and with Junell Street through September of 2006. Kim decided she wanted to start working on her solo material and take things in a new direction and on September 26, 2006 2x12 performed their final official show as a duo at The Mulberry in Elizabethtown KY. A recording was made of that show which was to be released as a live album. Several cuts are available here on Soundclick. Kim worked as a solo artist then eventually got together with Mark Dewitt and formed the band Mama Kitty Southwood and Gary continues to work with Junell Street adding a new female vocalist to the band. Remaining good friends the two often perform together at HSAOK songwriters showcases and at times perform their own versions of each other's music and the songs they performed together as 2x12. While it is unlikely there will be any new music in the future for 2x12 this page will remain open as a tribute to one of Central Kentucky's best acoustic duos.
Have you performed in front of an audience?
Yes we play live, in the Central Kentucky area. While at one time I thought our finest moment was our first show... I doesn't compare to the thrill of the concert and release party of our CD "We'll Play That Bridge When We Come To It". But we still can't say that's the highlight of our career, because it just keeps getting better every time.
Your musical influences
Collectively, hummmm, Indigo Girls, B. B. King, CCR, Michael Kelsey (congratulations on your success at Guitarmageddon Michael), Chicago, The Temptations, Three Dog Night, The Zarb Brothers (if you've never seen them, you should), and a wide range of acts from the 60's and 70's. Our styl INVALID has a heavy R&B influence even on the rock songs. You can also pick up on the fact we are influenced by the blues. So you expect funky, bluesy rhythms, and tight harmonies.
What equipment do you use?
Our sound is pretty simple. I play my Framus 12-string using a Dean Markley Pickup run through a Digitech RP100 and a Fishman Pick-up run a Digitech RP200 and a GHS Soundhole Mic running through and Ibanez Delay. Kim plays an Alvarez acoustic run through a Boss Processor. We use Shure SM 58 & PG 58 mics, and a Kustom PA system. We record on a Yahama AW16G 16 Track Digital workstation.
On playlists (13)
Underground Angel
6 songs · 3 artists
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2 X 12
2 songs · 1 artist
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Gary Fights
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3 songs · 1 artist
By @fightmasters1
markolicious's station
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By @markolicious
kmorels's station
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By @kmorels
markolicious's station
2 songs · 2 artists
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zagg music's station
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A little bit of every thing I like
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bojangles (57)'s station
19 songs · 12 artists
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rollinwdahoes's station
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Comments
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Nice tones! Really liked Eddy. :) See ya on the tour bus! Chap
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Hello again! I've got a new song up called "Catch Me Wings". I love it and I hope that you will too. Please stop by when you get a chance and give it a listen. It's my first song that's 100% done. Thanks so very much for your time. God bless you and yours always. Love and Peace, Beth
Your songs are hot love what your doin,please come check out my new song Hurt Remix Feat.Jonny Cash its the new type of country blues im trying to make big with a mix of rap not hard rap more reading off a poem with emotion and blues/country singing so come by and VOTE please leave some feed back heck spend the big 99cents if you love it THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
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