31 Seasons. 21 drummers. Zero regrets.

Swearing At Motorists has had 21 drummers. Yes, twenty-one. Somewhere, Nigel Tufnel is nodding in approval. But while Spinal Tap might’ve lost their drummers in tragic gardening accidents, Swearing At Motorists gained theirs in a much stranger, more inspiring way: they were already more successful artists who invited Dave Doughman to open for them — and ended up so inspired by his solo sets, they joined him on stage.

It wasn’t ego. It wasn’t planned. It was just too much fun not to.

From the start, Swearing At Motorists has been a kind of beautiful contradiction — a one-man wrecking crew with a rotating cast of co-conspirators, often consisting of headliners who just couldn’t resist jumping in on the opening act. Imagine being so compelling as a support band that your heroes ask if they can sit in behind the kit before their own set.

On 31 Seasons In The Minor Leagues Doughman leans fully into this mythology. It’s an album that celebrates the long-haul romance of indie touring, the grit of staying small, and the joy of playing your heart out in the shadow of giants who just might grab a drumstick and join you.

Alumni include:

• Timmy Taylor (Brainiac)

• Don Thrasher (Guided By Voices)

• Joe Dilworth (Stereolab, The Faith Healers)

• Harrison Hayes (Les Savy Fav)

• Jason Kourkounis (Hot Snakes)

• Scout Niblett

• Matt Schulz (Holy Fuck)

• Will Johnson (Centro-Matic)

All of them had already carved out their own respected corners of the indie rock universe — and yet, when they heard Dave Doughman tear into a set from the side of the stage, they wanted in.

It’s not a revolving door — it’s a magnet.
It’s not chaos — it’s chemistry.
And it's not “minor leagues” if you’re still here after 31 seasons.

31 Seasons In The Minor Leagues is a lo-fi love letter to perseverance, passion, and the strange, beautiful honor of being the opening act that makes the headliners want to play twice.