Butch Paluso and his Swordsmen performed at the battle of the bands at the Baltimore Civic Center on April 8, 1967. They could be seen at teen dances such as the Patterson Park Y-Teen, and a St. Girard’s CYO dance on Friday October 27, 1967 along with the Gremlins. The group played for the Polish Home Fund Raiser in June 1968.
On August 18, 1968 the Swordsmen won first place in a battle of the bands at the Holy Rosary CYO vs. Little Nate & the Deltones, and the Kindred Soul.
In late summer of 1968, the band became known as the Bitter Blue.
