Proving that musical synergy is not restricted by geography, Swallow the Rat is a sonic force to be reckoned with.
With members hailing from Austin, Texas and Auckland, New Zealand, and a musical pedigree that includes bands such as My Education, Lost Rockets, Kerretta, Body Corporate and Deathbeam, Swallow the Rat offers a unique mix of NZ Post-punk and Texan Psychedelia.
Forming in Auckland in late 2017, Swallow the Rat wasted no time and quickly set to work recording with acclaimed engineer Nick Abbott. In March 2019 they performed multiple shows at SXSW in Austin, TX, and a self titled 7" was released in support of the tour. Subsequently, they signed to US label Shifting Sounds.
A string of performances across New Zealand followed, including opening for No Age, Gang Of Four, and Sebadoh. In March 2020 they performed at The New Colossus Festival in NYC as part of a US tour. April 2020 saw the release of the LP 'Leaving Room'.
May 2021 sees the release of a spilt LP with Clone from NYC. The LP features 4 tracks which were recorded by Fred Weaver (Mono, Maserati) at his studio in Pennsylvania in 2020. The LP was mastered in London by James Aparicio (Liars, Spiritualized).
BIOGRAPHY
DISCOGRAPHY
S/T (7") - 2019 - Headbump Records
S/T (CD) 2019 - Reverb Worship
Leaving Room (LP) 2020 - Shifting Sounds Records
StR/Clone (Split LP) 2021 - Headbump Records
"ECHOES OF A TIDE" FROM 2020'S LEAVING ROOM
"BIRD OF ILL" FROM 2020'S LEAVING ROOM
"COLD MOON" FROM 2020'S LEAVING ROOM
UPCOMING SHOWS
PREVIOUS SHOWS
2021
1 May @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ
7 May @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
22 May @ Hop House - Tauranga, NZ
2 June @ San Fran - Wellington, NZ
4 June @ Snails - Palmerston North, NZ
5 June @ Common Room - Hastings, NZ
5 December @ Valhalla - Wellington, NZ
w/ Hiboux, First Move
4 December @ Snails - Palmerston North, NZ
w/ Dick Move, First Move, Swamp Witch
28 November @ Under the Tauranga Harbour Bridge
w/ Hemordroid
27 November @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ
w/ Landlords, Pillcutter, Qualms, Orbjks
26 November @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
w/ Big Scout, REPAIRS
30 October 2020 @ Cupid - Auckland, NZ
w/ Ripship
4 July 2020 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
w/ Memory Foam, M0PPY, REPAIRS
19 June 2020 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ
w/ M0PPY, Bitter Defeat
US 2020
2 March @ RBC - Dallas, TX
3 March @ Rubber Gloves - Denton, TX
4 March @ Soundpony - Tulsa, OK
5 March @ Mini Bar - Kansas City, MO
6 March @ Sinkhole - St Louis, MO
7 March @ Bric-a-Brac Records - Chicago, IL
7 March @ D.C. Torium - Chicago, IL
8 March @ Outer Limits Lounge - Detroit, MI
10 March @ Littlefield - Brooklyn, NY
13 March @ Grape Room - Philadelphia, PA
14 March @ The Bowery Electric, New Colossus Festival - New York, NY
15 March @ The Bowery Electric, New Colossus Festival - New York, NY
16 March @ Caledonia Lounge - Athens, GA
17 March @ Circle Bar - New Orleans, LA
18 - 21 March @ SXSW - Austin, TX
22 March @ Revs - Bryan, TX
22 February 2020 @ Not Woodcock Festival - Pyes Pa, NZ
5 February 2020 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
w/ Sebadoh
18 January 2020 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
w/ Guardian Singles, Dick Move, Tooms
7 December 2019 @ The Wine Cellar - Auckland, NZ
w/ Flogging A Dead One Horse Town, Dead Little Penny
12 November 2019 @ The Tuning Fork - Auckland, NZ
w/ Gang of Four
28 September 2019 @ The Vault - Auckland, NZ
w/ Threat.Meet.Protocol, Hemordroid, The Pope
27 September 2019 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ
w/ Threat.Meet.Protocol, Hemordroid, Silver Surfer
17 August 2019 @ Wine Cellar - Auckland, NZ
w/ Bitter Defeat, Thom Burton, Bad Timing
27 July 2019 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
w/ Old Loaves, Tooms, REPAIRS
6 July 2019 @ Whammy Backroom - Auckland, NZ
w/ Stars and the Underground, Robots in Love
11 May 2019 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
Worn Out Double Whammy
4 May 2019 @ Whammy Backroom - Auckland, NZ
w/ ROPE, Dead Little Penny
3 May 2019 @ Jam Factory - Tauranga, NZ
w/ Grown Downz, We Will Ride Fast
26 April 2019 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ
w/ Threat Meet Protocol, Cartoon Villain
27 April 2019 @ Valhalla - Wellington, NZ
w/ Deaf, Earth to Zena
17 March 2019 @ Empire - Austin, TX
Chili Dog Fest w/ My Education
16 March 2019 @ Revolution - Bryan, TX
w/ Ex-Optimists, Jay Satellite, A Sundae Drive, Prof Fuzz 63
16 March 2019 @ Duval Street - Austin, TX
Gentrification Station! A Tribute to Austin
w/ The Stools
15 March 2019 @ Hole in the Wall - Austin, TX
SXSW. Shifting Sounds Unofficial Showcase
w/ Ex-Optimists, Black Books, Gentlemen Rogues, Silver Bars,
Jess Ledbetter, Bum Out, The False Nine
15 March 2019 @ Whip In - Austin, TX
SXSW. Pull String Day Party.
14 March 2019 @ The Parish - Austin, TX
SXSW. NZ MUSIC Official Day Party
w/ The Beths, Jonathan Bree, Emily Fairlight
13 March 2019 @ Spokesman - Austin, TX
SXSW. Safehouse Session
11 March 2019 @ Barracuda - Austin, TX
SXSW. The Loyalty Firm Official Showcase
w/ Fragile Rock, Honey and Salt, Blushing
My Education, Soundmass
26 February 2019 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
w/ No Age, Echo Ohs
16 February 2019 @ Anthology Lounge - Auckland, NZ
w/ Hiboux, Mothra
30 November 2018 @ Wine Cellar - Auckland, NZ
w/ Cat! Cat! Cat!, REPAIRS
10 November 2018 @ Flying Out - Auckland, NZ
DJ set
10 November 2018 @ T Whites Bike Shop - Auckland, NZ
10th Birthday Day Party
28 September 2018 @ Caroline - Wellington, NZ
w/ Tower of Flints, Witchblade, Macho Macho
15 September 2018 @ Arcade - Mount Manganui, NZ
w/ Hemordroid
8 September 2018 @ Darkroom - Christchurch, NZ
w/ Cowboy Machine, The Teasers
7 September 2018 @ The Crown Hotel - Dunedin, NZ
with Diana, Francisca Griffin
17 August 2018 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ
w/ Landlords, Bitter Defeat
11 August @ The Wine Cellar - Auckland, NZ
w/ Flogging a Dead One Horse Town, Blazing Shade
16 June 2018 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ
w/ Glamours, Warm Leather, Birdcatcher
9 June 2018 @ Totara Street - Mount Maunganui, NZ
Loserpalooza Festival
5 May 2018 @ Thirsty Dog Tavern - Auckland, NZ
w/ Smokin’ Daggers, ROPE
13 December 2017
@ Golden Dawn: Tavern of Power, Auckland, NZ
CONTACT US
Band Contact:
United States Management: