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'.

In May 2021 a split 12" was released with Clone from NYC. The LP features 4 tracks recorded by Fred Weaver (Mono, Maserati) at his studio in Pennsylvania, and was mastered in London by James Aparicio (Liars, Spiritualized). 

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PREVIOUS SHOWS

5 June @ The Tuning Fork - Auckland, NZ

w/ Arab Strap

12 February @ Wine Cellar - Auckland, NZ

w/ TOOMS

31 July 2021 @ Eyegum Music Collective - Wellington, NZ

w/ The Shocking and Stunning, EUG

5 June 2021 @ Common Room - Hastings, NZ

w/ Lizard Prom, Spooky Skeletons

4 June 2021 @ The Stomach - Palmerston North, NZ

w/ First Move, Pompom

22 May 2021 @ Hop House - Tauranga, NZ

w/ Orbjks, Eddie and the Dreamers 

7 May 2021 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ

w/ Horror In Clay, Ripship, Wrong Things

1 May 2021 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ

w/ Bitter Defeat, Orbjks, Broadcast State

17 April 2021 @ YOT Club - Raglan, NZ

w/ Hemordroid, Illicit Wah Wahz

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20 February 2021 @ Cupid - Auckland, NZ

w/ We Will Ride Fast 

5 December 2020 @ Valhalla - Wellington, NZ

w/ Hiboux, First Move

4 December 2020 @ Snails - Palmerston North, NZ

w/ Dick Move, First Move, Swamp Witch

28 November 2020 @ Under the Tauranga Harbour Bridge

w/ Hemordroid

27 November 2020 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ

w/ Landlords, Pillcutter, Qualms, Orbjks

26 November 2020 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ

w/ Big Scout, REPAIRS

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30 October 2020 @ Cupid - Auckland, NZ

w/ Ripship

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4 July 2020 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ

w/ Memory Foam, M0PPY, REPAIRS

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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

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27 July 2019 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ

w/ Old Loaves, Tooms, REPAIRS

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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

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26 April 2019 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ

w/ Threat Meet Protocol, Cartoon Villain 

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27 April 2019 @ Valhalla - Wellington, NZ

w/ Deaf, Earth to Zena

17 March 2019 @ Empire - Austin, TX

Chili Dog Fest w/ My Education

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16 March 2019 @ Revolution - Bryan, TX

w/ Ex-Optimists, Jay Satellite, A Sundae Drive, Prof Fuzz 63

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16 March 2019 @ Duval Street - Austin, TX

Gentrification Station! A Tribute to Austin

w/ The Stools

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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

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15 March 2019 @ Whip In - Austin, TX

SXSW. Pull String Day Party.

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14 March 2019 @ The Parish - Austin, TX

SXSW. NZ MUSIC Official Day Party

w/ The Beths, Jonathan Bree, Emily Fairlight

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13 March 2019 @ Spokesman - Austin, TX

SXSW. Safehouse Session 

https://www.safehou.se/

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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

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16 February 2019 @ Anthology Lounge - Auckland, NZ

w/ Hiboux, Mothra

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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

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28 September 2018 @ Caroline - Wellington, NZ

w/ Tower of Flints, Witchblade, Macho Macho

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15 September 2018 @ Arcade - Mount Manganui, NZ

w/ Hemordroid

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8 September 2018 @ Darkroom - Christchurch, NZ

w/ Cowboy Machine, The Teasers

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7 September 2018 @ The Crown Hotel - Dunedin, NZ

with Diana, Francisca Griffin

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17 August 2018 @ Nivara Lounge - Hamilton, NZ

w/ Landlords, Bitter Defeat

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11 August @ The Wine Cellar - Auckland, NZ

w/ Flogging a Dead One Horse Town, Blazing Shade

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16 June 2018 @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ

w/ Glamours, Warm Leather, Birdcatcher

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9 June 2018 @ Totara Street - Mount Maunganui, NZ

 Loserpalooza Festival

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5 May 2018 @ Thirsty Dog Tavern - Auckland, NZ

w/ Smokin’ Daggers, ROPE

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13 December 2017

@ Golden Dawn: Tavern of Power, Auckland, NZ

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10 June @ Whammy - Auckland, NZ

w/ Landlords, Ballot Box

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11 June @ Last Place - Hamilton, NZ

w/ Landlords, Ballot Box