14 November 2024 - 0 Comments

Tāmaki Makaurau post-punks Swallow the Rat have a new aural treat for you, and some news.

Today they unleash ZZK: The Blue Sky Hex Remix; a reworking by Guy Scoullar (Blue Sky Hex, Deathbeam, Frayden). ZZK is the seventh track on Swallow the Rat's critically-acclaimed 2023 album South Locust.

Listen Here

Swallow the Rat also announce that their show with Kerretta and Somme at Tāmaki Makaurau's Whammy Bar tonight, Thursday 14th November will be their last with singer/bassist Stephen Horsley.

Horsley joined Swallow the Rat in (which year?) following the departure of founding member Will Waters (originally of Kerretta). He has been a crucial part of the songwriting team on both of the band's albums, 2020's Leaving Room and 2023's South Locust, making his mark with his vocal delivery and whip-smart lyrics. He will now be entering his "All Rig/No Gig" era, as a lonely and bitter sound engineer, cursing what might have been.

Simon Coffey observed at one of their mighty live shows, "Straight Roads truly shows off Stephen Horsley's bass skills and vocal nous, as he melds together with Hayden Fritchley’s drumming to create a swing, as Brian Purington get in on the action, there is a tumultuous meshing to end the song."

But fear not Swallow the Rat fans, the band itself isn't going anywhere, with new members to be announced very soon.

So things have gone full circle, with Swallow the Rat founding member Will Waters playing in his earlier band Kerretta this Thursday (alongside Hamish Walker, David Holmes and Mathew Bosher), to celebrate the release of their new album Angelm. This makes Swallow the Rat an ideal part of the gig's lineup, which also includes Somme, a band comprising members of The Biscuits, Fake Purr and Shallow Grave.

ZZK: The Blue Sky Hex remix is available on Bandcamp and streaming services from next Thursday November 14th.

Kerretta, Swallow The Rat, Somme
Thursday November 14th
Whammy Bar
Karangahape Rd

It's been 10 years since Kerretta played in Tāmaki Makaurau and they have a brand new album entitled Angelm, released on 1st November. They'll be bringing their instrumental storm and share the stage with Somme and Swallow The Rat.

Bypass all uncomfortable awkward level 1 chats around the water cooler about the weather or sports team performances. No obligation to turn up and expose the varying number of concerns you have about KPIs, KRIs or KPAs when you can punch some IPAs and Chardonnays at Whammy Bar on November 14th.

Tickets from Under the Radar

Swallow the Rat and fellow Aotearoa noiseniks The Bemsha Swing have both had tracks selected to appear on new US compilation Caverns of Gold: A Benefit for Hurricane WNC Relief.

Liner notes:
"A diverse lineup of musicians from Western North Carolina and beyond has come together in a grass-roots effort to release a compilation album titled - Caverns of Gold: A Benefit for WNC Hurricane Relief.

This initiative aims to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Helene, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Beloved Asheville, a local nonprofit who provide long-term support for the WNC community."

This hefty collection also features tracks by R.E.M., Luscious Jackson, Mekons, The Feelies and many others.

Caverns of Gold on Bandcamp

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