Photo: Charles Peterson

Download "Binge" from the Teach Your Bird to Sing CD

Listen to "Rats" from the Swallow 7"


Listen to "40 Days" from the Teach Your Bird to Sing CD

Seattle band Swallow was formed in 1987 with Rod Moody on guitar and vocals, Andy Scheen on bass, Chris Pugh on guitar and vocals, and Scott Schickler on drums.

Sub Pop Records released Swallow's first single (and Sub Pop's third), "Trapped"/"Guts" in 1988. Another song, "Zoo," was included on the label's Sub Pop 200 compilation that same year. In 1989, Sub Pop and British label Tupelo co-released Swallow's full-length eponymous record, and the band proceeded to tour the Southwest.

The pop elements and harmonies that dominated many of the songs Pugh wrote and sang offered a welcome contrast to the band's more aggressive punk/metal songs typically growled by Moody. Indeed, Swallow was the first to put the "pop" in Sub Pop.

Sub Pop co-released their next full-length album, Sourpuss, with German label Glitterhouse, but limited its distribution to Europe. After recording that album, Schickler was replaced by Craig Bradford, and the group set out for another tour of the Southwest states. After they returned, they recorded what was to be their third album, but Sub Pop declined to release it, and Swallow broke up in 1992.

The original lineup of Swallow reconvened in 2006 for two shows, and they liked it enough to start practicing regularly, write new songs, and play the occasional show.

The "lost" third album intended for Sub Pop in 1990 is now available from Flotation, as is a limited edition 7" featuring an epic bonus track not available on the CD.

http://www.myspace.com/swallowplease