While hardly foul, DC band Foul Swoops do seize audiences with their brand of rock ‘n’ roll. Raised on the blues, brothers Devin and Sean Connell are devoted to keeping music in their blood. With the addition of drummer Laurie Spector, the trio are unstoppable. Foul Swoops are known widely outside of the District, but they continue to favor local shows. However, they are changing that up this month, taking off on a mini-tour. Catch Foul Swoops at their tour kickoff show with Plums tonight, April 4, at 9pm at CD Cellar in Arlington. The show is free, but donations are appreciated.
Foul Swoops are a no-frills band, formed in 2009 and releasing only one album to date, a self-titled four-song EP via Yeah Gates. Cornering the market on garage rock in DC, the trio have garnered a positive stream of success, having opened for Dirty Beaches, Frankie Rose, Parquet Courts, Harlem, and Jeff the Brotherhood over the years.
Most recently, the band released “Good Looks” under the radar, presenting a more polished recording than previous songs. More songs are expected this month; however, no official date has been released. While the trickling of songs from Foul Swoops has been slow, the most recent “Good Looks” is a good-looking sample of what we might expect from Foul Swoops this year.
Don’t miss out on experiencing Foul Swoops at their second home, the CD Cellar, an intimate setting sure to set fire to your Thursday night. Check out the rest of their tour dates below. Foul Swoops have plans for a much larger tour this July.
Experimental band Plums, composed of John Howard (drums), Martha Hamilton (guitar), Jeff Barsky (guitar), PJ Brownlee (guitar/electronics), and Marc Masters (bass/keyboards), are true pioneers to making music for the sake of the sound. They self-released their debut album The White LP in late 2011 after ten years of playing together. Much like Foul Swoops, things come at a slower pace, but are well worth the wait.
The White LP is a nine-track album made up of PA tapes, basement jams, and songs spanning a decade and pressed on double-vinyl enclosed with only a plain white sleeve—a nod to their stance that the sound that comes from the spinning circle is all you need and all that matters. Take that, John Stabb!
You don’t want to miss these sweet Plums, so get there early and enjoy the noise. If you just can’t get enough, John and Martha from the Plums, along with John Masters of Harness Flux, will be backing Jowe Head this Sunday at Judy’s Bar and Restaurant.
As always, support your local record store. CD Cellar brings only the best talent to play in their store (free!), so support them back by getting there early and buying music.
Foul Swoops Tour Dates:
4/3 – Steady Sounds (Richmond, VA) with the Ar-kaics
4/4 – CD Cellar (Arlington, VA) with the Plums
4/6 – Charm City Art Space (Baltimore, MD) as part of the Baltimore Pop Fest
4/9 – Neverending Books (New Haven, CT) with Pools Are Nice
4/10 – Building 16 (Providence, RI) with Downtown Boys and Fat Creeps
4/11 – The Plough and Stars (Boston, MA) with Bent Shapes and Halfsour
