Biography
Swarming Branch operates as an elusive indie rock experimental outfit anchored by sole constant member Andrew Graham, who draws on a shifting roster of supporting players to realize his stylistically eclectic compositions. Graham launched his career in the early 2000s in Columbus, Ohio, performing with the indie folk ensemble RTFO Bandwagon. Following that group’s two albums, Flagships in 2007 and Dum Will Survive in 2009, he embarked on a solo path under the name Andrew Graham & Swarming Branch, broadening his palette to encompass glam rock, country boogie, Tin Pan Alley, swampy blues pop, and eccentric rock & roll rave-ups. The project’s debut release was the single “Alien Skaters,” after which Graham partnered with the Mexican Summer label for the 2010 LP Andrew Graham’s Good Word. That record featured drummer Ryan Jewell of Psychedelic Horseshit, bassist Chris Burney, pianist Dane Terry, and slide guitarist Larry Marotta. The subsequent Swarming Branch full-length, Classic Glass, appeared in 2013 via the band’s own Tonk Records imprint; it introduced drummer Lon Leary and confirmed Terry’s status as Graham’s primary collaborator. A two-song 10-inch, Rock & Roll #61, followed in December 2013. Having handled production internally up to that point, Graham, Leary, and Terry enlisted outside producer Rob Barbato of Drinks and Peaking Lights plus engineer Drew Fischer to achieve greater sonic refinement. The resulting album, Surreal Number, retained the project’s characteristic range and eccentricity while delivering a more expansive, robust sound. It first surfaced on Tonk during 2016 tour dates, then received wider distribution through the Ohio-based Sofa Burn label in early 2017.
Albums
