Wingtip Sloat
| Company type | Independent band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Patrick Foster, Andy Dubuc, David Bishop |
| Headquarters | Falls Church, Virginia , United States |
Area served | United States, East Coast tours |
| Products | Indie rock music, albums, EPs, cassettes |
| Website | wingtipsloat |
Wingtip Sloat—commonly referred to simply as Sloat—was an indie rock trio originating from the suburb of Falls Church, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. Primarily active during the 1990s, the lineup featured Patrick Foster on guitar and vocals, Andy Dubuc handling bass duties, and David Bishop on drums. Throughout their initial decade of activity, they adhered to a strict DIY philosophy, managing their own recording and distribution while balancing full-time employment, earning them the moniker "the hardest working band in America."
History
The origins trace back to 1985 when guitarists Patrick Foster and Brad Maylor joined forces with bassist Andy Dubuc in the college indie group Empty Box based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Drummer David Bishop became part of the ensemble before Empty Box dissolved in 1989. The following year, the four musicians regrouped under the name Wingtip Sloat. By 1991, Maylor had departed, leaving the band as a trio that rehearsed in Dubuc’s parents’ basement and recorded using a 4-track tape recorder. Early releases consisted of raw cassette tapes and polished tracks pressed on 7-inch vinyl through their self-operated label Sweet Portable Junket—named after their fanzine Sweet Portable You. The band was recognized for their handcrafted packaging and unwavering commitment to a DIY ethic. Their initial sound merged influences from DC post-hardcore with lo-fi aesthetics and elements drawn from New Zealand pop.
Wingtip Sloat found an audience on college radio stations and embarked on East Coast tours, sharing stages with bands such as Pavement, Thinking Fellers Union Local 282, and Sebadoh. British broadcaster John Peel frequently featured their songs on BBC Radio and lauded them in Rolling Stone. They participated in various compilations and split releases, often paying tribute to seminal indie acts like Swell Maps, Tall Dwarfs, The Clean, Sun City Girls, Happy Go Licky, World of Pooh, Galaxie 500, and Minutemen through cover versions.
A significant portion of their catalog was issued by Bill Kellum’s Washington DC-based label VHF Records, including their more refined albums Chewyfoot (1995) and If Only for the Hatchery (1998). Although members’ professional obligations in printing, contracting, and accounting slowed their momentum, they maintained regular rehearsals. Following notable performances in the late 1990s alongside Sonic Youth, Spoon, and Mike Watt, the group gradually shifted focus toward family priorities, resulting in a period of inactivity.
In 2007, early vinyl singles and compilation tracks were compiled into the CD release Add This to the Rhetoric. Despite drummer Bishop relocating to Louisville, Kentucky in 2004, songwriting and recording continued. Material recorded between 2015 and 2016 was eventually issued in 2018 as the albums Purge and Swell and Lost Decade, available both as LP/CD packages and digitally via platforms such as Bandcamp. These collections included rehearsal recordings, poetic excerpts, original compositions, plus covers of artists including Belle & Sebastian, Bob Dylan, Brian Eno, and Wire.
Albums
- Chewyfoot LP/CD (VHF Records/Tupelo Recording Company, 1995)
- If Only For The Hatchery LP/CD (VHF Records, 1998)
- Purge and Swell LP (VHF Records, 2018)
- Lost Decade CD (VHF Records, 2018)
Extended plays
- "M31" 7-inch EP released by Sweet Portable Junket in 1991
- Half Past I've Got double 7″ EP issued through VHF Records and Sweet Portable Junket in 1992
- "Return Of The Night Of The Ardent Straggler" 7-inch EP distributed by VHF Records in 1994
Split records
- Split single titled "Read About Seymour"/"Vertical Slum" with Rake, featuring a cover of Swell Maps (VHF Records, 1995)
- Collaborative split EP with Mote, released on Toothpick Records in 1996
- Split EP with Trans Am issued by Tuba Frenzy in 1996
Cassettes
- As Though I was Waiting for That cassette from Sweet Portable Junket, 1990
- User-Friendly Bowl Wrapper cassette launched by Sweet Portable Junket in 1991
- Santa On The Crappa cassette produced by Sweet Portable Junket, released in 1995
Compilations
- Add This To Rhetoric, a CD compiling selections from singles, EPs, cassettes, and various compilations, released by Revolver Records in 2007
- Digital download titled Purge and Swell/Lost Decade, made available through VHF Records in 2018