NICK THOMAS, JOE BECK, SCOTT McGUIRE, and DAN LUDEMAN


People who think nothing happens in South Dakota are wrong.

Just ask Nick Thomas, the singer, songwriter and driving force behind The Spill Canvas. Born in Sioux Falls, SD, Thomas has been turning his experiences into songs for as long as he can remember. Dreams, first loves, the universal highs and lows of being a kid - he has always recorded all the stories of his youth. With the release of ONE FELL SWOOP, the sophomore effort from The Spill Canvas, Nick's South Dakota stories are joined by tales from the road, growing up, heartbreak and making those dreams into reality.

Listening to ONE FELL SWOOP is like reading someone else's diary – each song is an entry brimming with impulsive emotion. From the impassioned pleas of "Valiant" to the up-all-night-alone musings of "The Dutch Courage" The Spill Canvas have created a record that is arresting and unique but also immediately familiar.

ONE FELL SWOOP is both a natural progression and a long time coming. Nick released his first CD when he was 15 and played relentlessly in various incarnations around South Dakota before starting to perform as The Spill Canvas. A demo sent in by Nick's father caught the attention of One Eleven Records founder Brad Fischetti, who signed Thomas purely through the strength of the tape. The largely acoustic SUNSETS AND CAR CRASHES was released in 2004 and promptly became an underground success, selling over 10k copies and earning high praise from kids and critics alike. Constant touring, including a string of dates with Straylight Run, perfected his highly emotional live performance and evolved The Spill Canvas into a full band.

Joined by guitarist Dan Ludeman, bassist Scott McGuire and drummer Joe Beck, Nick headed back into the studio with producer Ed Rose (Motion City Soundtrack, Get Up Kids). Together they created lush, orchestral arrangements and driving melodies that added even more intensity to Nick's emphatic lyrics. Rockers like the brutally candid "Break A Leg" are delivered with a guitar-fueled bite and the incredibly catchy "Staplegunned" is an anthem in the making. Emerging from the studio and ready to hit the road, The Spill Canvas bring with them an album that is cathartic, heartfelt without being cheesy and as sincere as they come.

Hello world.