Sebadoh Announce First Album in 6 Years

Indie-rock pioneers Sebadoh announced their first new studio album in more than six years Act Surprised will release on May 24th via Dangerbird Records.

The band released the official video for the album’s first single “celebrate the void” and has also announced a full US tour. Act Surprised is now available for pre-save/pre-order and includes an instant download of “celebrate the void.”

“The first line of this song: ‘I get the feeling you don’t feel me’ is pretty good. It could be a line in an Ariana Grande song, I like it,” said Lou Barlow. “I followed it from there through some general complaints about a composite character in my life, someone I could never crack. Sometimes the walls are too high. If you think about it, the resistance was always there, even in the very beginning. What to do? Pick endlessly at the seams? Replay moments in my head looking for a way to explain it all? No, stop, there is no one answer and that’s OK…Celebrate the void.”

Act Surprised continues the soulful collaboration that’s defined the band since 1991’s Sebadoh III and 1994’s Bakesale. The new batch of songs reaffirms how vital the creative partnership is between members Barlow, Jason Loewenstein, and Bob D’Amico.

When Barlow recently moved back to his home state of Massachusetts following a series of personal changes, he pressed the restart button and, in time, felt the incentive to reach out to Jason and Bob again to reunite and start work on a new album. The trio convened and began recording in their original stomping grounds in western Massachusetts where they first formed back in 1988. Along with producer/sound engineer Justin Pizzoferatto, Sebadoh have delivered one of the best records of their career. Act Surprised is a 15-song collection that’s as dynamic and visceral as anything the band has ever committed to tape.

Lowenstein stated, “Of all the records we have made in our long career, this is definitely the most recent.”

Tracklist

01) phantom
02) celebrate the void
03) follow the breath
04) medicate
05) see-saw
06) vacation
07) stunned
08) fool
09) raging river
10) sunshine
11) act surprised
12) battery
13) belief
14) leap year
15) Reykjavik

Tour Dates

05/22: Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls
05/23: Columbus, OH – Rumba Café
05/24: Evanston, IL – Space
05/25: Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
05/26: Omaha, NE – Reverb
05/28: Denver, CO – Globe Hall
05/29: Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
05/31: Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
06/01: Vancouver, BC – Fox Caberet
06/02: Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
06/05: San Francisco, CA – Slims
06/06: Los Angeles, CA – Roxy
06/07: San Diego, CA – Casbah
06/08: Tustin, CA – Marty’s on Newport
06/09: Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar
06/10: Albuquerque, NM – Launch Pad
06/12: Austin, TX – Parish
06/13: Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall (upstairs)
06/15: Atlanta, GA – The Earl
06/16: Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
06/21: Holyoke, MA – Gateway City Arts Center
06/22: Boston, MA – The Sinclair
07/11: Montreal, PQ – Ritz*
07/12: Toronto, ON – Horsehoe Tavern*
07/13: Detroit, MI – Shelter*
07/14: Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop*
07/16: Cincinnati, OH – Woodward Theatre*
07/17: St. Louis, MO – The Ready Room*
07/18: Nashville, TN – Exit/In*
07/19: Birmingham, AL – Saturn*
07/20: Charlotte, NC – The Underground*
07/22: Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall*
07/23: Washington, DC – Black Cat*
07/24: Philadlephia, PA – Underground Arts*
07/26: New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
07/27: Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes*