Sebadoh will release album, Act Surprised on May 24 via Dangerbird Records. The new song, “Raging River” has a refreshing sound with lead singer Lou Barlow and solid guitar and beats. The video is very entertaining as lead singer, Barlow wears headphones and displays a stone faced gritty, deadpan expression. The video flashes different landscapes and works so well visually, marked with perfect timing with each beat. As one fan states, “Damn good song!” and I couldn’t agree more. You definitely don’t want the song to end.
The band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1989 with Lou Barlow the former bassist of Dinosaur Jr., Eric Gaffney and Jason Lowenstein. In 2011, Lowenstein and Barlow recruited drummer Bob D’Amico to play some live dates. Recently, Barlow moved back to Massachusetts following a series of personal changes and felt the incentive to reach out to Jason and Bob again to reunite and start work on a new album.
After being kicked out of Dinosaur Jr. in 1989, Barlow turned his attention toward Sebadoh, a home-recording project that he and drummer/songwriter Eric Gaffney began in 1987. Gaffney left in 1994, and with new drummer Bob Fay, Sebadoh produced its most accessible albums, Bakesale and Harmacy which expanded its cult following.
They released an album, titled The Sebadoh in February 1999. In 2011, drummer D’Amico joined the band and they entered the studio and set about writing new material. In 2012, they announced the release of the Secret EP. In 2013, Sebadoh signed a new deal with Joyful Noise Recordings and released their ninth album, Defend Yourself.
The band recently released the lead single “celebrate the void” from their new album and Rolling Stone called it “a brooding head-nodder” while Consequence of Sound described “a dejected start gives way to a punchy embrace of the uncertainty.” Act Surprised is available for pre-save/pre-order and includes an instant download of “raging river,” “stunned,” and “celebrate the void.”
The 15 song collection was developed by producer/sound engineer Justin Pizzoferrato, Sebadoh. Dummer Jason Loewenstein stated, “Wouldn’t it be great if a big raging river came through here and washed away all the assholes?”
Tracklist:
1. phantom
2. celebrate the void
3. follow the breath
4. medicate
5. see-saw
6. vacation
7. stunned
8. fool
9. 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: Santa Ana, CA – La Santa
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)
06/14: New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks
06/15: Atlanta, GA – The Earl
06/16: Asheville, NC – Mothlight
06/18: Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
06/19: Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
06/20: Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom
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: Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts*
07/26: New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*
07/27: Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes*
* w/ Eleanor Friedberger
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