Wow. Pedro the Lion, right? That takes me back. Anyone else out there suddenly have the urge to borrow their parents’ Ford Taurus and go kill some time at a brick and mortar “video store” while they wait for “that song to finish downloading” on Napster? Yeesh.
But anyway, yeah: I guess songwriter David Bazan basically rebooted the whole Pedro project last year after a solid 11-year hiatus, stating that he “missed the energy of making music with other people on stage” and that he really “needed to be in a band again.” He even went so far as to promise a new album and tour in 2018.
Bazan actually didn’t waste much time following through with the whole touring part either, announcing a pretty ambitious run of dates this past December that would take him (and whomever else felt like being in Pedro the Lion again) all around North America throughout the bulk of 2018. But there was not so much as a mumbling, garbled, throaty word about new music.
Then, yesterday: the last — and most seriously ballin’ early-aught-style EMO — piece of the puzzle fell into place, as none other than the illimitable motherfuckin’ Polyvinyl Record Co. Twitter-teased the following:
Words can’t even begin to describe how excited we are for this one. New music coming soon… pic.twitter.com/QN4uFxd5ux
— Polyvinyl Record Co. (@Polyvinyl) January 25, 2018
I know what you’re thinking: “Huh…you mean Pedro the Lion wasn’t ALREADY signed to Polyvinyl this whole time? That seems like it would’ve made so much sense.”
Yeah, no, I guess they weren’t! But: they ARE NOW. And there’s a new record coming. At some point. IF Bazan even fit that in between the fuck ton of shows he booked.
Whatever, though! Not our problem, right? Just check out Bazan’s statement regarding this Perfect Emo Storm down below, followed by a clip of the band performing a few classics live at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, WA this past December and a full list of all their 2018 tour dates. And c’mon: try to get excited! — just not too excited…
As a music fan I’ve watched Polyvinyl thrive in a brutal marketplace and grow their seminal roster to include even more bands that I’m downright obsessed with. As a cog in the music business I’ve gotten to know and appreciate their inner workings gradually through mutual friends and colleagues over many years of visiting their offices in Champaign, Illinois. So when looking for a record label for Pedro the Lion I realized pretty quickly that Polyvinyl was a fantastic fit. I am so thrilled to be working with them.
Pedro the Lion 2018 tour dates:
02.08.18 - St Louis, MO - Old Rock House
02.09.18 - Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
02.10.18 - Tulsa, OK - The Vanguard
02.12.18 - Dallas, TX - Trees
02.13.18 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
02.14.18 - Houston, TX - Rockefellers
02.16.18 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
02.17.18 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn
02.18.18 - Gainesville, FL - High Dive
02.19.18 - Orlando, FL - The Social
02.21.18 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
02.22.18 - Atlanta, GA - Terminal West
02.23.18 - Nashville, TN - Exit/In
05.08.18 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
05.09.18 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
05.12.18 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent
05.13.18 - Oakland, CA - Starline
05.14.18 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram
05.17.18 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
05.18.18 - Phoenix, AZ - The Crescent Ballroom
05.20.18 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theatre
05.21.18 - Fort Collins, CO - Washington’s
05.22.18 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
05.23.18 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
05.24.18 - Missoula, MT - Top Hat
08.06.18 - Indianapolis, IN - The HI-FI
08.07.18 - Ferndale, MI - Loving Touch
08.08.18 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace
08.10.18 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
08.11.18 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
08.12.18 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
08.14.18 - New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
08.15.18 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
08.16.18 - Millvale, PA - Mr. Small’s Theatre
08.17.18 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
08.18.18 - Newport, KY - Southgate House - Revival Room
08.20.18 - Davenport, IA - Raccoon Motel
08.21.18 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
08.22.18 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line
08.23.18 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
08.24.18 - Chicago, IL - Thalia Hall
More about: Pedro the Lion
