Yesterday we awoke to confirmation that Lush were reforming, with the shoegaze-turned-Britpop band playing a one-off gig in London next spring, their first live date in nearly 20 years. The comeback, which finds original members Miki Berenyi, Emma Anderson, and Philip King joined by Justin Welch of Elastica on drums (filling in for the late Chris Acland), also see record label 4AD re-issuing best-of compilation Ciao! on vinyl and offering up a massive career-spanning box set.
“We’ve been away for ages and ages, but we’re really excited to announce that we’re finally ready to reform as Lush,” the band wrote yesterday. “For all the fans who have been pestering us to do this: thanks so much for your patience and support! We wish it could have been sooner but, for many years, it was just too painful to contemplate without Chris, and then all kinds of life-changing commitments made it impossible. Now, at last, the three of us are in the right place at the right time to play music together again.”
After properly digesting news once thought impossible, the next thing on most fans’ minds all through yesterday was this: Will there be more shows beyond the London gig? Will they play festivals? And for us here on this side of the Atlantic, will there be any dates in North America?
Turns out we’re looking at a “yes” on all three questions. And of interest to us here in New England…
..and to our North American friends…you won't be left out…
— Lush (@lushbandtweets) September 29, 2015
Kinda vague, but a nice sentiment.
Tom Windish of the Windish Agency is listed as the band’s stateside booking agent on their freshly-minted Facebook page, so seems like a safe bet the band will at least play a few festivals before setting off on a tour, a bit like what RIDE and Slowdive did in recent years. Lush’s London gig arrives May 6 at the Roundhouse (tickets go on sale tomorrow at 9 a.m. U.K. time), which would come after Coachella in April, but a summer swing through U.S. festivals like Pitchfork and Lollapaloza is certainly possible, with a fall tour to follow. Maybe Crashline Productions could even snag them for September’s Boston Calling.
Of course, a regular ol’ club tour (Royale? House of Blues?) at any point next year would be just as great.
Stay tuned…
