When IDLES unveiled their spring North American tour dates a few months ago, there was no Boston gig in sight. Which was a bummer, because anyone who caught the British punk band in Allston last year is still raving about it. As a result, we’ve spent this entire week debating one of two road trips: To Albany to see IDLES tonight at Jupiter Hall, or down to New York City on Friday to catch them at Brooklyn Steel.
Well, park that whip along the curb, because IDLES have revealed a new batch of dates for the fall after an appearance at Austin City Limits. And included in that is an October 16 romp at Boston’s Royale. Joining them on that show is Vanyaland faves Preoccupations. Tickets go on sale Friday (May 10).
The news of these dates comes fully armed with new music, as IDLES have also unleashed a scathing new track called “Mercedes Marxist”, their first fresh tune since the release of last year’s essential Joy as an Act of Resistance LP.
IDLES frontman Joe Talbot describes “Mercedes Marxist” as “a strange beast for us… it was the first song we wrote for Joy as an Act of Resistance.” He adds: “I was pissed off at what I was and where I was: I was sofa surfing on the weekends and spending the weeks looking after my mum. My life balance was way off and this song reflects just how useless I felt. It was me at my worst and without any buoyancy it became catharsis. It was the last splurge from Brutalism so we omitted it. I like it now.”
“Mercedes Marxist” will be released August 2 on a 7-inch via Partisan Records.
IDLES 2019 North American Tour Dates:
May 8 – Albany, NY – @ Jupiter Hall
May 10 – Brooklyn, NY – @ Brooklyn Steel
May 11 – Washington, D.C. – @ Rock & Roll Hotel
May 12 – Washington D.C., Rock & Roll Hotel
May 14 – Cleveland, OH – @ Beachland Ballroom
May 16 – Kansas City, MO – @ recordBar
May 17 – Dallas, TX – @ The Curtain Club
May 18 – Austin, TX – @ Barracuda
May 20 – Phoenix, AZ – @ Valley Bar
May 21 – San Diego, CA – @ Belly Up
May 22 – Los Angeles, CA – @ The Fonda
May 24 – San Francisco, CA – @ Great American Music Hall
May 25 – San Francisco, CA – @ Great American Music Hall
May 27 – Portland, OR – @ Wonder Ballroom
May 28 – Seattle, WA – @ Neumo’s
July 29 – Detroit, MI – @ El Club
July 30 – Toronto, ON – @ Danforth Music Hall
August 2 – Chicago, IL – @ Lollapalooza
August 3 – Minneapolis, MN – @ First Avenue
October 6-7 + October 11-13 – Austin, TX – @ Austin City Limits
October 7 – San Diego, CA – @ Observatory North Park
October 8– Los Angeles, CA – @ The Wiltern
October 10 – San Francisco, CA – @ The Fillmore
October 14 – Washington, DC – @ 930 Club
October 15 – Philadelphia, PA – @ Union Transfer
October 16 – Boston, MA – @ Royale
October 17 – New York, NY – @ Terminal 5