The indie pop supergroup The New Pornographers announced earlier today that they will be releasing their tenth sutdio album, The Former Site Of, on March 27 via Merge Records. The band also shared their lead single "Votive", as well as new dates for an upcoming tour.
"Votive" was written by members A.C. Newman, who also composed and performed the mandolin section, and vocalist Kathryn Calder. It comes with an accompanying music video, animated by Michael Arthur. Watch/listen to it below:
The Former Site Of was written as a collection of ten short stories that focus on different characters, each pushed to societal or personal extremes. Newman wrote the record in his personal studio before bringing it to the band, which includes Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey.
"I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again," said Newman via press release. "Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first—just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible—before bringing it to the band and running from there."
This will be the first New Pornographers record without a permanent drummer. Last April, longtime member Joe Seiders was arrested for sexual assault and possession of child pornography, and was subsequently kicked out of the band. Replacing him is Charley Drayton (Divinyls, Rolling Stones, Fiona Apple) as the session drummer; Josh Wells (Destroyer, Black Mountain) will play for the band on tour.
The new record also includes "Ballad Of The Last Payphone", a single first released in April 2025. It is the last song recorded with Seiders.
The promotional tour for The Former Site Of will begin this upcoming April. The New Pornographers will travel to several cities across the US, and Will Sheff (Okkervil River) will join as support. Tickets are available now.
The Former Site Of is out March 27. Pre-order here. Official tracklist:
- Great Princess Story
- Pure Sticker Shock
- Ballad Of The Last Payphone
- Spooky Action
- Wish You Could See Me I'm Killing It
- Votive
- The Wine Remembers The Water
- Calligraphy
- Bonus Mai Tais
- The Former Site Of
Tour dates:
04/22 Boston, MA @ The Wilbur ^
04/23 New York, NY @ Webster Hall ^
04/24 Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre ^
04/25 Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall ^
04/27 Detroit, MI @ El Club ^
04/29 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre ^
04/30 Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues ^
05/01 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall ^
05/02 Minneapolis, MN @ The Fitzgerald Theater ^
05/03 Chicago, IL @ The Metro ^
05/05 Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre ^
05/06 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Commonwealth Room ^
05/08 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox ^
05/09 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater ^
05/11 San Francisco, CA @ The Castro Theatre ^
05/12 Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom ^
05/13 Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^
05/15 Austin, TX @ Mohawk Outside ^
05/16 Dallas, TX @ The Kessler Theater ^
05/17 Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea's Live ^
05/19 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse ^
05/20 Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom ^
05/21 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^
^ = w/ Will Sheff (of Okkervil River)
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