Yikes! Superchunk Announce New Album And Tour

Chapel Hill indie rock stalwart Superchunk announced a new album, Songs in the Key of Yikes, and a fall tour.   

Songs in the Key of Yikes promises to be another signature Superchunk album – intuitive, intelligent and completely catchy. Released by Merge Records, the album will be available on Aug. 22, but the band has already released the opener, “Is It Making You Feel Something.”

The lead single sets the tone building an anthem out of the potential for joy, diving into slop-polluted waters and emerging with a pearl. The band will be releasing a limited edition, seven-inch record featuring “Is It Making You Feel Something” backed with “Sirens & Lights,” an unreleased exclusive-to-vinyl, B-side from the album sessions for pre-order.

“This song is about not second-guessing yourself in the very second-guessable process of writing words and music,” explained singer/guitarist Mac McCaughan in a release. “It’s about the legitimate question of ‘Who needs this?’ and ‘What is it good for?’ But also about not setting such a high bar for making art that you never get started.”

Superchunk formed in 1989 and currently consists of McCaughan, guitarist Jim Wilbur, bassist Laura Ballance and drummer Laura King, who was welcomed officially as a band member after two years as their touring drummer.

The band will launch their fall tour on Sept. 5 at Richmond Music Hall in Virginia with stops in Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston before ending Oct. 23 in Los Angeles. Tickets are now available. Jim Romeo and Andrew Stocker at Ground Control are the agents.

Superchunk Tour Dates:

Sept. 5 – Richmond, VA, Richmond Music Hall

Sept. 9 – Washington, DC, Black Cat *

Sept. 10 – Philadelphia, PA, Ardmore Music Hall *

Sept. 11 – New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom *

Sept. 12 – Boston, MA, The Crystal Ballroom *

Sept. 13 – Portsmouth, NH, 3S Artspace *

Sept. 14 – Woodstock, NY, Bearsville Theater *

Sept. 16 – Pittsburgh, PA, Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall *

Sept. 17 – Cleveland, OH, Grog Shop *

Sept. 18 – Kalamazoo, MI, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe *

Sept. 19 – Sawyer, MI, Out There (acoustic show)

Oct. 9 – Pioneertown, CA, Pappy & Harriet’s

Oct. 10 – Las Vegas, NV, Best Friends Fest 

Oct. 13 – Denver, CO, The Gothic Theatre ^

Oct. 14 – Salt Lake City, UT, Urban Lounge ^

Oct. 15 – Boise, ID, Shrine Social Club Ballroom ^

Oct. 17 – Seattle, WA, Tractor Tavern ^

Oct. 18 – Portland, OR, Mississippi Studios ^

Oct. 19 – Portland, OR, Mississippi Studios ^

Oct. 21 – San Francisco, CA, The Independent ^

Oct. 23 – Los Angeles, CA, Teragram Ballroom ^

* w/ Tee Vee Repairmann

^ w/ Case Oats