Superchunk ‘Key’ Up For 13th Album, Tour
Superchunk sound as sprightly as their early days on “Is It Making You Feel Something,” the first single from the beloved North Carolina indie rock band’s 13th album, Songs in the Key of Yikes. The set will be released Aug. 22 on the band’s longtime label, Merge.
“This song is about not second-guessing yourself in the very second-guessable process of writing words and music,” frontman Mac McCaughan says. “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. ‘Is it making you feel something?’ OK, that’s a place to start.”
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Songs in the Key of Yikes is the first Superchunk album since 1991’s No Pocky for Kitty to not feature drummer Jon Wurster, who left in 2023 to focus on his work with the Mountain Goats and Bob Mould. His role has since been filled by Laura King, who appears on the album. Superchunk is rounded out by longtime guitarist Jim Wilbur and original bassist Laura Ballance, who no longer tours with the band but remains an active contributor to their recordings.
“It’s always been the case that everyone is going through something that you may not be aware of,” McCaughan says. “This is currently more true than ever—but also the case that we are all going through some things together. In the face of that, what good is art and where is happiness found? (Spoiler alert: I don’t know.)”
Superchunk will support Yikes on a two-leg fall North American tour, beginning Sept. 5 in Richmond, Va. Click here to pre-order the new album and a limited-edition seven-inch single with “Is It Making You Feel Something” backed by the exclusive b-side “Sirens & Lights.”
Here are Superchunk’s tour dates:
Sep 05: Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall
Sep 09: Washington, DC – Black Cat *
Sep 10: Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall *
Sep 11: New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
Sep 12: Boston, MA – The Crystal Ballroom *
Sep 13: Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artspace *
Sep 14: Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater *
Sep 16: Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall *
Sep 17: Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
Sep 18: Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe *
Sep 19: Sawyer, MI – Out There (Special Acoustic Show)
Oct 09: 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
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