After a long wait since 2017’s Go Farther in Lightness (buoyed by the release of the total serene EP this year), the anthemic Australian rockstars Gang of Youths are back. Today, they’ve announced their third album angel in realtime., due out February 25th via Warner Records. The album has been previewed by prior singles “unison” and “the angel of 8th ave.“, and today’s track “tend the garden” is a similarly pensive look at frontman David Le’aupepe’s experience of losing his father in 2018. That experience looms heavily over the entire album, with the band exploring Le’aupepe’s history and incorporating recordings of indigenous music from the Polynesian islands within their unique style of music. This album, as evidenced by the prior singles, expands Gang of Youths outward in new sonic directions, providing yet another facet of the band to fall in love with. Le’aupepe shared the following about angel in realtime.:
“I hope the record stands as a monument to the man my father was and remains long after I’m gone myself. He deserved it.”
“tend the garden” grooves in a way that’s unfamiliar with past recordings from the band. It reminds me of “Mysterious Ways”-era U2, with a brass-and string-filled breakdown in the middle that’s uniquely cathartic as we walk through the pain of Le’aupepe’s experience. It’s a beautiful way to lead into this new era of Gang of Youths, and it feels as if this band is on the brink of an international breakthrough with these new songs. Stream “tend the garden” here, and check out newly-announced American tour dates for Gang of Youths below, for which tickets will go on sale on Friday.
Tour Dates:
4/21: Madison, WI — Majestic Theatre
4/22: Indianapolis, IN — The Vogue
4/24: Columbus, OH — Newport Music Hall
4/25: Louisville, KY — Mercury Ballroom
4/27: Carrboro, NC — Cat’s Cradle
4/28: Charlotte, NC — The Underground
5/1: Nashville, TN — The Basement East
5/3: Chicago, IL — Metro
5/4: Detroit, MI — Shelter
5/6: Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall
5/7: Montreal, QC — L’Astral
5/9: Boston, MA — Paradise Rock Club
5/10: Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Steel
5/12: Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of the Living Arts
5/13: Washington, DC — Union Stage
5/16: San Francisco, CA — The Fillmore
5/18: Los Angeles, CA — Belasco Theater
5/20: Las Vegas, NV — 24 Oxford
5/21: Phoenix, AZ — Crescent Ballroom
5/23: Austin, TX — Scoot Inn
5/24: Dallas, TX — The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
5/26: Tulsa, OK — Cain’s Ballroom
9/13: Milwaukee, WI — The Rave II
9/14: Minneapolis, MN — First Avenue – Mainroom
9/16: St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall
9/17: Lawrence, KS — The Bottleneck
9/19: Englewood, CO — Gothic Theatre
9/20: Salt Lake City, UT — Urban Lounge
9/22: Portland, OR — Revolution Hall
9/23: Vancouver, BC — Rickshaw Theatre
9/25: Seattle, WA — Neumos
9/5: Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
