THE CHURCH ANNOUNCE 26th ALBUM THE HYPNOGOGUE + REVEAL SPRING 2023 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
COMMUNICATING VESSELS/UNORTHODOX
βThe Hypnogogue is the most prog rock thing we have ever done and also weβve never had a concept album before,β says Steve Kilbey, the bassist, vocalist and founder of seminal psych-guitar masters The Church about their new dystopian album set in 2054 (due out in February 24, 2023 viaΒ Communicating Vessels). βIt is the most βteamwork recordβ we have ever had. Everyone in the band is so justifiably proud of this record and everyone helped to make sure it was as good as it could be. Personally, I think itβs in our top three records.β
The Church have also announcedΒ their North American tour set for Spring 2023 supporting the release of The Hypnogogue. Kicking off at Los Angelesβ The BelascoΒ on March 11, the tour winds around the continent including shows in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philly, NYC, Boston among many other dates. βWe are really excited to bring this complex and challenging album to the USA where we are sure it will be looked upon favorably,β says Kilbey with a smile.
Check show links for on sale dates and times!Β (full list of dates below).
Setting the stage for the rollout of the albumβs thematic narrative, the first single and video βThe Hypnogogueβ (released August 29), he explains, βInvented by Sun Kim Jong, a Korean scientist and occult dabbler, The Hypnogogue is a machine and a process that pulls music straight of dreams. The song is about Eros Zeta, the biggest rock star of 2054, who has traveled from his home in Antarctica (against his managerβs advice) to use the Hypnogogue to help him revive his flagging fortunes. In the midst of the toxic process, he also falls in love with Sun Kim and it all ends tragically (of course…as these things often do).β
Entering the fourth decade of making music and playing live shows with all the fierce creative energy of their early years, The Church have been hard at work on their 26thΒ album, the follow-up to 2017βs Man Woman Life Death Infinity which PopMatters called βa 21st-century masterpiece, a bright beam of light amid a generic musical landscape, and truly one of the Churchβs greatest releases.β In stores February 24, 2023, its first single βThe Hypnogogueβ is just a precursor to the music that the band is prepping for release.
Starting out in 1980, The Church have continued to expand their highly cinematic and atmospheric blend of indie rock, shimmering post-punk, icy dreampop and psychedelic post-rock without retreading their steps. Their expansive music career yielded a string of hit songs including βUnder the Milky Way,β βReptile,β βThe Unguarded Momentβ and βAlmost With Youβ amongst others and their equally stellar live shows have been deemed βspectacularβ by MAGNET Magazine, citing their βdreamy psychedelia that will daub your evening with shades of paisleyβ Their most recent U.S. performance at 2022βs Cruel World Festival alongside Blondie, Bauhaus and Morrissey was heralded as βa subtle delightβ¦ that captivated the late afternoon audienceβ (Orange County Register), βproviding the perfect soundtrackβ (Rock Cellar Magazine).
The 2022 epic five-piece line-up is bassist, vocalist and founder Steve Kilbey; with long-time collaborator Tim Powles, drummer and producer across 17 albums since ’94; guitarist Ian Haug formerly of Australian rock icons Powderfinger, who joined the band in 2013 and Jeffrey Cain (Remy Zero), touring multi-instrumentalist who is now a full-time member of The Church since the departure of Peter Koppes in early 2020. The band have also recruited Ashley Naylor, long-time member of Paul Kellyβs touring band and one of Australiaβs finest and most respected guitarists (Even, The Grapes, The Stems).
The Churchβs 26thΒ album The Hypnogogue will be released on February 24, 2023 viaΒ Communicating Vessels.
Tour Dates
Mar 11Β Los Angeles, CAΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The Belasco – Ticket link
Mar 12Β Solana Beach, CAΒ Β Β Β Β Β Belly Up Tavern – Ticket link
Mar 14Β San Francisco, CAΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Great American Music Hall – Ticket link
Mar 16Β Portland, ORΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Aladdin Theater – Ticket link
Mar 17Β Tacoma, WA Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Elks Temple Ballroom – Ticket link
Mar 21Β Englewood, COΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Gothic Theater – Ticket link
Mar 23Β Minneapolis, MN Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Fine Line Music Hall – Ticket link
Mar 25Β St Louis, MOΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Delmar Hall – Ticket link
Mar 26Β Chicago, ILΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Thalia Hall – Ticket link
Mar 28Β Kent, OHΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Kent Stage – Ticket link
Mar 29Β Philadelphia, PAΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Theatre of Living Arts – Ticket link
Mar 30Β New York, NY Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Gramercy Theater – Ticket link
Mar 31Β Boston, MAΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The Sinclair – Ticket link
Apr 1Β Β Β Hartford, CTΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Infinity Hall – Ticket link
Apr 3Β Β Β Asbury Park, NJ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Asbury Lanes – Ticket link
Apr 4Β Β Β Alexandria, VA Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Birchmere Music Hall – Ticket link
Apr 5Β Β Β Norfolk VAΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The Norva – Ticket link
Apr 6Β Β Β Carrboro, NCΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Cat’s Cradle – Ticket link
Apr 8Β Β Β Pelham, TNΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β The Caverns – Ticket link