John Early has announced Now More Than Ever, the comedy album companion to his hit 2023 HBO standup special of the same name. It’s out September 13 via Lookin’ For My Denim Records/Thirty Tigers. It’s not just the special, though. The album features four brand new cover songs from Early and his live band The Lemon Squares, including songs by Madonna, Aaliyah, Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner, and Donna Summer. There’s also an exclusive, album-only set from Early’s alter ego, Vicky with a ‘V.’
“I’ve been performing comedy and music with my long suffering band The Lemon Squares for over 10 years now, and I always assumed that there was no way to capture the magic of our live shows,” says Early. “But listening to this album takes me right back to that sweaty night in downtown Brooklyn, which felt something like being a crazed preacher at a tent revival. I’m so excited for people to hear the Vicky with a ‘V’ set that we had to cut from the HBO special for time. And I am so, so pumped about our new cover songs which I think are genuinely good and stanky. I would also like to put it on permanent record that I did the Madonna rap in one take.”
You can also catch John on tour this fall, including a NYC show with The Lemon Squares at Webster Hall on October 14. Tickets for all just-announced shows go on sale Friday, June 14 at 10 AM local time.
Now More Than Ever
1. “Oops (Oh My)” (Tweet feat. Missy Elliott) ^
2. Parents
3. Access Hollywood
4. Not Looking
5. Anal
6. I Can’t
7. Pre-War
8. Therapy
9. Britney
10. “Overprotected” (Britney Spears) ^
11. Ask App Not To Track
12. All The Things
13. “After the Gold Rush” (Neil Young) ^
14. Vicky with a ‘V’ *
15. “I Feel Love” (Donna Summer) ^
16. Now More Than Ever (Intro) ^
17. “American Life” (Madonna) ^*
18. “The Pain Of Loving You” (Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton) ^*
19. “Rock the Boat” (Aaliyah) ^*
20. “My Baby Understands” (Donna Summer) ^*
21. Now More Than Ever (Outro) ^ #
^ John Early and the Lemon Squares
* Album Exclusive
# Digital Album Exclusive
John Early Tour Dates
Mon. Sept. 9 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
Tue. Sept. 10 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
Thu. Sept. 12 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
Fri. Sept. 13 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club
Tue. Sept. 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom w/ The Lemon Squares
Wed. Sept. 18 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
Fri. Sept. 20 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Sat. Sept. 21 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Wed. Oct. 2 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Thu. Oct. 3 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
Fri. Oct. 4 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
Sat. Oct. 5 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
Sun. Oct. 6 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
Mon. Oct. 7 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fine Line
Sun. Oct. 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
Mon. Oct. 14 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall w/ The Lemon Squares
Tue. Oct. 15 – Boston, MA @ The Wilbur
Wed. Oct. 16 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Sat. Oct. 19 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
Sun. Oct. 20 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Mon. Oct. 21 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall