The Mountain Goats continue to release new albums at a prolific rate; they’re following last year’s Bleed Out with Jenny From Thebes, due out October 27 via Merge. They’re calling it a sequel to their classic 2002 album All Hail West Texas, and it was produced by Trina Shoemaker, with Bully‘s Alicia Bognanno again contributing guitar. It also features horn and string arrangements from Matt Douglas, and backing vocals from The Go-Go’s Kathy Valentine and Matt Nathanson. See the cover art and tracklist below.
The first single is “Clean Slate,” about which John Darnielle says, “People like to hedge bets by using terms like ‘concept album’ but let’s be clear, this is a rock opera about a woman named Jenny, who buys a Kawasaki to ride as far away as she can from a town she’s been carrying on her shoulders too long. ‘Clean Slate’ sets the scene: this is the house Jenny rents; these are the people who crash there when they need a place to stay; this is where she’s at in the process of becoming someone other than the keyholder she’s been. Produced by Trina Shoemaker! Played by the Mountain Goats at the Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Respect to the real pirates of west Texas, still out there on the roads: may you remain one step ahead forever!”
The Mountain Goats will be on tour this summer and fall, including their NYC show at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on August 4. That’s with Pool Kids, and tickets are still available. See all dates below.
1. Clean Slate
2. Ground Level
3. Only One Way
4. Fresh Tattoo
5. Cleaning Crew
6. Murder at the 18th St. Garage
7. From the Nebraska Plant
8. Same as Cash
9. Water Tower
10. Jenny III
11. Going to Dallas
12. Great Pirates
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS: 2023 TOUR
8/4 – New York, NY @ The Rooftop at Pier 17
8/5 – Boston, MA @ Citizens House of Blues
8/8 – Seattle, WA @ Woodland Park Zoo – SOLD OUT
8/9 – Portland, OR – Pioneer Courthouse Square
10/2 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
10/3 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
10/5 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
10/6 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall – SOLD OUT
10/7 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
10/9 – Spokane, WA @ Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox
10/10 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
10/11 – Bozeman, MT @ The ELM
10/13 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
10/14 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
10/27 – Lubbock, TX @ Cactus Theater
10/28 – Dallas, TX @ Longhorn Ballroom
10/29 – Houston, TX @ Heights Theater