Leopold and His Fiction Gears up to Release New Album “Darling Destroyer” — Tour Dates Announced with LA Date at The Echo
Beloved for their White Stripes-esque vintage rock sound, the Austin-based Leopold and His Fiction are set to release their fourth full-length album, Darling Destroyer on January 27th. For frontman Daniel Leopold, making the LP was a truly different experience as these tracks are an ode to his upbringing in Detroit with their soul-inspired mood. I chatted with Leopold about this new direction, how the birth of his now five year-old daughter inspired these new lyrics, and the band’s new single “Waves (Golden).”
With its hard-hitting beat and soaring vocals, “Waves (Golden) is an all-encompassing listening experience. Equal parts psychedelic rock and Motown, the track marks the first time Leopold explored his hometown’s musical legacy. He explains, “I’m from Detroit, born and raised. Before this album, I really didn’t have the chance to approach it this way. I was going through a lot of stuff as I was writing this album…I really had no choice but to take it back to who I am. It felt like the most natural thing to do. I was listening to The Stooges and all the acts that made Motown famous.”
Darling Destroyer is also greatly inspired by fatherhood. Leopold admits, “I was so overwhelmed, so in awe of my situation as a first-time father. I had never dreamt about what that meant… I was so focused on my career for so long, so having something that’s an absolute responsibility, it’s definitely a big step. It made me do something entirely different. The music definitely reflects that. ”
While some melancholy pervades the tracks, it is also infused with optimism. He reveals, “as heavy as it was for me to write it, I think it’s still upbeat…I feel that right now, especially with everything going on in the world, we need as much positive reinforcement as we can get.”
Leopold’s musical journey began as a child when he found an abandoned guitar in his grandmother’s basement. Years later, he relocated to San Francisco to study writing. His experience penning his thoughts as an aspiring novelist soon morphed into lyrical genius. The band’s self-titled debut was released in 2006 and since then, Leopold and His Fiction have toured with such renowned acts as ZZ Top, Gary Clark Jr., and Dr. Dog. On top of his work with Fiction, Leopold also co-founded the folk group Cowboy and Indian.
Leopold and His Fiction have announced a tour dates in suppport of his new album Darling Destroyer. Be sure to check out Leopold and His Fiction in Los Angeles at the Echo on January 31st.
You can purchase your tickets to Leopold and His Fiction’s show at The Echo here.
Words: Emily Nimptsch
Watch Leopold and His Fiction’s new video for “It’s How I Feel (Free)”
Leopold and His Fiction Tour Dates
1/19 – Dallas, TX – Sundown at Granada Theatre
1/20 – Waco, TX – Truelove
1/21 – San Antonio, TX – Limelight
1/25 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ
1/26 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
1/27 – San Angelo, TX – Deadhorse
1/28 – El Paso, TX – Low Brow Palace
1/29 – Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
1/30 – Las Vegas, NV – Bunkhouse
1/31 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
2/1 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
2/3 – Portland, OR – Analog Lounge
2/4 – Seattle, WA – The Central Saloon
2/7 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
2/9 – Denver, CO – Cervantes’ Other Side
2/10 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
2/11 – Omaha, NE – Slowdown
2/12 – St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam Hall
2/14 – Maquoketa, IA – Codfish Hollow Barnstormers (Indoors)
2/15 – St. Louis, MO – The Bootleg @Atomic Cowboy
2/16 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
2/17 – Madison, WI – Mickey’s Tavern
2/18 – Chicago, IL – Dunn Dunn Festival @ Beat Kitchen Supporting Steepwater
2/19 – Ferndale, MI – Loving Touch
2/21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit
2/22 – Philadelphia, PA – Milkboy
2/23 – New York, NY – Bowery Electric
2/24 – Boston, MA – PA’s Lounge
2/25 – Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar
2/26 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
2/28 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
3/1 – Raleigh, NC – Pour House Music Hall
3/2 – Charlotte, NC – Petra’s
3/3 – Knoxville, TN – Scruffy City Hall
3/4 – Nashville, TN – The End
3/5 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
3/7 – New Orleans, LA – Siberian
3/9 – Little Rock, AR – Stickeyz Rock n Roll Chicken Shack
3/10 – Memphis, TN – Young Ave Deli
3/11 – Dallas, TX – The Foundry
3/14 – 3/19 – Austin, TX – SXSW
