Earnest rocker Bartees Strange has shared a thundering new anthem with the release of his new single “Weights,” as well as a deluxe version of his emphatic debut Live Forever which comes with reworks of “Flagey God Redux” and “Free Kelly Rowland.” On “Weights” Strange has crafted another stadium-sized rollicker, his ever galvanizing wails sprinting alongside the song’s rapid gallops of percussion and crashing hammer-ons as struggles under the weight of “what ifs” that hang over him.
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And just when that crescendo of untamed emotion reaches its peak — Strange gives a break-neck stop in tempo, a moment of tender calm, before he dives right back into that tidal wave of unrelenting catharsis. The lyric video for the song, created by Bob Sweeney, punctuates every howled line in bold blue lettering against the glitchy feedback of a floating smiley-face balloon. It’s a tongue-in-cheek bit of lightheartedness in a song that rails against sinking along with that weight and instead choosing to drop it.
“This is about the ones that got away,” Bartees said of the single. “Going back and forth in my head about relationships that could have happened, missing that it didn’t, and finally realizing I gotta let the weight of it all go.”
Bartees Strange will be touring in support of Lucy Dacus and Courtney Barnett this fall, with dates at The Observatory North Park in San Diego on December 5, the Constellation Room in Santa Ana on December 8, and The Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on December 9 & 10. Visit Bartees Strange’s website, Twitter, and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to Bartees Strange‘s new single “Weights” below!
Bartees Strange tour:
9/24 – Flushing, NY – Governors Ball
9/30 – Vancouver, BC – Hollywood Theatre *
10/1 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom *
10/2 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre *
10/4 – Bozeman, MT – The Elm *
10/5 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall *
10/6 – Denver, CO – Gothic *
10/8 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre *
10/9 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
10/11 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre *
10/12 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall *
10/14 – Toronto, ON – Opera House *
10/15 – Montreal, QC – L’Astral *
10/16 – Boston, MA – House of Blues *
10/18 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground *
10/21 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer *
10/22 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club *
10/24 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees
10/25 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel *
10/26 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Steel *
10/29 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands
12/3 – Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole
12/4 – Phoeniz, AZ – Van Buren #
12/5 –San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park #
12/8 – Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
12/10 – Los Angeles, CA – Ace Hotel #
12/11 – Felton, CA – Felton Music Hall
12/12 – San Francisco, CA – Fox Theatre #
12/14 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre #
12/15 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore #
* = supporting Lucy Dacus
# = supporting Courtney Barnett
