Pedro the Lion releasing first album since 2004 on Polyvinyl

Yesterday, Polyvinyl Records posted a teaser with some slowed down music and word scrambles, teasing something that would be announced today. As one BV commenter guessed, the band being teased was Pedro the Lion, who have now officially announced that they signed to the label! Frontman David Bazan also said in a statement that the band are hitting the studio today to begin work on their first album since 2004’s Achilles Heel (released on Jade Tree). Here’s his full statement:

Today is the first day back in the studio as Pedro the Lion. After writing and arranging a handful of new songs, then rehearsing and arranging them further with the band, we’re ready to record a couple of them for a new album. I didn’t realize what calling my music Pedro the Lion again would mean to me, but it’s re-connected me to parts of myself and my history (both sonic and personal) that I had lost touch with. This re-awakening is making the process so much more enjoyable and I’m grateful for the chance to do this again.

As a music fan I’ve watched Polyvinyl thrive in a brutal marketplace and grow their seminal roster to include even more bands that I’m downright obsessed with. As a cog in the music business I’ve gotten to know and appreciate their inner workings gradually through mutual friends and colleagues over many years of visiting their offices in Champaign, Illinois. So when looking for a record label for Pedro the Lion I realized pretty quickly that Polyvinyl was a fantastic fit. I am so thrilled to be working with them.

Pedro the Lion began a reunion tour in December, and they have plans to hit NYC on August 14 at Bowery Ballroom (tickets) and August 15 at Music Hall of Williamsburg (tickets). Hopefully we’ll hear some of the new music by then.

Polvinyl have also released an official live video from one of the band’s December shows. Watch that and the video announcing the signing, along with an updated list of tour dates, below.

Pedro the Lion — 2018 Tour Dates
02/08/18 – St Louis, MO @ Old Rock House
02/09/18 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
02/10/18 – Tulsa, OK @ The Vanguard
02/12/18 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
02/13/18 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
02/14/18 – Houston, TX @ Rockefellers
02/16/18 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
02/17/18 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
02/18/18 – Gainesville, FL @ High Dive
02/19/18 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
02/21/18 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
02/22/18 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
02/23/18 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
05/08/18 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
05/09/18 – Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall
05/12/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
05/13/18 – Oakland, CA @ Starline
05/14/18 – Los Angeles @ CA @ Teragram
05/17/18 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern
05/18/18 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom
05/20/18 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre
05/21/18 – Fort Collins, CO @ Washington’s
05/22/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
05/23/18 – Boise, ID @ Neurolux
05/24/18 – Missoula, MT @ Top Hat
08/06/18 – Indianapolis, IN @ The HI-FI
08/07/18 – Ferndale, MI @ Loving Touch
08/08/18 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
08/10/18 – Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
08/11/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
08/12/18 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
08/14/18 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
08/15/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
08/16/18 – Millvale, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre
08/17/18 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
08/18/18 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House – Revival Room
08/20/18 – Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel
08/21/18 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
08/22/18 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
08/23/18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall
08/24/18 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall