The Church and The Afghan Whigs soon embark on a co-headlining tour of North America for a series of shows starting on June 18! The two bands visit the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, June 22, and Parklife suggests you be there at the very least for The Church, who have been in fine form in their recent performances in the DMV.
The Church released their 27th studio album, Eros Zeta And The Perfumed Guitars, on March 29. A companion album of sorts to their most recent, critically-hailed album The Hypnogogue (2023), Eros Zeta was previously only available at the merch table on their worldwide tour last fall. Over the course of 15 tracks, it serves as a continuation of the dystopian storyline. Picking up the loose narrative thread of a failed rockstar (“Eros Zeta”) trying to reclaim his faded glory through the use of a dream extractor, “the Hypnogogue.”
The second single from the collection, “A Strange Past,” follows the initial single “Realm of Minor Angels.” Said The Church founder/vocalist/bassist Steve Kilbey enigmatically of the track, “A foolish man who needs to wise up looks back in regretful nostalgia upon a fling he should’ve flung away. The musical genesis of this piece was a while ago via [guitarist Jeffrey Cain], but when the Hypnogogue reared its dystopian but not ugly head we felt ‘A Strange Past’ had found its true home.”
Watch the official music video for “A Strange Past” by The Church on YouTube:
Parklife editor Mickey has long been an admirer of The Church, and he reports they have really strong new material and perform it with style. In recent years, The Church regularly visit The Birchmere, where they sell out the historic venue every time. And so, it’s a welcome opportunity to catch The Church live in DC city this time around.
2023’s The Hypnogogue was readily inspired by the early work of David Bowie and tells a rock show story in the vein of Ziggy Stardust but steeped in The Church’s skilled psychedelic sound. If you’re a longtime fan of The Church, surely you will hear favorites like “Under the Milky Way” and “Reptile.” Should you be looking for powerful new stuff, you’ll undoubtedly leave impressed with “The Hypnogogue.” In fact, check out the title track now.
Watch the official music video for “The Hypnogogue” by The Church on YouTube:
“The Church and the Afghan Whigs playing some shows together certainly feels like an idea whose time has surely come,” Kilbey said. “Get ready for a double blast of the power n glory of rock’n’roll!”
The Church
The Afghan Whigs
Lincoln Theatre
Saturday, June 22
Doors @ 6:30pm
$45
All ages