In 2023, Black Eyes got back together to play their first shows in 20 years. The Washington, D.C., art-punk band has now announced its first album since 2004. The new album, Hostile Design, is out October 10 via the group’s original label home, Dischord. Below, listen to lead single “Pestilence.”
Black Eyes began work on Hostile Design after playing their reunion shows. They made the album with producer Ian MacKaye, the Fugazi frontman and Dischord co-founder who helmed their original two albums, Black Eyes and Cough. The new album was engineered by Don Godwin, and it features Dan Caldas on drums; longtime Pitchfork contributor Daniel Martin-McCormick on guitar, vocals, and electronics; Hugh McElroy on bass and vocals; Jacob Long handling saxophone, bass, and percussion; and Mike Kanin playing drums and electronics.
In October, Black Eyes will host the band-curated festival Speaking in Tongues. The event takes place from October 8-11, and it will feature a performance from Black Eyes at the Black Cat. The group will play more reunion shows next year. See Black Eyes’ tour dates below.
Hostile Design:
01 Break a Leg
02 Burn
03 Under the Waves
04 Pestilence
05 Yeah, Right
06 Tomtom
Black Eyes:
08-23 Denver, CO – Ghost Canyon Festival
10-11 Washington, D.C. – Black Cat ~!
01-16 Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
01-17 San Francisco, CA – Neck of the Woods *^
01-18 Berkeley, CA – 924 Gilman Street *#
03-26 Providence, RI – AS220 %
03-27 Montreal, Quebec – Théâtre Fairmount
03-28 Toronto, Ontario – TBD
03-29 Pittsburgh, PA – Spirit Hall
04-11 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
~ with More Eaze
~ with TALsounds
* with The Intima
^ with Vulture Feather
# with Planet on a Chain
% with Downtown Boys
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