Conor Oberst Plots New LP With Revived Punk Band

Conor Oberst Plots New LP With Revived Punk Band:

Conor Oberst is best known as the driving creative force behind Bright Eyes, a vehicle for his lyrically sophisticated folk, rock and electro-pop. But for his latest project, the singer-songwriter has revived his former punk band, Desaparecidos, for a new studio album, Payola, out June 23rd on Epitaph Records.

Desaparecidos – Oberst, guitarist Denver Dalley, keyboardist Ian McElroy, bassist Landon Hedges, drummer Matt Baum – formed 14 years ago in Omaha, Nebraska and released their debut LP, Read Music / Speak Spanish, in 2002 via Saddle Creek Records. Though the quintet never officially "broke up," the members pursued separate careers after the release, with Oberst focusing on his burgeoning career with Bright Eyes and other projects (including solo albums and the folk-rock supergroup Monsters of Folk).

Following a 2010 reunion at the Concert for Equality in Omaha, the band embarked on a brief summer tour in 2012. Over the next year, they self-released a handful of singles and 7-inches, including "MariKKKopa," "Backsell," "Anonymous," "The Left Is Right," "Te Amo Camila Vallejo" and "The Underground Man" – all of which are featured on the new LP.

The band recorded Payola in several bursts over the past few years and recruited Bright Eyes member Mike Mogis to co-produce the album. Channeling Eighties power-pop (the Vapors, Tommy Tutone) and hardcore/punk (Cro-Mags, T.S.O.L.), the group explores an array of political issues, with a press release describing the songs as "raw, louder and angrier." Desaparecidos will play Coachella this month and have scheduled several additional shows for 2015, including a handful of dates with Brand New. Payola is available to pre-order.

The album's third track, the anthemic "City on the Hill" (which features a guest spot from Cursive frontman Tim Kasher), is available to stream below.

Payola Track List

1. "The Left is Right"
2. "The Underground Man"
3. "City on the Hill" (featuring Tim Kasher)
4. "Golden Parachutes" (featuring Laura Jane Grace)
5. "Radicalized"
6. "MariKKKopa"
7. "Te Amo Camila Vallejo"
8. "Ralphy's Cut"
9. "Backsell"
10. "Slacktivist" (featuring So So Glos)
11. "Search the Searches"
12. "10 Steps Behind"
13. "Von Maur Massacre"
14. "Anonymous"

Desaparecidos Tour Dates

April 8 - Denver, CO @ The Fillmore Auditorium *
April 10 - Magna, UT @ The Great Saltair *
April 12 - Indio, CA @ Coachella
April 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Roxy Theatre **
April 15 - Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall ***
April 16 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom **
April 19 - Indio, CA @ Coachella
July 17 - Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
July 31 - Aug 2 - Montreal, QC @ Osheaga Music and Arts Festival
August 8 - 9 - Atlanta, GA @ The Wrecking Ball Festival

*with Brand New
** with Joyce Manor and Touche Amore
*** with Brand New and Built to Spill

Original enclosures: