Gruff Rhys shares video for new song 'Bad Friend' and announces new US tour dates
Grief sets me free Out January 26 via Rough Trade
January 15, 2024
Photo by Mark James
Gruff Rhys, the Welsh frontman of Super Furry Animals, is releasing a new solo album, Grief sets me free, out January 26 via Rough Trade. Now he's shared his third single, “Bad Friend,” via a music video. He has also announced some new US tour dates, including SXSW. Mark James directed the video. Check it out below, followed by Rhys' upcoming tour dates.
Rhys had this to say about the song in a press release: “People always refer to 'good friends'. This song plays with the idea of the “bad friend”. Maybe a bad friend is even better than no friend at all. Some friends work better than others, but they are not enemies. Within the structures of 21st-century life, the pressure on people's time—and on what we're expected to be able to do in everyday life—is so kaleidoscopic. If I could condense the feelings into one line, it would be “everything in time.” It's me reaching out to friends through song because maybe I didn't get a chance to go to their house or talk to them on the phone.”
(Note: This song actually came out last week, but we missed it, so we're posting about it now.)
Previously, Rhys shared the album's first single, “Celestial Candyfloss,” via a music video. “Celestial Candyfloss” was one of the songs of the week. He then shared his second single, the horn-heavy “Silver Lining Lead Balloons” (which was again one of the songs of the week).
Rhys' backing band on the album includes Osian Gwynedd (piano), Huw V Williams (double bass) and former Flaming Lips drummer Kliph Scurlock (drums). Grief sets me free It was recorded at La Frette Studios, a studio on the outskirts of Paris in a 19th century house. The initial recordings were made in only three days. Kate Stables by This is the kit contributed backing vocals (produced by Rhys This is Kit's last album, Beware of your Guardiansreleased in June). Grief sets me free is the 25th album Rhys has released, taking into account Super Furry Animals, his solo work and various side projects.
“At this point I really like to work in peace,” he says. “Not in a worldly way, [but] I try to leave things open to random encounters and random geography. As I have around 25 albums, I'm always looking for ways to make a record with a different sound.”
In February, Rhys released the soundtrack for the film The Almond and the Hippocampus through crude trade. His last regular solo album was in 2021 Looking for new gods. It was one of our top 100 albums of 2021. 2022 also shared new songs “People Are Pissed” and “Arogldarth”. “People Are Pissed” was one of the songs of the week.
Read our 2015 interview with Gruff Rhys.
Gruff Rhys tour Dates:
2 February – Aberystwyth, Arts Centre
February 7 – London, Kings Place (Sold Out)
February 8 – London, Kings Place
February 10 – Manchester, New Century Hall (Sold Out)
February 14 – Belfast, Empire Music Hall
February 15 – Dublin, Sugar Club (Sold Out)
February 16 – Dublin, Sugar Club
February 17 – Liverpool, Hanger 34
February 19 – Glasgow, St Lukes
February 22 – Bristol, Strange Brew (Sold Out)
February 23 – Bristol, Strange Brew (Sold Out)
February 24 – Narberth, Queens Hall.
February 28 – Berlin, Badehaus
February 29 – Hamburg, Nakhtasil
March 2 – Cologne, Theater De Wogngemeinschaft
March 3 – Amsterdam, Zonzij
March 5 – Paris, Solaris
March 8 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
March 9 – Washington, DC @ DC9
March 10 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings
March 11 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
March 13 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
March 14 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
March 15 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
March 18 – Phoenix, AZ @ Dirty Drummer
March 19 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
March 20 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon
March 23 – Sacramento, CA @ Starlet Room
March 24 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
March 26 – Portland, OR @ Mission Theatre
March 27 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
from our partners at http://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/gruff_rhys_shares_video_for_new_song_bad_friend_and_announces_new_us_tour
