David Bazan On NPR’s All Things Considered

Pedro the Lion is known for its sometimes dreamy lyrics that take on internal conflict, often filled with religious angst.

Even as many of their songs tackled faith, the Seattle-based band, formed in 1995, quickly gathered a wide indie rock following.

A decade later, the band and its frontman David Bazan  reached a tipping point — as Bazan questioned his religious beliefs, the band dissolved when he embarked on a solo career.

Fast forward to 2017: Bazan announced that he would start touring again with a group of musicians under the familiar name, Pedro the Lion.

Bazan spoke with NPR’s Sarah McCammon about going back on tour and making new music under his old moniker.

Pedro The Lion Signs To Polyvinyl Records!

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’ret realize what calling my music Pedro the Lion again would mean to me, but it’res 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 enjoyable and I’rem grateful for the chance to do this again.

As a music fan I’reve watched Polyvinyl thrive in a brutal marketplace and grow their seminal roster to include even more bands that I’rem downright obsessed with. As a cog in the music business I’reve 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.  – David Bazan

Help Pedro The Lion Buy A Van

BUY NOW

Starting in February, Pedro The Lion will be going on tour for the first time in 12 years! We’rere very excited for you to hear and see what we’reve put together for the tour. We’reve done a ton of work to make a great show and production.

Some of you might know, Bazan’s tour van was totaled when he hit a deer while on tour in 2013. That van traveled across North America many times, logging over 170,000 miles on tour. It was a tough loss (for Bazan and the deer).

Now we need your help to buy a new tour van. In an effort to raise money for the van, we’re offering these limited edition shirts and posters. The poster will have the name of everyone who contributes.

We’ll take orders through February 14. After that, they’rere gone forever. No re-prints.

SHIPPING:
+ Shirts and posters will be shipped together a study poster tube.
+ All orders will be shipped by March 23.

SHIRT:
+ Shirt Material: 100% Cotton
+ Shirt colors: Slate Grey. Navy Blue, Olive Green
+ Print color:  Light Grey, Medium Grey, Black
+ Printed By:  Seen Merch in Kansas City, MO

POSTER:
+ Printed 100% recycled 130lb uncoated paper
+ Size: 11″ x 17″
+ Printed by Dixon Graphics in Champaign IL

Thanks for your help! We’ll see you soon.

Pedro The Lion 2018 Tour!

Last spring, after 11 years of performing and recording under his own name, Dave Bazan’s growing fatigue with working alone hit a tipping point. “I missed the energy of making music with other people on stage and constantly traveling alone was starting to really sting”, Bazan recalls. “I needed to be in a band again”.

At that point, assuming this new band would be billed as “David Bazan Band” or similar, he began to set the wheels in motion to make it happen. He rented a rehearsal space again, hired a couple buddies for upcoming tours, and started fleshing out demos for the band to cue off of.

He didn’t realize it at first, but by mid-summer something big started to dawn on him: he had stumbled back into the very same process that yielded the first three Pedro the Lion records. “To my surprise, it felt a bit like coming home.”

Bazan is very excited to be back playing rock & roll as Pedro the Lion again. The set list for the 6 previously-announced sold-out shows in the Pacific Northwest later this month and the full US tour in 2018 will span every Pedro the Lion record and then some.

FEBRUARY 2018
with special guest Marie/Lepanto

Feb 8 : St Louis MO – Old Rock House –  TICKETS
Feb 9 : Kansas City MO – Record Bar –  TICKETS
Feb 10 : Tulsa OK – The Vanguard –  TICKETS
Feb 12 : Dallas TX – Trees –  TICKETS
Feb 13 : Austin TX – Mohawk –  TICKETS
Feb 14 : Houston TX – Rockefeller’s –  TICKETS
Feb 16 : New Orleans LA –  One Eyed Jacks –  TICKETS
Feb 17 : Birmingham AL – Saturn –  TICKETS
Feb 18 : Gainesville FL – High Dive –  TICKETS
Feb 19 : Orlando FL – The Social –  TICKETS
Feb 21 : Carrboro NC – Cat’s Cradle –  TICKETS
Feb 22 : Atlanta GA – Terminal West –  TICKETS
Feb 23 : Nashville TN – Exit/In –  TICKETS

—————————————-

MAY 2018
with special guest David Dondero

May 8 : Vancouver BC – Biltmore Cabaret –  TICKETS
May 9 : Portland OR – Revolution Hall –  TICKETS
May 12 : San Francisco CA – The Independent –  TICKETS
May 13 : Oakland CA – Starline –  TICKETS
May 14 : Los Angeles CA – Teragram –  TICKETS
May 17 : Solana Beach CA – Belly Up Tavern – TICKETS
May 18 : Phoenix AZ – The Crescent Ballroom – TICKETS
May 20 : Denver CO – Bluebird Theatre –  TICKETS
May 21 : Fort Collins CO – Washington’s –  TICKETS
May 22 : Salt Lake City UT – Urban Lounge –  TICKETS
May 23 : Boise ID – Neurolux –  TICKETS
May 24 : Missoula MT – Top Hat –  TICKETS

—————————————-

AUGUST 2018
with special guest to be announced

Aug 6 : Indianapolis IN – The HI-FI – TICKETS
Aug 7 : Ferndale MI – Loving Touch – TICKETS
Aug 8 : Toronto ON – Lee’s Palace – TICKETS
Aug 10 : Allston MA – Brighton Music Hall –  TICKETS
Aug 11 : Philadelphia PA – Union Transfer –  TICKETS
Aug 12 : Washington DC – Black Cat – TICKETS
Aug 14 : New York NY – Bowery Ballroom – TICKETS
Aug 15 : Brooklyn NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg –  TICKETS
Aug 16 : Pittsburgh PA Mr. Small’s –  TICKETS
Aug 17 : Cleveland OH – Grog Shop – TICKETS
Aug 18 : Newport KY – Southgate House –  TICKETS
Aug 20 : Davenport IA – Raccoon Motel – TICKETS
Aug 21 : Omaha NE – The Waiting Room – TICKETS
Aug 22 : Minneapolis MN – Fine Line – TICKETS
Aug 23 : Milwaukee WI – Turner Hall – TICKETS
Aug 24 : Chicago IL – Thalia Hall – TICKETS

# # #

Living Room Shows October + Full Band Shows November!

DAVID BAZAN LIVING ROOM TOUR – OCTOBER 2017
These are the last living room shows until 2019. That’s right, there will be NO Bazan Living Room Shows for the remainder of 2017 or in 2018. Don’t miss these.  All tickets must be purchased in advance.

Thu Oct 12 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Champaign IL – SOLD OUT
Fri Oct 13 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Springfield IL – SOLD OUT
Sat Oct 14 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Glen Ellyn IL – SOLD OUT
Sun Oct 15 : Living Room Show @ 3pm – Morton Grove IL – SOLD OUT
Sun Oct 15 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Chicago IL – SOLD OUT

Living Room Shows are private shows limited to 40-50 tickets,  hosted by fans in spaces such as, living rooms,  lofts, recording studios, yoga studios, bike shops, screen printing shops, clothing stores, coffee shops, cafes, churches, etc. For each show we try to find the best space based on the acoustics of the room, proximity to parking and public transportation, etc. We’re trying to create intimate shows that will be a positive and memorable experience for everyone.

DAVID BAZAN FULL BAND TOUR – NOVEMBER 2017
David will be playing venue shows with a full band in November. This is the same line-up as the current west coast shows with City & Colour. It’s Bazan on bass, Erik Walters on guitar, Sean Lane on drums. This is  a proper rock show!

Nov 05 : Pike Room at The Crofoot – Pontiac MI – SOLD OUT
Nov 06 : The Drake – Toronto ONT – SOLD OUT
Nov 08 : Brighton Music Hall – Allston MA – SOLD OUT
Nov 09 : Rough Trade NYC – Brooklyn NY – SOLD OUT
Nov 11 : Johnny Brenda’res – Philadelphia PA – SOLD OUT
Nov 12 : Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington DC – SOLD OUT
Nov 13 : Cat’res Cradle – Back Room – Carrboro NC – SOLD OUT
Nov 15 : New Brookland – Columbia SC – SOLD OUT
Nov 16 : The Earl – Atlanta GA – SOLD OUT
Nov 18 : Club Cafe – Pittsburgh PA – SOLD OUT
Nov 19 : Rumba Cafe – Columbus OH – SOLD OUT

SHOWS WITH JULIEN BAKER IN TENNESSEE
To finish out the year, David will be playing a  few shows with the incredible Julien Baker in Tennessee.

BUY TICKETS

Nov 29 : Bijou Theatre – Knoxville TN – SOLD OUT
Nov 30 : Marathon Music Works – Nashville TN
Dec 01 : 1884 Lounge – Memphis TN – SOLD OUT

TOUR DATES: September, October, November!

Hello friends! It’s been a while since our last email. I hope everyone is doing ok. We have some good news for you today…

NORTHWEST LIVING ROOM SHOWS SEPT 2 & 3
Dave has two solo Living Room Shows coming up. These will be the final Northwest Living Room Shows of 2017. Don’t miss ’em.

Sept 2 : Living Room Show – Port Orchard WA –  BUY TICKETS
Sept 3 : Living Room Show – Vancouver BC – BUY TICKETS

WEST COAST TOUR WITH CITY & COLOUR IN SEPTEMBER.
David is looking forward to getting back out on tour with City & Color in September.

Sep 15 : Pappy & Harriet’res – Pioneertown CA
Sep 16 : The Wiltern – Los Angeles CA
Sep 17 : House of Blues Anaheim – Anaheim CA
Sep 18 : The Observatory – Santa Ana CA
Sep 20 : Humphreys Concerts By the Bay – San Diego CA
Sep 22 : Fremont Theater – San Luis Obispo CA
Sep 23 : The Masonic – San Francisco CA
Sep 26 : Roseland Theater – Portland OR
Sep 28 : Mount Baker Theatre – Bellingham WA
Sep 29 : Knitting Factory Spokane – Spokane WA
Sep 30 : Paramount Theatre – Seattle WA

OCTOBER LIVING ROOM TOUR
David will be playing a few Living Room Shows in Illinois in October.

Oct 12 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Champaign IL
Oct 13 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Springfield IL
Oct 14 : Living Room Show @ 2pm – Bloomington IL
Oct 14 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Glen Ellyn IL
Oct 15 : Living Room Show @ 3pm – Morton Grove IL
Oct 15 : Living Room Show @ 8pm – Chicago IL

* Tickets for these shows go on Sale Friday, Sept 1 @ 2pm (CT)

EASTERN STATES BAZAN HEADLINE TOUR IN NOVEMBER.
These will be the final headline shows of the year.

Nov 05 : Pike Room at The Crofoot – Pontiac MI
Nov 06 : The Drake – Toronto ONT
Nov 08 : Brighton Music Hall – Allston MA
Nov 09 : Rough Trade NYC – Brooklyn NY
Nov 11 : Johnny Brenda’res – Philadelphia PA
Nov 12 : Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington DC
Nov 13 : Cat’s Cradle – Back Room – Carrboro NC
Nov 16 : The Earl – Atlanta GA
Nov 18 : Club Cafe – Pittsburgh PA
Nov 19 : Rumba Cafe – Columbus OH

SHOWS WITH JULIEN BAKER.
David is excited to playing a few shows with the incredible Julien Baker in Tennessee.

Nov 29 : Bijou Theatre – Knoxville TN
Nov 30 : Marathon Music Works – Nashville TN
Dec 01 : 1884 Lounge – Memphis TN

Ticket links for all shows can be found HERE.

Summer Tour 2017!

We’re excited to announce David’s summer tour dates! He’ll be playing songs from the new album “Care” plus some Pedro The Lion and Bazan back catalog songs. Tickets for all shows are on sale now. Please come out and say hello.

May 20 : Seattle WA – Neumos – TICKETS
June 13 : Evanston IL – SPACE – TICKETS
June 14 : Milwaukee WI – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 16 : Duluth, MN – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 17 : Iowa City IA – The Mill – TICKETS
June 18 : St. Paul MN – Turf Club – TICKETS
June 19 : Kansas City MO – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 21 : Denton TX – Dan’s Silverleaf – TICKETS
June 22 : Austin TX – Barracuda – TICKETS
June 23 : San Antonio TX – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 24 : Houston TX – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 25 : New Orleans LA – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 27 : Memphis TN – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 28 : Nashville TN – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 29 : Nashville TN – Living Room Show – TICKETS
June 30 : St. Louis MO – Living Room Show – TICKETS
July 1 : Urbana IL – AudioFeed Festival – TICKETS

# # #

Spring Tour 2017

April 1 : Grand Rapids MI – Festival of Faith and Music – TICKETS
April 3 :  Eugene  OR  – Living Room Show  – SOLD OUT
April 4 :  Davis CA  – Living Room Show  – SOLD OUT
April 5 :  San Francisco CA  – Living Room Show  – SOLD OUT
April 6 :  Los Angeles CA – Bootleg Theatre  – SOLD OUT
April 8  :  Santa Ana CA –  When We Were Young Fest  – SOLD OUT
April 9 :  Las Vegas NV – Bunkhouse  – SOLD OUT
April 10 :  Mesa  AZ – Living Room Show  – SOLD OUT
April 12 :  Colorado Springs CO  – Living Room Show  –  TICKETS
April 13 :  Denver CO  – Living Room Show  – SOLD OUT
April 14 :  Salt Lake City  UT  – Living Room Show  – TICKETS
April 15 :  Boise ID  – Living Room Show  – TICKETS
April 16 :  Portland OR  – Living Room Show  –  SOLD OUT