MIKE VIOLA ANNOUNCES UK TOUR DATES WITH ALL STAR BAND
Esteemed US musician MIKE VIOLA is bringing his new album ‘Rock Of Boston’ to our shores with a handful of shows in November, forming a special pick-up band with members of The Zutons and The La’s for the tour.
Mike Viola is a producer, musician, songwriter and singer best known for his work with Panic! at the Disco, Andrew Bird, Dawes, Ryan Adams and Jenny Lewis. However his solo career stands on its own, starting with a number of acclaimed records as the leader of New York based cult favourite Candy Butchers and 8 critically adored solo records. His original music has been featured on soundtracks for movies such as That Thing You Do!, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Get Him to the Greek.
Rock Of Boston was recorded over the winter of 2023 on 8 track ½” tape at Barebones, Viola’s home studio in Los Angeles. Once again joined by his friends Jake Sinclair (Weezer, Sia, Panic! at the Disco) on bass and Brendon Urie (Panic! At The Disco) on drums.
For UK shows Mike has roped in Sean Payne (The Zutons) and Jay Lewis (The La’s, Cast) to join Jake Sinclair and himself on the road.
Viola says:
“I’m always writing songs, or pieces of songs, or riffs. My writing process changes every song, so I never get trapped in a method. I let the song lead me. While I was on a world tour playing guitar for Panic at The Disco, I wrote the bulk of this record on the bus between soundcheck and showtime. On the days off, I’d find a recording studio wherever we were and I’d book studio time to sneak away to lay down a few ideas. When the tour finished, Jake and Brendon came home to LA and we never stopped playing music together. We just switched from touring with Panic! to recording Rock Of Boston pretty seamlessly without a break. Maybe that’s why the riffs seem bigger on this record, we had spent all those months in hockey arenas around the world playing big music.”
Decades into his career his music continues to resonate with, and inspire, new generations of musicians and music lovers. Starting in 2019 Viola hit a prolific streak and released fan favourite records The American Egypt, Godmuffin, and Paul McCarthy, all recorded in his Los Angeles studio Barebones. His recent albums have garnered a whole new fan base and sold out shows around the US.
MIKE VIOLA UK TOUR
12 Nov Bristol The Louisiana
13 Nov Pocklington Arts Centre
14 Nov London The Grace
15 Nov Nottingham The Bodega
16 Nov Hebden Bridge Trades Club
Mike Viola’s new album, “Rock Of Boston” is out now on digital services and will be released on CD & vinyl LP on 15th November on British indie label Lojinx in the UK.