Hockey Dad announce new album 'Rebuild Repeat' - to be released 14th June
Hockey Dad announce new album ‘Rebuild Repeat’
to be released 14th June via Farmer & The Owl / BMG
New single ‘Base Camp’ out now
The band are also announced as support to Ocean Alley on mammoth UK & European tour in Sept / Oct
Australian tour with special guests Militarie Gun and The Belair Lip Bombs presented by triple j and Volcom set to run in June / July
Has it really been four years? Windang Australia’s favourite sons Hockey Dad released their last album – the ARIA #2 ‘Brain Candy’ in 2020 amongst a backdrop of uncertainty. It turned out to be their biggest album yet and set them on a path of constant touring, not only in Australia, but demand for shows around the world.
Now comes the exciting news of album #4, ‘Rebuild Repeat’ which will be released on 14th June 2024 via Farmer & The Owl / BMG. It’s a body of work which sees guitarist and lead vocalist Zach Stephenson and drummer Billy Fleming stretching themselves creatively and embracing new sounds which, whilst unmistakably Hockey Dad, take the band into an invigorating new direction.
New single ‘Base Camp’ is case in point. The song, about the journey life takes and the challenges of taking those first steps of change to achieve certain milestones, was worked on with Alex Burnett (Thelma Plum, Sparkadia) and Oli Horton (Foals, Alice Ivy) who co-wrote, produced and mixed the song alongside Tim McArtney (Gang of Youths, Jarryd James). The result is a feel good melodic pop song which still sounds quintessentially Hockey Dad.
‘Still Have Room’ was first taste of ‘Rebuild Repeat’ for fans which they embraced, voting the song in at #45 in triple j’s annual Hottest 100 countdown of 2023, their 8th entry over the history of the countdown.
“This album for me feels like a fresh rebirth after a muddy, hazy couple of years for us and everyone else in the world,” said Zach Stephenson. “’Rebuild Repeat’ as a title kind of describes the process of making a new record as a band. You only have yourselves as raw materials. You knock down what you had from the past, re-design, rebuild it and repeat. Hopefully you learn some structural integrity tips along your way.”
The video for ‘Base Camp’ sees Zach and Billy revive their role from the ‘Still Have Room’ clip as down on their luck artists who are in a fight to save their creations from an eccentric art thief. Will we find the truth behind where the paintings originated? And perhaps discover the greatest super villain to ever stalk over a sleepy steel town (aka Hockey Dad bass player Steve Bourke)?
“It was great to work with Jamieson Kerr as he really brought our initial ideas into a whole new dimension and worked super hard running the shoot,” the duo said. “We had so much fun shooting this video alongside the clip for ‘Still Have Room’. Twisting the storyline between them both has been really fun and we can’t wait to see how it all goes down.”
To celebrate the release of ‘Rebuild Repeat’, Hockey Dad have announced an Australian tour which will see the band performing some of their biggest shows to date. LA’s most exciting new band, Militarie Gun will be joining Hockey Dad for the Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney shows with Melbourne local indie rock band The Belair Lip Bombs on board for all dates making the ‘Rebuild Repeat Australian Tour’ one not to be missed. In addition to these home-country shows, Hockey Dad have just been announced as support to Ocean Alley around the UK & Europe in August/September on a mammoth run of shows including two Roundhouses in London. All dates below.
What began as a pastime during surfless days, Hockey Dad have now been a band for 10 years. Built around their EP and three album releases (earning them Gold and Platinum awards) they have amassed a legion of fans that have seen them headlining tours across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada, the USA, and UK, and performing main stage sets at some of the world's biggest festivals. On announcing the ‘Rebuild Repeat’ album and Australian tour, Hockey Dad are in the middle of performing 21 headline shows across the USA and Canada. It’s the start of a new and exciting era for the band.
Reflecting on how their performances have grown over the years Zach said: “The feeling on stage playing remains the same over all this time. It’s just deep trust and brotherhood. These new songs sound very different live, Moshers fear not! Come hang out at a show. Sing some songs, see friends and make friends.”
HOCKEY DAD UK & EUROPEAN TOUR SUPPORTING OCEAN ALLEY:
Fri 30 Aug 2024 EIRE Dublin - Vicar Street
Sun 01 Sep 2024 UK Exeter - Great Hall
Mon 02 Sep 2024 UK Brighton - Dome
Wed 04 Sep 2024 UK Bournemouth - 02 Academy
Fri 06 Sep 2024 NL Amsterdam - Paradiso
Mon 09 Sep 2024 GER Berlin - Metropol
Tue 10 Sep 2024 GER Cologne - EssigFabrik
Thu 12 Sep 2024 FR Paris - La Cigale
Sat 14 Sep 2024 UK Margate - Dreamland Hall by the Sea
Sun 15 Sep 2024 UK Bristol - Beacon
Tue 17 Sep 2024 UK Birmingham - o2 Institute
Wed 18 Sep 2024 UK Glasgow - SWG3 TV Studio
Fri 20 Sep 2024 UK Manchester - Victoria Warehouse - VENUE UPGRADED
Sat 21 Sep 2024 UK London - Roundhouse - SOLD OUT
Sun 22 Sep 2024 UK London - Roundhouse
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