In 1979, two school-kids all hopped-up on punk-rock started their own group in their hometown of Hawthorne, Los Angeles (birthplace of the Beach Boys) and soon found themselves opening shows for notorious scene pioneers Black Flag. Jeff McDonald was 15, his brother Steven only 11. But that didn’t stop their group from becoming one of the most remarkable, enduring and unique outfits punk- rock ever belched up.
2024, then, marks Redd Kross’s 45th birthday – an important anniversary for any group whose heart pulses at 45RPM – and the brothers are celebrating the event with a veritable multimedia extravaganza. There’s a memoir, Now You’re One Of Us, due in October, author Dan Epstein telling the group’s story in the McDonalds’ unmistakable (and occasionally contrary) voices. A brilliant rockumentary, Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story, directed by Andrew Reich, is currently making the festival rounds. Most exciting of all, a new album – an eponymous double-album, no less, packed with 18 of their sharpest, most addictive songs yet – will hit the racks on June 28, 2024, courtesy of In the Red Records. These years of joyful service to rock’n’roll have seen Redd Kross evolve into a killer pop-rock concern, dealing in dayglo power-chords, choruses as tall as skyscrapers and a lyric sheet thick with acid couplets and arch pop- cultural references their loyal following will gobble up like quaaludes.
The announcement of Redd Kross is accompanied by the lead single “Candy Coloured Catastrophe” which comes with the above video directed by Gilbert Trejo, along with newly confirmed Tour Dates which kick-off in early July just following the album’s release. SEE ALL DATES BELOW.
“Candy Coloured Catastrophe” opens Redd Kross with the perfect vibe: an itchy, unforgettable acid-pop nugget taking impish swings at what Steven describes as “the fine arts career of a well-known pop star who we love-love-love, and also love to make fun of.” “Our message is, ‘What is art?’,” adds Jeff. “Who gets to decide? And maybe these rock-stars who suddenly decide they’re fine artists and Hollywood actors who decide they’re punk-rock singers should, you know, stay in their lane.”
Redd Kross – 2024 Tour Dates
Fri May 24 Las Vegas, NV Punk Rock Bowling
Fri June 21 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Azkena Rock Festival
Tue July 02 San Diego, CA Casbah
Wed July 03 Pioneertown, CA Pappy + Harriet’s
Fri July 05 Long Beach, CA Alex’s Bar
Sat July 06 Oakland, CA Mosswood Meltdown Festival
Mon July 08 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
Tue July 09 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
Wed July 10 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
Fri July 12 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall
Sat July 13 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
Mon July 15 Saint Paul, MN Turf Club
Tue July 16 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
Wed July 17 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
Fri July 19 Columbus, OH Ace of Cups
Sat July 20 Pittsburgh, PA Spirit Hall
Mon July 22 Washington, DC The Atlantis
Wed July 24 Carrboro, NC Merge 35th Anniversary Festival @ Cat’s Cradle
Thu July 25 Jersey City, NJ White Eagle Hall
Fri July 26 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
Sat July 27 Allston, MA Brighton Music Hall
Mon July 29 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace
Tue July 30 Detroit, MI El Club
Wed July 31 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
Fri Aug 02 Nashville, TN The Blue Room – Third Man Records
Sat Aug 03 Birmingham, AL Saturn
Sun Aug 04 Atlanta, GA The Earl Restaurant & Lounge
Tue Aug 06 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall – Upstairs
Wed Aug 07 Austin, TX Parish
Thu Aug 08 Dallas, TX House of Blues – Cambridge Room
Sat Aug 10 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
Sun Aug 11 Phoenix, AZ Valley Bar
Tue Aug 13 Los Angeles, CA Lodge Room Highland Park
- The Fire Note Blazing Top 50 Albums Of 2024 - December 12, 2024
- The Fire Note Writer Edition Top Albums of 2024 - December 10, 2024
- Hunger Anthem – “Hours and Miles”[Video] - December 6, 2024