The Mars Volta are back. The duo of Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López have shared “Blacklight Shine”—their first new music since issuing Noctourniquet in 2012 and breaking up the following year. The new single arrives with a black and white music video directed by Rodríguez-López, which you can watch below.
Along with the song, the Mars Volta have announced a string of North American tour dates—their first live shows since 2012. Find their full schedule below.
The lyrics of “Blacklight Shine” help to illuminate the idea of “a wave of rolling blackouts washing memories onto shore, a heartbeat that still remembers everything,” Bixler-Zavala said in press materials. The Mars Volta teased their new single on Sunday (June 19) with a mysterious cube that appeared in Los Angeles’ Grand Park. An audiovisual art installation titled “L’ytome Hodorxí Telesterion” was erected to play “Blacklight Shine” for the first time in a public space. It runs through today (June 21), with a digital version of the experience launching on July 1.
Bixler-Zavala hinted at the band’s return back in 2019, saying, “It’s NOT going to be is your ‘fav member lineup’ playing their ‘classic records’ in full etc. Maybe we’ll play old shit, who knows how we feel.” He continued: “No deadlines, no ball tripping, no drama, just 2 grown ass men using essential oils and bold new perfumes shooting ideas and scooting their ass across the fucking lawn trying to get rid of these worms.”
Just last year, the band dropped a massive 18-LP box set titled La Realidad de los Sueños. The deluxe release included the group’s entire studio discography, as well as Landscape Tantrums (unreleased material from the De-Loused in the Comatorium sessions) and a photo book with behind-the-scenes images.
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The Mars Volta:
09-23 Dallas, TX – The Factory at Deep Ellum
09-25 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
09-27 Philadelphia, PA – Opera House
09-29 New York, NY – Terminal 5
10-01 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
10-03 Washington, D.C. – Anthem
10-05 Toronto, Ontario – Massey Hall
10-06 Detroit, MI – The Royal Oak
10-08 Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom
10-11 Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
10-14 Seattle, WA – Moore Theatre
10-18 San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
10-21 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
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