It's been way too long since we've gotten a new album from the righteous, fiery Providence punk band Downtown Boys. Their last one, the excellent Cost Of Living, came out way back in 2017. But the drought is over. This summer, Downtown Boys are back with their new LP Public Luxury. They've taken nine years, but they're somehow right on time. We've already posted lead single "No Me Jodas," which absolutely kicks ass. Today, they've got another one.
The new Downtown Boys "You're A Ghost" is an incendiary dance-punk jam with cranked-up industrial drum machines and guttural riffage. Bandleader Victoria Marie bellows, "I'm so, so sorry for my body!" She doesn't sound sorry, though. Here's what she and bandmate Joey La Neve DeFrancesco say about the new song:
"You're A Ghost" took shape in the context of the previous and current administrations' violent suppression of pro-Palestine and anti-ICE protestors, and ICE's recent, depraved escalations within the always-horrific U.S. deportation regime. In such a time, as a bare minimum, we must continue to demand freedom of migration, movement, and everything for everyone. They can’t distract us with clouds of hate. Our bodies and our history are not a game; this is a power structure. ICE out.
Victoria Marie knows something about suppression of pro-Palestine protestors. In 2023, she resigned from her job at a public defenders' office in the wake of a viral video that showed her ripping down posters of Israeli hostages, which she said were posted as a provocation during a vigil for murdered Palestinian civilians. Media sources like the New York Post really tried to make an example out of her, and it's great to see her still standing tall.
"You're A Ghost" has an animated video from the Lebanese artist Khalil, and Downtown Boys just announced a fresh round of East Coast tour dates. Do yourself a favor and go see them live if you can. Below, check out the "You're A Ghost" video and the band's tour dates.
TOUR DATES:
6/23 - Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom*
6/24 - Holyoke, MA - Holyoke Media^
6/25 - Woodstock, NY - Bearsville Theater*
6/27 - Portland, ME - State Theater*
6/28 - East Greenwich, RI - Odeum*
7/15 - Columbus, OH - Spacebar #
7/16 - Detroit, MI - Third Man Records #
7/18 - Cleveland, OH - Happy Dog #
7/19 - Pittsburgh, PA - Bottlerocket Social Hall #
7/21 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's #
7/22 - Washington, DC - DC9 Nightclub #
7/23 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby's All Right %
* with Gang Of Four
# with Pop Music Fever Dream
^ with Perennial
% with Ratas en Zelo
Public Luxury is out 6/26 on Sub Pop.
