“When the light came big and bright, I began another life,” Alex G sings slowly, like he’s making sense of it, on his new single, “Afterlife.” It’s a pleasant meditation on growing up (“We were mean and 17/Make it like a dream,” goes another lyric) imbued with nostalgic touches like winsome “Maggie May”–style mandolin, a big Max Weinberg snare drum, and even a false ending saved by more mandolin. The song features on his upcoming 10th studio album, Headlights, due out July 18.
The LP features 11 studio recordings and a live rendition of “Logan Hotel.” The song’s video, directed by Charlotte Rutherford, shows a boy, River Gallo, in cowboy boots singing and entertaining people at a rural community center. There’s even a lemonade stand in it for extra nostalgia. Rutherford shot the clip in Huntsville, Texas.
Alex will perform at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25 and embark on a longer North American tour in September with dates running through mid-October. Nilüfer Yanya will open the dates. Full ticketing details are on Alex G’s website.
In 2022, Alex G, whose real name is Alex Giannascoli, reflected on his influences in an in-depth Rolling Stone interview. “When I was younger, I had Modest Mouse, then Elliott Smith, then Radiohead, one at a time — like, ‘I’m obsessed with you,’” he said at the time. “It feels like they’re your friend. It’s kind of trippy thinking that’s what my music is doing [for other people].”
Headlights track list:
1. “June Guitar”
2. “Real Thing”
3. “Afterlife”
4. “Beam Me Up”
5. “Spinning”
6. “Louisiana”
7. “Bounce Boy”
8. “Oranges”
9. “Far and Wide”
10. “Headlights”
11. “Is It Still You in There?”
12. “Logan Hotel (Live)”
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Alex G tour dates:
Sept. 10 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
Sept. 11 – Boston, MA @ Roadrunner
Sept. 13 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora
Sept. 14 – Toronto, ON @ History
Sept. 15 – Toronto, ON @ History
Sept. 17 – Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed
Sept. 18 – St Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Sept. 20 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom
Sept. 23 – Oakland, CA @ The Fox Theater
Sept. 24 – Oakland, CA @ The Fox Theater
Sept. 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre
Sept. 28 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
Sept. 30 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
Oct. 1 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
Oct. 3 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern
Oct. 4 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Oct. 6 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
Oct. 7 – Washington, DC @ The Anthem
Oct. 8 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
Oct. 11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
Oct. 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
