The Van Pelt Return With “Punk House” Single & Announce New Album “Artisans & Merchants”

After twenty-five years of waiting, New York City cult indie favourites The Van Pelt have announced a March 17th release date for their upcoming fourth studio full-length, Artisans & Merchants, which will be released jointly by Spartan Records in North America, La Castanya in Europe & the rest of the World and Gringo Records in the UK. The album was recorded and mixed in Summer & Fall of 2021 by Jeff Zeigler at Uniform Recording in Philadelphia, PA, and features guest appearances by Nate Kinsella (American Football) and Ted Leo (Ted Leo & The Pharmacists) among others. The first single from the album, Punk House, is out now, along with a brand new music video. The Van Pelt have also announced a series of UK, EU and Brooklyn shows in March and April.

“When a bunch of old VHS tapes were unearthed, the band had them digitized and they turned out to be from US tours of the mid-90s. The footage is mainly of daily banalities: random purchases at rest stops, packing and unpacking the van, highway views that could be on the outskirts of Any Town USA. Yet there is a nostalgia to it that’s compelling. The song mirrors the mood in both sound and text. Lines like “The floor is filled with resin on the place where you’re to sleep / if you have enough to drink you can pretend that it’s a sheet” bring any musician back to the rougher side of days on the road — yet again, the subtext here is that the spirit of it all is to be longed for.” (frontman Chris Leo)

The Van Pelt European Tour Dates

3/16 – Leeds, UK @ Wharf Chambers (Sold Out)

3/17 – Nottingham, UK @ The Old Cold Store (Tickets)

3/18 – London, UK @ The Garage (Tickets)

3/19 – Antwerp, BEL @ Trix (Tickets)