NEWS : FRI, AUG 15, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Bret McKenzie’s Freak Out City Is Out Today Worldwide From Sub Pop
Bret McKenzie’s Freak Out City, his sophomore album, is available now worldwide from Sub Pop. The new record features the charming and humorous official videos for “All I Need,” the title track, and today’s offering, “Shouldna Come Here Tonight,” wherein Bret portrays a smooth criminal on the run (while showing off his slick dance moves in the process). The visual was helmed by returning director Ezra Simons.
Freak Out City is a fresh collection of songs Bret developed while performing live across New Zealand and the United States with his band The State Highway Wonders. The influence of his musical heroes Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman resonates again on this record, where Bret playfully weaves humour and heart into his songs.
Recorded in both Los Angeles and New Zealand, the album was co-produced by Bret and his long-time collaborator, Mickey Petralia. It was also mixed by Michael Harris at EastWest Studios and mastered by Ruairi O’Flaherty at Nomograph Mastering in Los Angeles. The musicians on the record are a mix of LA-based players Leland Sklar, Dean Parks, Drew Erickson, Chris Caswell, and Joey Waronker, as well as New Zealand musicians Ben Lemi, Leo Coghini, Jacqui Nyman, Moana Leota, Iris Little, and Justin Clarke.
Bret and his live band, The State Highway Wonders, have scheduled international headline dates for October 2025 in support of Freak Out City - Bret’s first since 2022. The variety-style live show will feature selections from the new album, as well as his Sub Pop debut, Songs Without Jokes, alongside various tracks from Bret’s work in TV and film.
In October, Bret will hit select cities in the US and UK, including Los Angeles’s Largo at The Coronet (Oct. 10th), Washington, DC’s Miracle Theatre (Oct. 14th), New York’s Le Poisson Rouge (Oct. 17th), and London’s Bush Hall (Oct. 21st + 22nd). Tickets for these shows are on sale now. https://bretmckenzie.os.fan/
Bret and his live band will join The Infinity Sessions, a live streaming event hosted by Neil Finn and featuring “some of Aotearoa’s exciting musicians all to ‘Make Us Feel Good About Life’ (or MUFGAL for short).” Fans can watch his performance on Sunday, August 24th from 7:30 pm NZT on YouTube / Facebook Live. Bret will also support The Beths in Los Angeles at The Wiltern on November 7th. Please find a current list of headline dates below.
Freak Out City is a fresh collection of songs Bret developed while performing live across New Zealand and the United States with his band The State Highway Wonders. The influence of his musical heroes Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman resonates again on this record, where Bret playfully weaves humour and heart into his songs.
Recorded in both Los Angeles and New Zealand, the album was co-produced by Bret and his long-time collaborator, Mickey Petralia. It was also mixed by Michael Harris at EastWest Studios and mastered by Ruairi O’Flaherty at Nomograph Mastering in Los Angeles. The musicians on the record are a mix of LA-based players Leland Sklar, Dean Parks, Drew Erickson, Chris Caswell, and Joey Waronker, as well as New Zealand musicians Ben Lemi, Leo Coghini, Jacqui Nyman, Moana Leota, Iris Little, and Justin Clarke.
Bret and his live band, The State Highway Wonders, have scheduled international headline dates for October 2025 in support of Freak Out City - Bret’s first since 2022. The variety-style live show will feature selections from the new album, as well as his Sub Pop debut, Songs Without Jokes, alongside various tracks from Bret’s work in TV and film.
In October, Bret will hit select cities in the US and UK, including Los Angeles’s Largo at The Coronet (Oct. 10th), Washington, DC’s Miracle Theatre (Oct. 14th), New York’s Le Poisson Rouge (Oct. 17th), and London’s Bush Hall (Oct. 21st + 22nd). Tickets for these shows are on sale now. https://bretmckenzie.os.fan/
Bret and his live band will join The Infinity Sessions, a live streaming event hosted by Neil Finn and featuring “some of Aotearoa’s exciting musicians all to ‘Make Us Feel Good About Life’ (or MUFGAL for short).” Fans can watch his performance on Sunday, August 24th from 7:30 pm NZT on YouTube / Facebook Live. Bret will also support The Beths in Los Angeles at The Wiltern on November 7th. Please find a current list of headline dates below.
Fri. Oct. 10 - Los Angeles, CA - Largo at the Coronet
Tue. Oct. 14 - Washington, DC - Miracle Theatre
Fri. Oct. 17 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge
Tue. Oct. 21 - London, UK - Bush Hall
Wed. Oct. 22 - London, UK - Bush Hall
Freak Out City is available now on CD/LP/all streaming services from Sub Pop. LP purchased from megamart.subpop.com in North America, MegaMart Europe in the UK + EU, Bret’s live shows, and your local record store, will receive the limited Loser Edition on Glacial Blue (NA) or Light Rosé (UK/EU) vinyl (all vinyl color editions whilst stock lasts!).
Bret McKenzie is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning musician who is most well-known for his band Flight of the Conchords and their eponymous television show. He is internationally renowned for singing and writing funny, strange, and unique songs primarily for film and television.
Bret’s songs have been featured in The Muppets, The Simpsons, and most recently, with the song “Could This Be Love” in the box-office hit, A Minecraft Movie. His songs have also been sung by Celine Dion, Lizzo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brittany Howard, Homer and Lisa Simpson, Fred Armisen, Miss Piggy, Amy Adams, Jason Segal, Ricky Gervais, Benee, Isabela Merced, Spongebob Squarepants, Tony Bennett, Mickey Rooney, and more (read full bio at Sub Pop).
Bret McKenzie is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning musician who is most well-known for his band Flight of the Conchords and their eponymous television show. He is internationally renowned for singing and writing funny, strange, and unique songs primarily for film and television.
Bret’s songs have been featured in The Muppets, The Simpsons, and most recently, with the song “Could This Be Love” in the box-office hit, A Minecraft Movie. His songs have also been sung by Celine Dion, Lizzo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brittany Howard, Homer and Lisa Simpson, Fred Armisen, Miss Piggy, Amy Adams, Jason Segal, Ricky Gervais, Benee, Isabela Merced, Spongebob Squarepants, Tony Bennett, Mickey Rooney, and more (read full bio at Sub Pop).
What People Have Said About Bret McKenzie Freak Out City:
“McKenzie is becoming his own man…an ear for a deft chorus.” MOJO
“Delicious.” “Album of The Week,” Mail on Sunday
★★★★ The Sun
“Wonderful songwriting, and that’s no joke” ★★★★ Far Out
“A softly beguiling introduction.” [“All I Need”] CLASH
“A joyful, carefree celebration of love…” [“All I Need”] EXCLAIM!
Bret McKenzie
Freak Out City
Tracklisting:
1. Bethnal Green Blues
2. Freak Out City
3. The Only Dream I Know
4. All the Time
5. That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round
6. All I Need
7. Eyes on the Sun
8. Too Young
9. Highs and Lows
10. Shouldna Come Here Tonight
Freak Out City
Tracklisting:
1. Bethnal Green Blues
2. Freak Out City
3. The Only Dream I Know
4. All the Time
5. That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round
6. All I Need
7. Eyes on the Sun
8. Too Young
9. Highs and Lows
10. Shouldna Come Here Tonight