“…power-pop jangles that intersect the timelines of The Replacements and modern indie pop acts like Alvvays. These songs are littered with earworms, hooks, and an infectious sense of optimism.” RANGE
 
“A bigger, bolder sounding record than its predecessor… There are shades of British glam rock in “Never In Style”, and the primal, melodic impressions of The Replacements and Elvis Costello & The Attractions pepper the nooks and crannies of the record overall. Above all, it sounds fun.” The Line Of Best Fit

 “For fans of power-pop main players such as Sugar, Posies, Teenage Fanclub and The Replacements, if this is a weird nightmare its one that no one will be in a rush to wake up from.” - Classic Rock
 

Today is May 1st, and Hoopla, the sensational new long-player from Weird Nightmare (the new project from METZ frontman, Alex Edkins), is available now on CD/LP/DSPs worldwide from Sub Pop and in Canada from Dine Alone. The 10-track album features the previously released singles “Where I Belong”, “Pay No Mind,” “Forever Elsewhere,” and the Alternative Specialty radio hit, “Might See You There.” The album was co-produced by Edkins and Spoon’s Jim Eno at Seth Manchester’s Machines With Magnets in Providence, RI. Hoopla was crafted with just the right amount of punk rock fuzz and crunch. The immediate, crisp, unfussy recording brings you right into the studio with Edkins and his band.
 
Earlier this week, the band concluded a short US tour with shows in Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, and Seattle. This weekend, they will be playing two FREE in-store performances, the first, tonight at Sonic Boom in Toronto, and the other on Sunday, May 3rd, at zBTFD in Brantford, ON. A UK/EU run will begin on Friday, August 28th in Malaga, Spain, at the Canela Party Festival, with additional shows continuing through Sunday, September 13th, in Asten, NL, at the Misty Fields Festival. See below for a full run of shows.

North America
Fri. May 01 - Toronto, ON - Sonic Boom (in-store)
Sun. May 03 -  Brantford, ON -  zBTFD (in-store)
Tue. May 12 - Kingston, ON - Broom Factory
Wed. May 13 - Montreal, PQ - Bar le Ritz
Fri. May 15 - Halifax, NS - Marquee Ballroom #  
Sat. May 16 -  Halifax, NS - Marquee Ballroom #  
Wed. May 27 - St. Paul - Turf Club
Thu. May 28 - Chicago, IL - Cobra Lounge
Fri. May 29 - Pontiac, MI - Pike Room
Sat. May 30 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
Wed. Jun. 17 -  London, ON - London Music Hall #
Thu. Jun. 18 - Hamilton, ON -  Bridgeworks #
Fri. Jun. 19 - Toronto, ON -  Masonic Temple #
Sat. Jun. 20 -  Ottawa, ON - The Bronson #
Wed. Jun. 24 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall
Thu. Jun. 25 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd
Fri. Jun. 26 - Philadelphia, PA  - Ortlieb’s
Sat. Jun. 27 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool
Sun. Jun.  28 -  Medford, MA - Deep Cuts
 
 
UK/EU
Fri. Aug. 28 - Malaga, ES - Canela Party Festival
Sat. Aug. 29 - Brighton, UK - Alphabet
Tue. Sep. 01 - Leeds, UK - The Attic
Wed. Sep. 02  - Glasgow, UK - Hug & Pint
Thu. Sep. 03 - Birmingham, UK -  Hare & Hounds
Fri. Sep. 04 - Southampton, UK - Heartbreakers
Sat. Sep. 05 - London, UK -  The Lexington
Sun. Sep. 06 -  Rotterdam, NL - Rotown
Tue. Sep. 08 - Berlin, DE - Urban Spree
Wed. Sep. 09 - Cologne, DE - Bumann & Sohn
Thu. Sep. 10 - Paris, FR -  Point Ephemere
Sat. Sep. 12 - Lille, FR- Aeronef
Sun. Sep. 13 Asten, NL - Misty Fields Festival
 
^ with Mrs. Magician
# with Wintersleep
 

LP orders of Hoopla in the US through Sub Pop Mega Mart will receive the limited Loser Edition on Emerald Green-Blue vinyl; orders through Mega Mart Europe will receive the Loser Edition on Transparent Orange (UK/EU). The Canadian exclusive will be available on Orange/Blue/White Solar Flare from Dine Alone. The limited Loser Editions will also be available at your local record store (all limited vinyl colors available while stock lasts!).

 
What people have said about Weird Nightmare:
“…an undeniably infectious power-pop anthem” -
[“Forever Elsewhere”] Stereogum
 
“…rippling power pop cut.”- [“Might See You There”] Exclaim!
 
“Inspired by the simplicity and ‘big bar chords’ of The Undertones and Protex, [‘Might See You There’] evokes a rose-tinted sense of teenage nostalgia.” DIY
 
“Weird Nightmare is all about hooks and melody. Still delivered with levels in the red, but these are ultracatchy powerpop songs first and foremost, and really good ones at that.” Brooklyn Vegan
 
“The debut Weird Nightmare album from METZ guitarist/vocalist Alex Edkins is a hook-filled set of blown-out power-pop with distorted guitars, punchy rhythms and bright pop melodies.” KEXP
 
“Alex Edkins finally lets those melodies loose, resulting in an irresistibly euphoric blast of feedback spattered garage-pop that is just what the doctor ordered to chase away any lingering post-lockdown blues.’” The Quietus
 

Weird Nightmare
Hoopla
 
Tracklisting:
1. Headful of Rain
2. Might See You There
3. Baby Don’t
4. Forever Elsewhere
5. Never in Style
6. Pay No Mind
7. If You Should Turn Away
8. Little Strange
9. Bright City Lights (ft. Julianna Riolino)
10. Where I Belong