Pilots Hit the Trenches for New Album

Modern Rock

By Kristi Kates | Aug. 4, 2018

Twenty One Pilots has just announced its much-anticipated new album, Trench, which will hit outlets on Oct. 5 via Fueled by Ramen records. Two singles from the upcoming album, “Jumpsuit” and “Nico and the Niners” have already been released, with “Jumpsuit” also including a music video to accompany its debut. The Pilots will also jump on the tour bus to promote said album with a huge world tour starting in Nashville on Oct. 16. The Bandito Tour will criss-cross North America throughout October and November, head over to Australia in December, and then hit the U.K. and mainland Europe early in 2019. The trek will include stateside stops in Chicago (Oct.17); Detroit (Oct. 24); Tampa, Florida (Nov. 3); and Phoenix, Arizona (Nov. 9) …

The 2018 MTV Video Music Award nominees have been announced, with both Carters — Beyonce and Jay-Z — snagging eight nominations for their over-the-top music video for “Apes**t.” Right behind Bey and Jay are Childish Gambino and Drake, each snagging seven nominations; the ever-present Bruno Mars with six nods; and Camilla Cabello and Ariana Grande with five nominations each — Cabello for her track “Havana” with Young Thug, and Ariana Grande for her single “No Tears Left to Cry.” The VMAs will be awarded on Monday, Aug. 20 at ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall in NYC …

A brand new David Bowie box set is heading to outlets on Oct. 12, this one gathering together a stack of the late musician’s work from the 1980s. Called Loving the Alien, the set will feature 11 CDs or 15 vinyl LPs, and will include 1983’s Let’s Dance, 1984’s Tonight, live albums Serious Moonlight and Glass Spider, and 1987’s Never Let Me Down, plus a new remix called “Dance.” The collection will also include a 2018 revamp of Never Let Me Down with some new instrumentation/arrangements and revised production by longtime Bowie collaborator and producer/engineer Mario McNulty …

Hayley Williams and Paramore are set to celebrate the arts in their Nashville hometown via their own Paramore Art and Friends Festival on Friday, Sept. 7. The band members said that they want to support the alternative music and arts community where they live, and share with others what their “fine city” has to offer, from live music to food, various kinds of visual art, and more. But the band won’t be back to Nashville for a little while yet; they’re currently on the road for their ongoing slate of tour dates, the latest being at Red Rocks outdoor amphitheater in Colorado …

LINK OF THE WEEK
Muse has a brand new track out called “Something Human,” with a snappy music video to match. The tune is in pre-promotion of the band’s upcoming new as-yet-untitled album, which is expected to surface this November. Check out “Something Human” at https://tinyurl.com/musesomethinghuman …

THE BUZZ
The D&W Fresh Market Picnic Pops Series has started at Belmont, Michigan’s, Cannonsburg Ski Area, featuring music from the Grand Rapids Symphony performing everything from Beethoven to Ben Folds …

Also in Grand Rapids (at Belknap Park), don’t miss the two-day Breakaway Music Festival Aug. 24–25 with performances from Khalid, Jaden Smith, and Flosstradamus …

Byron Center, Michigan, native Nathan Walton recently released his self-titled roots-rock debut EP after wrapping up several years in the cover band Stone Thrown …

Ann Arbor prog-bluegrass outfit Wire in the Wood also released an album of its own, a nine-tune, 40-minute live set called Live Wire Volume One … and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.

Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.