Hard-Fi today drop another fantastic new track ‘Don’t Need You’ – the final instalment before the release of their forthcoming Don’t Go Making Plans EP this Friday, November 15th, on Ignition Records – the day before the band embark upon their 10-date UK headline tour in November, culminating with what will be a very special homecoming show at London’s Roundhouse on November 30th – tickets available HERE.
There will also be a special tour warmup show in the band’s hometown of Staines at Thames Side Brewery this Thursday, November 14th, and an intimate EP Release Show at London Dingwalls this Friday, November 15th. Tickets for the Staines tour warmup are on sale here, and all profits raised will go to local charity Midas Plus.
Featuring four brand new tracks plus remixes from The Reflex and Wrongtom, the EP will be available digitally and on limited edition, numbered, transparent red 12″ on Friday – pre-order HERE
Full of punch and serving an insatiable riff from the get-go, new track ‘Don’t Need You’ is Hard-Fi on firing form, full of melody and seeing frontman Richard Archer spit venomous lyrics before launching into a huge, infectious chorus. Produced by Archer and long-term contributor Wolsey White, it’s another superb result of the first session together since 2011 album Killer Sounds.
The band made their extremely welcome return in May with the release of their first track in over a decade with ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’. As with many of the band’s songs, there was a thought-provoking depth behind Hard-Fi’s pop sensibility. The song’s defiant themes were initially inspired by the UK Government’s attempts to criminalise many aspects of popular protest through the 2022 Public Order Act, while the issue has been thrown into even sharper focus over the last year as police and people have repeatedly clashed on streets around the globe. Watch the striking lyric video below.
This was followed by the current single, ‘Always and Forever,’ which delivers a sharp slice of urgency and documents the feeling that you don’t belong and are running out of time. It was premiered exclusively by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2. Watch the lyric video below.
With over a million UK album sales, 2 Number 1 albums (3 top 10s), and 5 Top 20 singles, Hard-Fi have been a phenomenon. Having made their debut with the Mercury Prize-shortlisted Stars Of CCTV in 2005, the four-piece proved progressive yet accessible, with tales of high street life, club-driven weekends and keeping your head above water on the breadline. The album yielded singles that included ‘Hard To Beat’, ‘Living For The Weekend’ and ‘Cash Machine’ – reached number 1, and has since been certified double platinum in the UK alone.
The second album, Once Upon A Time In The West, also topped the charts and included the lead single ‘Suburban Knights’, whilst the third album, Killer Sounds, was a Top 10 hit. The band also played one of the longest residencies at O2 Academy Brixton, a fully sold-out feat they share with the likes of Bob Dylan and The Clash after performing at the landmark London venue for five nights straight in 2006. Hard-Fi are back—Catchier, louder and more defiant than ever.
In Episode #199 of The XS Noize Podcast, Richard Archer discusses Hard-Fi’s’ ‘Don’t Go Making Plans’ EP, the Band’s Bold New Chapter, and More – Listen to the interview here.
UK TOUR DATES
November
Thurs 14th Staines, Thames Side Brewery
Fri 15th London, Dingwalls (EP Release Show) (SOLD OUT)
Sat 16th Hastings, White Rock
Tue 19th Portsmouth, Guildhall
Thu 21st Cardiff, Tramshed
Fri 22nd Wolverhampton, Wulfrun
Sat 23rd Nottingham, Rock City
Mon 25th Glasgow, Garage
Tue 26th Sheffield, The Leadmill
Wed 27th Manchester, Ritz
Fri 29th Leeds, Stylus
Sat 30th London, Roundhouse – (SOLD OUT)
Don’t Go Making Plans Track Listing
1. Don’t Go Making Plans
2. I Know What You Want
3. Don’t Need You
4. Always and Forever
5. Don’t Go Making Plans (The Reflex Revision)
6. Don’t Go Making Plans (Wrongtom Remix)
Hard-Fi are Richard Archer (vocals, guitars keyboards), Steve Kemp (drums), Kai Stephens (bass) and Ross Phillips (guitars)
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