Photo Credit: Dominic East
One week out from its long-awaited fall tour kickoff, The War On Drugs have unveiled announced Live Drugs Again, the alt-rock powerhouse’s second live collection and first release since 2021’s I Don’t Live Here Anymore. Following 2020’s Live Drugs, this latest full-length dispatch cements the band’s standing as a touring titan, capturing the incomparable energy of the live run that followed its last studio set with an 11-track series. To preview the thrilling follow-up, which will arrive next Friday, Sept. 23 on the band’s Super High Quality Records imprint, the band has shared a new live recording and visualizer for the fan favorite “Burning.”
From 2010’s Future Weather up through 2021’s I Don’t Live Here Anymore, Live Drugs Again features beloved entries from throughout The War On Drugs’ 16 years on the cutting edge to chronicle the progression of its influential synth and roots-heavy neo-psychedelia sound. Captured during the group’s exhaustive touring between February 2022 and December 2023, the project captures the band as they returned to the stage after a pandemic hiatus at the height of their improvisational prowess–as heard on “Burning (Live…Again),” which finds a dreamy, high voltage synthscape with arena rock power in the 2014 Lost In the Dream standout.
On the compilation and its significance to The War On Drugs’ broader canon, bandleader Adam Granduciel writes in a release, “Live Drugs Again chronicles the evolution of these songs from the studio to stages all over the world; documenting our continued growth as a live band. This series ensures that these versions, and some of our favorite moments on stage, will live on.”
On Sept. 12, one day before its newly announced release, The War On Drugs will take the stage again for the outset of its Zen Diagram co-headline tour with The National, featuring support from Lucius. Plotting 20 dates across North America, the month-long run will begin with a performance at Gilford, N.H.’s Bank of New Hampshire Pavillion, then continue through such high-profile stages as Queens, N.Y.’s Forest Hills Stadium on Sept. 13, Columbia, Md.’s Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sept. 16, Denver’s Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre on Sept. 28, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena on Oct. 1 and Berkeley, Ca.’s Greek Theatre on Oct. 6 before a tour closer at Mexico City’s Palacio De Los Deportes on Oct. 10. For tickets and more information, visit thewarondrugs.net/tour.
Live Drugs Again will be available on all digital streaming platforms and a two LP vinyl pressing; 666 lucky fans will receive a limited transparent blue pressing, mixed in the broader initial release batch at random. Pre-order and pre-save the project here, and listen to “Burning (Live…Again)” below.
Read on for The War On Drugs’ full tour calendar.
Live Drugs Again – The War On Drugs
1. Harmonia’s Dream
2. Burning
3. Old Skin
4. Come To The City
5. I Don’t Wanna Wait
6. Pain
7. Slow Ghost
8. In Chains
9. Living Proof
10. Under The Pressure
11. I Don’t Live Here Anymore
The War On Drugs Tour Dates (w/ The National and Lucius)
Sept. 12 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, N.H.
Sept. 13 – Forest Hills Stadium – Queens, N.Y.
Sept. 14 – Xfinity Center – Mansfield, Mass.
Sept. 16 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
Sept. 17 – TD Pavilion at the Mann Center for Performing Arts – Philadelphia
Sept. 19 – Place Bell – Laval, Quebec
Sept. 20 – Budweiser Stage – Toronto, Ontario
Sept. 21 – Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Sept. 24 – United Center – Chicago
Sept. 25 – Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill – Sterling Heights, Mich.
Sept. 26 – Breese Stevens Field – Madison, Wis.
Sept. 28 – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre – Englewood, Colo.
Sept. 29 – Granary Live – Salt Lake City
Oct. 1 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle
Oct. 2 – Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena – Vancouver, British Columbia
Oct. 3 – Moda Center – Portland, Ore.
Oct. 5 – The Meritage Resort and Spa – Napa, Calif.
Oct. 6 – The Greek Theatre – Berkeley, Calif.
Oct. 7 – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles
Oct. 10 – Palacio De Los Deportes * – Mexico City, Mexico
Oct. 12 – Live Out Monterrey – Monterrey, Mexico
* without Lucius