Ratboys – The Window
Today, Chicago’s Ratboys present the title track and an accompanying video from their forthcoming album The Window, out August 25th via Topshelf.
Lyrically, the album sees songwriter Julia Steiner at her most personal, reflecting on love and grief with occasional humor and levity. She frequently leans on windows as a theme—the idea of an interrupted connection, the feeling of being near someone without being fully present. Throughout the title track, the window is literal. It’s simultaneously heart-wrenching and poignant, as Steiner’s voice swells over twangs of guitar and stirring percussion. “I wrote this song a few days after the death of my grandma in June of 2020,” Steiner explains. “She didn’t have covid, but because of the pandemic my grandpa wasn’t able to visit her in person at the nursing home to say goodbye. He ended up standing outside her room and saying goodbye through an open window. A lot of the lyrics are direct quotes of things he said to her in those final moments.” The accompanying video, directed by John TerEick, is cinematic and echoes the nostalgic and bittersweet themes of the song.
Ratboys Tour Dates
Fri. Aug. 25 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern – SOLD OUT
Thu. Sep. 21 – Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Festival
Fri. Sep. 22 – Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe *
Sat. Sep. 23 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd *
Tue. Sep. 26 – Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
Wed. Sep. 27 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
Thu. Sep. 28 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
Fri. Sep. 29 – Montreal, QC @ POP Montreal ^
Sat. Sep. 30 – Toronto, ON @ Monarch Tavern ^
Mon. Oct. 2 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Bottlerocket Social Hall *
Tue. Oct. 3 – Cleveland, OH @ No Class *
Wed. Oct. 4 – Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag *
Fri. Oct. 6 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club *
Sat. Oct. 7 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Back Room at Colectivo Coffee *
Thu. Oct. 19 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb &
Sat. Oct. 21 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall &
Sun. Oct. 22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court &
Tue. Oct. 24 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s &
Wed. Oct. 25 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios &
Fri. Oct. 27 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord &
Sat. Oct. 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Highland Park &
Sun. Oct. 29 – San Diego, CA @ The Loft at UC San Diego &
Mon. Oct. 30 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room &
Tue. Oct. 31 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar &
Thu. Nov. 2 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger &
Fri. Nov. 3 – Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room & Garage &
Sat. Nov. 4 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada &
Fri. Dec. 22 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall – NEW SHOW
- =w/ Free Range
&=w/ Another Michael
^=w/ Ellis
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