Ratboys – The World, So Madly
2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Chicago’s Ratboys. Their forthcoming record, Singin’ to an Empty Chair, out February 6th via New West Records, was deemed one of the most anticipated records of 2026 by the likes of Pitchfork, Vulture, Stereogum, Consequence, and Brooklyn Vegan, and press and fans alike have been buzzing about the singles released thus far.
Today, the band presents a new single, “The World, So Madly,” that navigates feeling helpless in a world that won’t stop spinning.
Over soaring percussion and radiant guitar, vocalist Julia Steiner makes peace with a lack of control, and finds power in doing so: “Live in the world so madly // Live in the world so fast // Live in the world so madly // I know now nothing’s gonna last.”
Steiner elaborates: “Looking back at my voice memos, I recorded the original idea for this song on January 1st, 2023, and it feels like a song of new beginnings: we recorded it almost entirely in the morning throughout the sessions, and the lyrics focus on making peace with big life changes, and really with the ever-changing nature of life in general. I was thinking a lot about certain events unfolding in the news at the time, but I wanted to keep the lyrics open, so that anyone can listen and find their life in the song.”
Singin’ to an Empty Chair is Ratboys’ most introspective and emotionally driven work yet. It’s nearly an hour of new music showcasing the band at the peak of their powers — twangy, effervescent, and as confident as they’ve ever been. Stereogum calls it like they see it: “Few indie bands are doing it better right now.”
Next month, Ratboys kick off an expansive North American tour. Tickets are selling quick and are on sale now.
Ratboys Tour Dates
Wed. Feb. 25 – Detroit, MI @ El Club ~
Thu. Feb. 26 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace ~
Fri. Feb. 27 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB ~
Sat. Feb. 28 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair ~
Sun. March 1 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom ~
Tue. March 3 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church ~
Thu. March 5 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw ~
Fri. March 6 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ~
Sat. March 7 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry ~
Sun. March 8 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall ~
Tue. March 10 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle ~
Wed. March 11 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West ~
Thu. March 12 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East ~
Fri. March 13 – Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar ~
Sat. March 14 – Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium ~
Tue. March 24 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway •
Wed. March 25 – Kansas City, MO @ recordBar •
Thu. March 26 – Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic Lounge •
Fri. March 27 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada •
Sat. March 28 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk •
Mon. March 30 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad •
Tue. March 31 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar •
Wed. April 1 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar •
Fri. April 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom •
Sat. April 4 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall •
Mon. April 6 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret •
Tue. April 7 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos •
Wed. April 8 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater •
Fri. April 10 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club •
Sat. April 11 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Urban Lounge •
Mon. April 13 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater •
Wed. April 15 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room •
Thu. April 16 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line •
Fri. April 17 – Madison, WI @ Atwood Music Hall •
Sat. April 18 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre +
~ w/ Florry • w/ villagerrr + w/ Free Range
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