Silversun Pickups – Tenterhooks
Today, Silversun Pickups, the multiplatinum, GRAMMY-nominated Los Angeles quartet share their new album, Tenterhooks, on New Machine Recordings.
Silversun Pickups also releases the video for “Au Revoir Reservoir.”
Silversun Pickups has already released “We Won’t Come Out”, “The Wreckage”, “New Wave” and “Long Gone” fromTenterhooks.
Silversun Pickups’s For the album, the band —Brian Aubert [vocals, guitar], Nikki Monninger [bass, vocals], Christopher Guanlao [drums], and Joe Lester [keys]—reunited with producer Butch Vig to create an emotionally charged and unapologetic collection of ten tracks appropriate for the times, yet as timeless as anything they’ve done. “We wanted to make a tight record that could fit on one vinyl with five songs on each side,” says Aubert. “To me, it’s an impatient, apprehensive, and more aggressive album. We started recording when the world was changing again. You invariably wonder, ‘What are we headed towards?’ Even if you’re not necessarily writing about it, it bleeds into how you’re feeling and approaching life. We stripped things down and went louder and rawer.” The band will also release signed, limited-edition color vinyl including a “Thorns and All” (orange and wood half-half LP) variant, a “Hot Wired” (blue and gold splatter with blue core LP) variant, a “Witness Mark” (blue marble with orange core LP) variant, as well as a VEEPS exclusive (orange marble LP) variant.
Silversun Pickups had finished touring in 2024 and enjoyed a rare break. During the downtime, Aubert saved voice memos, riffs, and other ideas as they came to him. Before he knew it, he found himself back in the studio with his bandmates and longtime producer Butch Vig [Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage]. After two records together, they had perfected a real-time exchange of ideas. The musicians grabbed their instruments and jammed live as the producer listened and recorded. The album took shape seamlessly, but life intervened. Butch had commitments on the road with Garbage, taking him away from the studio. Aubert meanwhile went through one of the worst nightmares imaginable for any artist: he lost hearing in one ear. During a seven-day stay in the hospital, he even received a blood transfusion. “I had a hole in my ear drum,” he recalls. “They couldn’t figure out why I was losing blood, so they gave me the transfusion. We found out there was a rupture in my stomach lining due to the ibuprofen I was taking for the pain. That’s why I had been losing blood. One day, I was finally hearing again.” Eventually, the band regrouped with Vig and concluded the sessions. The title referenced the phrase, “On Tenterhooks.” “There was something in the air,” he observes. “It seemed as if everyone was on Tenterhooks waiting for whatever was next. The music has the same feeling.”
The opener “New Wave” alternates between heavenly and hard-hitting. A massive palm-muted riff carries the harmony on the chorus. Its sublime chug dissolves in the wake of an evocative solo soaked in reverb.
“Au Revoir Reservoir” revolves around a snappy groove, ethereal keys, off-kilter horns, and a lush vocal from Monninger.
Then, there’s “Long Gone.” Frantically strummed acoustic chords rush ahead at the pace of a late-night escape. Strings echo in the distance, and Aubert assures, “I’ll be long gone before we break it.”
The finale “Hot-Wired” offers a fitting bookend. Feedback cackles and buzzes, increasing the voltage with kinetic synths.
Tenterhooks represents both a full circle moment and a natural step forward for Aubert and band. Silversun Pickups cut their teeth on the East Side of Los Angeles, honing an inimitable style by playing nonstop. Their full-length debut, Carnavas [2006], went Gold and spawned the Platinum staple “Lazy Eye.” On its heels, they logged two back-to-back Top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 with Swoon [2009]—featuring the Gold-certified “Panic Switch”—and Neck of the Woods [2012]. “We’ve been a band for 25 years,” Aubert says. “I never would’ve imagined we would’ve been able to do this for so long. Somehow, we’re here. I’m thrilled we’re a band that people still find. When you listen to us, I hope you feel like after all of these years we still give a shit.” In the end, Silversun Pickups sound as urgent and undeniable as ever on Tenterhooks.
The band recently announced their 33-date 2026 Tenterhooks Tour in cities including Santa Ana, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Asbury Park, Kansas City and more. The band also added new dates last week in Tucson, AZ and Greensboro, NC.
Silversun Pickups Tenterhooks Tour Dates [NEW DATES IN BOLD]
Feb 06 | Los Angeles, CA | The Masonic Lodge At Hollywood Forever (Album Release Show)
Feb 19 | Santa Ana, CA | The Observatory Santa Ana
Feb 20 | Highland, CA | bEATS at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
Feb 23 | Albuquerque, NM | Sunshine Theater
Feb 25 | Aspen, CO | Belly Up Aspen
Feb 27 | Jackson, WY | Jackson Hole Center for the Arts – Center Theater
Feb 28 | Ketchum, ID | The Argyros Performing Arts Center
May 1 | Greensboro, NC | The Pyrle
Mar 02 | Edmonton, AB | Midway Music Hall
Mar 03 | Calgary, AB | The Palace Theatre
Mar 05 | Eugene, OR | McDonald Theatre
Mar 06 | Reno, NV | Cargo Concert Hall
Mar 07 | Napa, CA | Uptown Theatre Napa
Mar 09 | Monterey, CA | Golden State Theatre
Mar 10 | San Luis Obispo, CA | Fremont Theater
Mar 11 | Ventura, CA | Ventura Music Hall
May 19 | Tucson, AZ | Rialto Theatre
Apr 25 | Oklahoma City, OK | Tower Theatre
Apr 27 | New Orleans, LA | Joy Theatre
Apr 28 | Birmingham, AL | Iron City
Apr 30 | Charleston, SC | Charleston Music Hall
May 02 | Norfolk, VA | The NorVa
May 04 | Baltimore, MD | Nevermore Music Hall
May 05 | Harrisburg, PA | Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
May 07 | Asbury Park, NJ | The Stone Pony
May 08 | Norwalk, CT | District Music Hall
May 09 | Providence, RI | The Strand Ballroom
May 11 | Portland, ME | State Theatre
May 12 | Buffalo, NY | Town Ballroom
May 13 | Grand Rapids, MI | Elevation
May 15 | Kansas City, MO | Warehouse on Broadway
May 17 | San Antonio, TX | The Aztec Theatre
May 18 | El Paso, TX | Lowbrow Palace
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