Delta Spirit Returns with ‘How Bout It,’ a Snapshot of America in Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic; New Album ‘What Is There’ Out 9/11

It’s been six years since Delta Spirit released a new record, but the California-based rock/indie band will do so on Sept. 11 with What Is There, the group’s fifth full-length album.

On Thursday, the band premiered a powerful new music video for a song called “How Bout It.” Filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the video captures the essence of American life during the pandemic — lockdowns, isolation and everything.

Per a press release, the clip was directed by Michael Parks Randa and “shot during the COVID-19 pandemic at over 30 locations throughout North America. After speaking with roughly 70 cinematographers to learn about their particular circumstances, Randa directed 30 individuals across the country to safely document an intimate portrait of Americans in isolation.”

https://youtu.be/II6FFc8aej8

Delta Spirit earned significant acclaim in its early days with its 2010 full-length debut, History from Below, and follow-up albums. After 2014’s Into the Wide, the group took an extended break, its members getting busy with various other projects before reconnecting in 2018:

“Over the past six years, Matthew Logan Vasquez has released and toured behind three celebrated solo albums, multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich launched a career as a producer (Nathaniel Ratefliff), while bassist Jonathan Jameson, guitarist Will McLaren, and drummer Brandon Young collaborated and toured with Sam Outlaw, Mikky Ekko, the Los Angeles band Muna, among others. The band members now call Manhattan, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Austin, and Montreal home, and reconvened in Brooklyn, NY for a jam session in 2018. Vasquez says, “When we played together, we found the same joy and took it deeper.” 

Delta Spirit (Photo: Alex Kweskin)

The track listing for What Is There:

1. The Pressure
2. It Ain’t Easy
3. How Bout It
4. Can You Ever Forgive Me?
5. Better Now
6. Home Again
7. Making Sense
8. Lover’s Heart
9. Just the Same
10. What Is There

In addition to the new song and album news, Delta Spirit announced the rescheduled dates for its Reunion tour, which were supposed to take place in 2020 but will now come in Spring 2021:

March 24 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
March 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
March 26 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
March 27 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
April 18 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
April 19 – Washington DC – U Street Music Hall
April 21 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair
April 24 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
April 25 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
April 28 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
April 30 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Indianapolis
May 2 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall