Drop Nineteens
For almost three decades, it seemed like Drop Nineteens would be another great ’90s band whose story began and ended there. The American shoegaze pioneers put out two records — Delaware in 1992 and National Coma in 1993 — before disbanding, but their presence and influence continued to grow.
That’s why it was such a big deal when, in January of 2022, songwriter and vocalist Greg Ackell announced on Instagram that Drop Nineteens had reunited, and would be spending the remainder of that year working on a new album called Hard Light. The reformed band features original members Ackell, Steve Zimmerman, Peter Koeplin, and Motohiro Yasue.
Now, Hard Light has a set release date of November 3 on Wharf Cat Records, and Drop Nineteens have shared the lead single “Scapa Flow,” a rapturously beautiful torrent of jangle pop that proves the high is still just as good after all these years.
“It’s the proverbial follow-up to Delaware,” Ackell says of the new record in an interview with Stereogum. “It’s different than Delaware, but it’s every bit the ride that Delaware was. That is definitely paramount and testament to me, Paula, Steve, Moto and Pete doing this together.”
Drop Nineteens will be playing a short run of tour dates this October with support from Greg Mendez, Horse Jumper of Love, and Winter. Find he full run of shows, and listen to “Scapa Flow,” below.
Hard Light tracklist
1. Hard Light
2. Scapa Flow
3. Gal
4. Tarantula
5. The Price Was High
6. Rose With Smoke
7. A Hitch
8. Lookout
9. Another One Another
10. Policeman Getting Lost
11. T
Hard Light album art
Drop Nineteens 2023 tour dates
October 10 - Washington, DC - The Atlantis *
October 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer %
October 12 - Boston, MA - The Paradise *
October 13 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw *
October 19 - Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco ^
October 22 - Oakland, CA - The New Parish ^
* with Greg Mendez
% with Horse Jumper of Love
^ with Winter