Speedy Ortiz - "Ghostwriter"

Photo by Chris Carreon

Speedy Ortiz won our hearts as a 90's influenced indie rock band, and has evolved over time to a more poppy style. Their latest single sees the now Philadelphia based quartet get back to their alt-rock roots! "Ghostwriter" is the heaviest Speedy Ortiz have been in years, while still keeping their current, more pop side as well. It reminds me of Whip-Smart era Liz Phair mixed with The Rentals' Seven More Minutes. It's a fun song that feels like a bit of a throwback, both for Speedy Ortiz and just indie rock in general.

Sadie Dupuis says of her band's new single and video:

"While 'Ghostwriter' ruminates on the horrible realities that stoke my anger—in this song’s case, the death of our climate and the criminalization of environmental protesters—it’s also about trying to live with less rage in the day-to-day. And not always succeeding, but not getting mad about that, either. And sometimes directing that angry adrenaline toward positive actions.

"My bandmates picked 'Ghostwriter' as a single, perhaps because it subtly nods to our unabashed love of nu metal. It was really fun to reunite with Alex Ross Perry after shooting together for his Pavement movie last fall, especially the part where we subjected him to so very many Deftones and Limp Bizkit videos for inspiration. The great Josh Gondelman improvised at least a dozen good “nu metal cover band” pun names for the intro, which made it hard to keep a straight face as our nu metal performance 'Pleasantville'-ifies our crowd of friends into the most immaculate Hot Topic c. 2003 getups."

You can watch the video (which features Josh Gondelman and Ted Leo!) for "Ghostwriter" below. Rabbit Rabbit is due out September 1 on Wax Nine Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Speedy Ortiz, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video.

Aug 4 - Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live (WXPN Free At Noon) 

Sep 1 - New York, NY @ Rough Trade (in-store)

Sep 5 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s ^

Sep 6 - Kingston, NY @ Tubby's ^

Sep 7 - Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom (co-headline with Pile) ^

Sep 8 - Somerville, MA @ ONCE at the Center For Arts at The Armory ^

Sep 10 - Troy, NY @ No Fun ^

Sep 11 - Winooski, VT @ The Monkey House ^

Sep 13 - Montréal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo *

Sep 14 - Toronto, ON @ Rivoli *

Sep 15 - Lakewood, OH @ Mahall's *

Sep 16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Roboto Project *

Sep 18 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups *

Sep 19 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme *

Sep 21 - Cudahy, WI @ X-Ray Arcade *

Sep 22 - Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop *

Sep 23 - Louisville, KY @ The Whirling Tiger *

Sep 25 - Nashville, TN @ DRKMTTR #

Sep 26 - Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor #

Sep 27 - Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern #

Sep 29 - Savannah, GA @ Lodge of Sorrows #

Sep 30 - Birmingham, AL @ TrimTab Brewing Company #

Oct 1 - Memphis, TN @ Growlers #

Oct 3 - St. Louis, MO @ The Sinkhole #

Oct 4 - Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub #

Oct 6 - Morgantown, WV @ 123 Pleasant Street #

Oct 18 - Washington, DC @ Black Cat ~

Oct 19 - Richmond, VA @ The Camel ~

Oct 20 - Durham, NC @ The Pinhook ~

Oct 21 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade - Purgatory ~

Oct 23 - Miami, FL @ Gramps ~

Oct 24 - Winter Park, FL @ Conduit ~

Oct 25 - New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa ~

Oct 27 - Houston, TX @ Black Magic Social Club ~

Oct 28 - Austin, TX @ The Parish - Levitation Festival

Oct 29 - Denton, TX @ Andy's Bar ~

Oct 30 - San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger ~

Nov 1 - Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit ~

Nov 2 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo ~

Nov 6 - San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop &

Nov 8 - Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall &

Nov 9 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza &

Nov 10 - Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown &

Nov 11 - Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt &

Nov 13 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux &

Nov 14 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge &

Nov 16 - Denver, CO @ Globe Hall &

Nov 17 - Omaha, NE @ Slowdown &

Nov 18 - Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck &

Nov 19 - Des Moines, IA @ xBk &

Nov 21 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle &

Nov 22 - Detroit, MI @ Lager House &

Dec 16 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

^ = w/ Washer

* = w/ Poolblood

# = w/ Foyer Red

~ = The Baths 

& = w/ Spacemoth