The Revivalists are back and better than ever, making their hometown of New Orleans proud. In the five years since The Revivalists' last studio album Take Good Care, both national and personal events have influenced the group's sound and perspective. As the world stood still amidst the pandemic, many of the band members got married and had children, thus learning how to appreciate life's greatest gifts during a time of uncertainty. And with these monumental life changes comes a developed sound and powerful lyrics in The Revivalists' newest album Pour It Out Into The Night, out on June 2 via Concord Records.
The alternative-rock band's first hit "Wish I Knew You" reached double-platinum status and landed them in the #1 Alternative and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The band is renowned for their soulful alt-rock anthems and New Orleans-inspired musicianship, gaining them major media praise, several national television performances, a spot touring with The Rolling Stones, and shows at America's greatest venues including Radio City Music Hall and Red Rocks.
Pour It Out Into The Night sees vocalist David Shaw and guitarist Zack Feinberg's synergetic lyrical prowess and showcases a matured, gritty alternative-rock sound reflecting the lessons learned by the band about gratitude and what really matters in life: love, family, and the common good. Kicking off the album with their lead single "Kid," The Revivalists reveal the importance of persevering, not stressing over the little things, and celebrating the milestones as they come. "Kid" holds a special meaning for Zack Feinberg. Written in the backdrop of the January 6 insurrection and shortly after he learned he was having twins, Feinberg and the band felt a need to protect and prepare future generations by soothing the child inside and appreciating the good in life. The song ends with a moment of inspiration and encapsulates the song's mantra of taking life in stride: "I'm just living for the spirit now."
"The Long Con" works in conjunction with the inspiration for "Kid" as a socially-conscious call to action. Grungy rock, gritty, empowered vocals, and a hint of zydeco influence come together in the song just as its message hopes to unite humankind despite the country's deepest divisions. A darker track, "The Long Con" keeps true to the album's theme of living for the good with its hook: "The best things in life are free / No they'll never take that away from me."
The Revivalists don't shy away from their New Orleans roots in Pour It Out Into The Night. "Good Old Days" takes inspiration from the Mardi Gras maxim of letting the good times roll. Synths, guitar, and saxophone come together for celebration in this track, with lyrics reminding listeners that the good old days are both "ahead and behind." "Good Old Days" is an important reminder to measure the hurt with the happiness and to remember and seek out the good times, a message truly representative of the Big Easy. Also inspired by New Orleans comes "Down In The Dirt," a "mini family epic that reckons with the big questions of life," as Feinberg put it. After watching a New Orleans folk trio called The Wanting perform, Feinberg felt especially inspired by their song "Dark Road." He then framed "Down in the Dirt" after its folk inspiration — members of The Wanting are credited as co-writers of the song. By following a family lineage steeped in religion and hard work in "Down in the Dirt," the Revivalists emphasize taking life in stride and that "you must dig to bring… out" the love that lies within.
"Don't Look Back" is punk-rock at its finest. Sure to get you up on your feet and dancing, especially with its saxophone break, "Don't Look Back" continues the album's theme of making the best of one's time on earth and celebrating life's possibilities. "Look alive / When rubber meets the road / Put the car in drive" encapsulates the Revivalists' message of taking what you've got and to keep moving forward despite anything that may hold you back.
An introspective triumph, The Revivalists are, indeed, revived by their inspirational, cathartic album Pour It Out Into The Night, a hopeful product of national and personal change. Whether you are going through a tough time or enjoying the best of life, Pour it Out into the Night is there for you as a means of support or celebration, whatever you may need. At the heart of the band rests a passion for music and its ability to uplift communities, especially as they have seen music at the root of their hometown, New Orleans.
"Art can revive and make life feel vibrant," says drummer Andrew Campanelli. "Live music can especially do that. When we first started out, we were watching New Orleans rebuild after Katrina, and fight to keep the city's spirit alive. In a way, that's what we're seeing now, except on a global scale. Everybody realizes what they almost lost, and it happens to be many of the things New Orleans is known for — being with friends, experiencing things good and bad, building fulfilling relationships, and going to concerts and restaurants. It boils down to the zest for life — that's what our band name and music are all about."
The Revivalists will return to the stage performing Pour It Out Into The Night for major festivals including Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Austin City Limits. Their national tour, co-headlining with Band of Horses and The Head and the Heart, begins June 30.
