Yesterday, Polyvinyl Records posted a mysterious teaser video across their social media platforms. I was curious, like other humans.
They’ve announced that they’ve signed Pedro the Lion to the label — David Bazan’s longtime project that is performing and touring in 2018. Pedro the Lion is managed by Bob Andrews of Undertow, which is based here in Champaign-Urbana as well.
Pedro the Lion’s last record came out in 2004, Achilles Heel. Bazan’s solo career has been ongoing, and he’s performed a handful of times in C-U over the years. Pedro the Lion has a pretty extensive tour lined up in 2018, so all of this is good news for our pals at Polyvinyl and Undertow.
Here’s the press release from PV:
Pedro the Lion signs to Polyvinyl Record Co.
The band begins recording their new album today and catch them on tour throughout North America in the coming months!
Today is the first day back in the studio as Pedro the Lion. After writing and arranging a handful of new songs, then rehearsing and arranging them further with the band, we’re ready to record a couple of them for a new album. I didn’t realize what calling my music Pedro the Lion again would mean to me, but it’s re-connected me to parts of myself and my history (both sonic and personal) that I had lost touch with. This re-awakening is making the process so much more enjoyable and I’m grateful for the chance to do this again.
As a music fan I’ve watched Polyvinyl thrive in a brutal marketplace and grow their seminal roster to include even more bands that I’m downright obsessed with. As a cog in the music business I’ve gotten to know and appreciate their inner workings gradually through mutual friends and colleagues over many years of visiting their offices in Champaign, Illinois. So when looking for a record label for Pedro the Lion I realized pretty quickly that Polyvinyl was a fantastic fit. I am so thrilled to be working with them.
– David Bazan
