Following last week’s release of Hembree’s pulsating, funk-laced single “Operators (feat, Bodye),” the band has today shared a video for the single. The video, directed and shot by Coco – watch the clip here:  

Along with the video, Hembree is excited to announce a fall tour supporting Ripe.  The dates kick off November 4 in State College, PA, and conclude in Rochester, NY on December 4.  The band also headline a show in their hometown of Kansas City on November 26 at The Truman. A full rundown of dates can be found below.

Written in their hometown and recorded remotely from home studios during lockdown, “Operators” is the only song of the band’s new releases that is directly about 2020. They’d always wanted to collaborate with their good friend, Bodye, and when Henry Solomon (Haim, Thumpasaurus) joined on saxophone, the track came to life. Vocalist Isaac Flynn has this to say on it:

“I wrote it right when all of the protests started in the summer, and the chorus, in particular, is about when the officers, national guard, and even some of the city officials would act like they were with the protestors in solidarity, and then turn around and gas and attack them. That’s where the idea of “they’re saying: tell me where you want me to be, tell me what you want and you need, you can tell me” originated from. They were acting like they were there to help, but it was all for show. It all felt almost cartoonishly villainous to me. I wanted to reflect that in the lyrics and in the dark, dance-heavy groove of the song. 

The Kansas City-based band previously released the loose-limbed and vibrant “Reach Out.” “Operators” and “Reach Out” mark the first music Hembree has released since their debut album, 2019’s House on Fire.  Coming off a stretch of touring the band was ready to channel the energy of being on the road into their next artistic statement. They found themselves in the studio before the pandemic and when the world shut down, it gave the band an opportunity to look inwards and refine their own sonic approaches while embracing a newfound maturity. 

Hembree tour dates

11/4 State College, PA Stage West *

11/5 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom *

11/6 Harrisburg, PA HMAC *

11/19 Providence, RI The Met *

11/20 Providence, RI The Met *

11/26 Kansas City, MO The Truman

12/3 Burlington, VT Higher Ground *

12/4 Rochester, NY Anthology *

* = Supporting Ripe

Photo Courtesy: Jonny Marlow