Weird Nightmare has released an official video for the rollicking new track “Pay No Mind,” another standout from the infectious second LP Hoopla by former METZ frontman Alex Edkins. The new song will have you singing along in no time and is available today on all streaming services.

“We had a blast making this video with director Ryan Faist. It was a nod to the Elvis Costello and the Attractions “Pump it Up” video and some early footage of the Buzzcocks on cable access TV. 

“The lyric was lifted from an Atlantic City tourism t-shirt. ‘I’m so broke, I can’t even pay attention’ struck me as a particularly accurate comment on modern life. Obviously, the shirt is meant to be funny, but it felt quite dark to me. Due to the overwhelming onslaught of information and emotional baggage that comes with it, I think there is a tendency for people’s lives to become quite myopic. As a coping mechanism, we become more and more insular, ignoring the world around us”.

Hoopla was co-produced by Edkins and Spoon’s Jim Eno at Seth Manchester’s Machines With Magnets in Providence, RI. Edkins expands Weird Nightmare’s dimensions to new heights, resplendent with sunny guitar pop, Hoopla was crafted with just the right amount of punk rock fuzz and crunch. The immediate, crisp, unfussy recording brings you right into the studio with Edkins and his band.

As previously announced, Weird Nightmare has confirmed North American, UK, and European dates beginning on April 24th in San Diego, with festival appearances at the Soundscape NW Festival in Portland, on April 28th with labelmates Bully, and a 5-date Canadian run in June with Wintersleep. Dates are listed below with additional live dates announced soon.

Fri. Apr. 24 –  San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Sat. Apr. 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Gold Diggers ^
Sun. Apr. 26 – Oakland, CA – Thee Stork Club ^
Tue. Apr. 28 – Portland, OR – Soundscape NW Festival *
Wed. Apr. 29 –  Seattle, WA – Baba Yaga
Fri. May 01 – Toronto, ON – Sonic Boom in-store
Sun. May 03 –  Brantford, ON –  zBTFD in-store 
Tue. May 12 – Kingston, ON – Broom Factory
Wed. May 13 – Montreal, PQ – Bar le Ritz
Sat. May 16 –  Halifax, NS – Marquee Ballroom #  
Wed. Jun. 17 –  London, ON – London Music Hall #
Thu. Jun. 18 – Hamilton, ON –  Bridgeworks # 
Fri. Jun. 19 – Toronto, ON –  Masonic Temple # 
Sat. Jun. 20 –  Ottawa, ON – The Bronson # 
Wed. Jun. 24 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall 
Thu. Jun. 25 – Washington, DC – Songbyrd
Fri. Jun. 26 – Philadelphia, PA  – Ortlieb’s
Sat. Jun. 27 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool 
Sun. Jun.  28 –  Medford, MA – Deep Cuts
Fri. Aug. 28 – Malaga, ES – Canela Party Festival
Wed. Sep. 02  – Glasgow, UK – Hug & Pint
Thu. Sep. 03 – Birmingham, UK –  Hare & Hounds
Sat. Sep. 5 – London, UK –  The Lexington
Sun. Sep. 6 –  Rotterdam, NL – Rotown
Tue. Sep. 8 – Berlin, DE – Urban Spree
Wed. Sep. 9 – Cologne, DE – Bumann & Sohn
Thu. Sep. 10 – Paris, FR –  Point Ephemere
Fri. Sep. 12 – Lille, FR- Aeronef
Sun. Sep. 13 Asten, NL – Misty Fields Festival
 
* with Bully 
^ with Mrs. Magician
# with Wintersleep