The The launch the North American leg of their Comeback Special September 14th in Boston. The highly anticipated tour will be the first set of North American shows in 18 years. Besides the incredible life-affirming experience of seeing Matt Johnson performing live, The The fans in North America have something else to look forward to. Though full details haven't been announced yet, Johnson revealed in a new interview with Steve Baltin of Forbes that in addition to the live shows, the documentary The Inertia Variations will be screened in each city on the North American tour on the night before the show:
"It's called The Inertia Variations and there are screenings of this film accompanying every date of the tour. It will be in cinemas the night before each of the shows. It's a Swedish documentary and this film tells the story of why I quit music and why I came back. So I'd say this is essential viewing for everyone coming to the shows. We're about to announce on our newsletter the details of the screenings, but you could just say they will be in each city the night before the concerts. And they are essential viewing to explain why I quit music and why I came back."
UPDATE (9/9): Info/links for screenings:
The Inertia Variations - North American screenings
Sep 13 -- Boston, MA @ House Of Blues
Sep 18 -- Toronto, ON @ The Revue Cinema
Sep 20 -- Detroit, MI @ Cinema Detroit
Sep 21 -- Chicago, IL @ Logan Theater
Sep 23 -- Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge (and Q & A with Matt Johnson)
Sep 27 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
In the Forbes piece, Johnson also talks about many songs in The The's catalog remain relevant, in particular "This Is The Day"
"Luckily I don't get tired of singing that because as I get older it seems to have more relevance. And that was a strange song for a 21-year-old to write. It was a song full of yearning, sentimentality and a sweet sadness, yet a vain of optimism. That song, I think has aged well. And "This Is The Night" still feels relevant, that's a much darker song. "Beyond Love," I've changed the music on that because I was never fully happy with the music on "Beyond Love." And I think that's quite a timeless lyric, that is really a metaphysical yearning. And "Bugle Boy," which I wrote when I was even younger, I was surprised to find it still felt fresh and vital for me."
In the interview Johnson also talks Dusk, songs that have had an impact on him, taking a break from music, and more. Read the full fascinating interview with Matt Johnson over at Forbes.
The The - North American tour
Sep 14 -- Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Sep 16 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
Sep 17 -- New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Sep 19 -- Toronto, ON @ Sony Centre For The Performing Arts
Sep 21 -- Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
Sep 22 -- Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
Sep 24 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Ford Theatre
Sep 25 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
Sep 27 -- San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
Published August 31st, 2018
