The Mars Volta have returned from their lengthy hiatus with their new single, “Blacklight Shine” and accompanying short film. Listen to the song, which perfectly showcases guitarist/composer Omar Rodríguez-López and singer/lyricist Cedric Bixler-Zavala at their most accessible, now below.
The lyrics of “Blacklight Shine” help to illuminate the idea of “a wave of rolling blackouts washing memories onto shore, a heartbeat that still remembers everything,” explains Bixler-Zavala.
The new single arrives alongside the announcement that the band will be hitting the road later this year. Tour dates kick off on September 23rd at The Factory at Deep Ellum in Dallas, TX and conclude in Los Angeles, CA at The Palladium on October 21st.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, June 24 at 10AM local time HERE.
On June 19, a mysterious cube appeared in Grand Park in Los Angeles, CA. ‘L’YTOME HODORXÍ TELESTERION’, an audio-visual art installation, was erected to tell the story of the return of The Mars Volta. Inside of the cube, visitors were taken on a full, immersive journey to outer space, and where “Blacklight Shine” was heard for the first time by the public. The experience inside of the cube was intended to provoke self-reflection, with the single guiding fans on a journey through endless galaxies and back down to earth, to oneself. Those who were unable to witness ‘L’YTOME HODORXÍ TELESTERION’ in person, can look forward to a digital experience on July 1.
The Mars Volta Tour Dates:
September 23 – The Factory in Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX
September 25 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA
September 27 – The Metropolitan Opera House – Philadelphia, PA
September 29 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY
October 1 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway – Boston, MA
October 3 – The Anthem – Washington, DC
October 5 – Massey Hall – Toronto, ON
October 6 – Royal Oak Music Theatre – Detroit, MI
October 8 – Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL
October 11 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO
October 14 – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA
October 18 – The Warfield – San Francisco, CA
October 21 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA