The Murder Capital warm up for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds tour with “breathless” new single ‘Can’t Pretend To Know’ and UK headline dates

The "whip of a tune" marks the band's first release of the year

The Murder Capital have shared a new single called ‘Can’t Pretend To Know’ and announced a UK headline tour for 2025.

The Dublin band’s first track of 2024 is an intense burst of energy, containing electrifying guitar riffs and pummeling drums.

Recorded in LA with producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten), the song ushers in a “new era” for the group – which promises newfound “focus and clarity”, according to a press release.

In a statement, frontman James McGovern explained: “‘Can’t Pretend To Know’ is a whip of a tune that we made to feel like a hurricane of colour and breathlessness.

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“A surreal look at childhood innocence and all its replacers, those delicate bridges we burn as we move through the strangeways of our youth. Moulded by everything we come into contact with. Learning lessons from toys. Playing the parts that are asked of us.”

You can listen to it here:

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The Murder Capital’s second and latest studio album, ‘Gigi’s Recovery’, was released in January 2023. Details about its follow-up have not yet been revealed.

However, the band have confirmed a run of UK headline shows for next spring. Tickets go on general sale at 10am BST this Thursday (September 26) – you’ll be able to buy yours here.

The Murder Capital’s 2025 UK tour dates are:

APRIL 
17 – XOYO Birmingham, Birmingham 
18 – New Century Hall, Manchester 
19 – Saint Luke’s, Glasgow
21 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
22 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 
24 – Outernet London, London 
26 – SWX, Bristol 

Before then, The Murder Capital will support Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds on their 2024 European tour next month. McGovern said he’ll be watching Cave and co. “every single second” at the upcoming gigs.

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The Bad Seeds, who released their new album ‘Wild God’ this summer, will be joined by Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood on bass for the shows.

In a four-star review of ‘Gigi’s Recovery’, NME wrote: “The Murder Capital may have arrived with a shout and a fist but they’re soaring now with nuance, ideas, a whole lot of heart and the first great guitar album of 2023. Anger is an energy, but love is strength.”

Around the time of the record’s release, the group spoke to NME about how “the post-punk label was getting a bit tiring”. McGovern went on to say that “‘Gigi’s Recovery’ looks to the future by owning its past”.

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