It’s been far too long since we last heard from New Jersey progressive rock/jazz fusion troupe Thank You Scientist. After all, their third studio LP (2019’s Terraformer) was a staggeringly expansive and eclectic opus that represented everything special about the band; thus, fans have spent the last two years or so heavily anticipating the septet’s next major move.
Luckily, they’ve just returned with some truly big announcements.
Simply put, Thank You Scientist have arisen out of quarantine to start their own record label—Flying Jangus Records—and release their upcoming EP, the aptly titled Plague Accommodations, on November 19!
Founding guitarist Tom Monda elaborates:
"At the end of 2019, we released Terraformer, our third full-length record. In classic Thank You Scientist fashion, after releasing a gigantic 90-minute double album, the whole world shut down. As we re-emerge to join the mighty Intervals for our first post-COVID tour [details on that below], we wanted to drop something special for our fans. [That] brings us to Plague Accommodations, an EP of material written during quarantine, eerily (and accidentally) clocking in at 20:20.
"The EP also marks the official launch of our label, Flying Jangus Records. The label is a huge step in making our music more readily available internationally, and also an opportunity for us to release other TYS-related projects. As we embark on this new chapter, now more than ever we are relying on the help of our fans to allow TYS to continue to survive and grow! Please consider checking out the pre-order bundles we have available. We will be packing them with our own greasy hands in Ben's [Karas, violin] living room."
Naturally, Plague Accommodations features not only Monda and Karas, but also Sam Greenfield (saxophone), Cody McCorry (bass), Faye Fadem (drums), Joe Gullace (trumpet), and Salvatore Marrano (vocals). As alluded to above, the EP will be available as “a limited-run etched vinyl EP” that Karas describes as “one side of music, [with] the other side [having] an etching on it that will actually ruin your record player.” If that doesn’t appeal, the collection can also be purchased on CD; as part of a merch bundle that also includes a t-shirt; and as a “mega bundle” comprised of everything (two t-shirts, a CD, and a vinyl).
To help satiate your excitement, Thank You Scientist are also premiering the first single from Plague Accommodations—“Soul Diver”—which you can check out below. Unsurprisingly, it’s as flamboyantly fun yet intricate as anything else they’ve done, with their trademark soaring hooks, temperamental change-ups, and varied instrumentation meshing in stupendous fashion. In particular, Marrano’s hooks and interlocking harmonies are remarkably melodic and sophisticated, perfectly matching the notably dramatic, poignant, and frenzied timbres that surround him. As cliché as it may be to say, “Soul Diver” proves that the prolonged wait was worth it, as Thank You Scientist are coming back better than ever.
Thank You Scientist headliner dates
11/16 – Albany, NY – Empire Underground
11/17 – Buffalo, NY – Rec Room
11/18 – Lakewood, OH – Mahall's
w/ Intervals, Eidola, and Cryptodira
11/19 – Pontiac, MI – The Crofoot Ballroom
11/20 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
11/21 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe
11/23 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
11/24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Urban Lounge
11/26 – Las Vegas, NV – 24 Oxford
11/27 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
11/28 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
11/30 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
12/1 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
12/3 – Dallas, TX – Amplified Live
12/4 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
12/5 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
12/7 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
12/8 – Atlanta, GA – Purgatory
12/9 – Charlotte, NC – Amos' Southend
12/10 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
12/11 – Columbus, OH – Skully's
12/12 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel's
12/14 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
12/15 – Philadelphia, PA – Foundry @ The Fillmore
12/16 – Allston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
12/17 – Montréal, QC – Théâtre Fairmount
12/18 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
