New acoustic tour dates with guitarist Drew Smithers kick off in December
Marcus King has announced new acoustic tour dates starting in December 2024. The intimate trek kicks off on December 4th in Helotes, Texas with dates scheduled through January 2025.
Tickets are available now.
Alongside the announcement, King releases two new renditions of “Hero” (from Mood Swings) and “8 A.M.” from The Marcus King Band’s Carolina Confessions. The new versions feature Drew Smithers on guitar, who will join King on the acoustic run, and King on guitar and vocals. Recorded live at the legendary Bluebird Cafe during his sold-out performances from this summer, the pristine new recordings highlighted the organic guitar playing of Smithers and further accentuated King’s soulful powerhouse vocals in an intimate live setting.
“I’m so thrilled to present these songs to you all in an intimate setting – talking through the stories behind the songs and playing them in their most stripped-down way,” King shares.
Marcus King’s latest album, Mood Swings takes us in a very different sonic direction to his considerable catalog of studio albums. Combining elements as diverse as modern pop, R&B, aughts hip hop, piano-driven classic rock and the warm production and symphonic instrumentation of classic era soul, R&B and jazz. Previously released the song “F*ck My Life Up Again” is a considerable departure stadium-sized rock, with strings that accent over a smoky jazz beat, while his soulful delivery booms, “Come f*ck my life up again, don’t deserve to live without pain.” A guitar solo “played backward” channels stark confusion offset by the unshakable hook. On “Hero,” his croon rises over acoustic guitar towards a fluttering crescendo. The same naked emotion defines “Delilah” where over piano led pop rock and innovative tracks such as “Inglewood Motel (Halestorm)” are an alt R&B masterpiece. The album closes with “Cadillac,” steeped in psychedelic symphonic soul it is an arresting tale of dark desires and suicidal ideation.
Despite its often bleak subject matter, Mood Swings is an album with a message of hope. Legendary producer Rick Rubin who has worked with everyone from Adele to Johnny Cash, was instantly drawn to King’s guitar playing, singular voice and songwriting, and after witnessing a King live performance, one day randomly cold-called him to float the idea of working together. Rubin helped King find a new personal and sonic approach and instead of crumbling under the weight of his anxiety, Rubin inspired him to shift his perspective. “He helped me view mental health as a writing partner in a way,” recalls Marcus. “I’ve learned it can give me that creative spark.”
Marcus King 2024-2025 Acoustic Tour Dates:
Dec 4 – Helotes, TX @ Floore’s Country Store
Dec 5 – Lubbock, TX @ Cactus Theater
Dec 6 – Albuquerque, NM @ KiMo Theatre
Dec 7 – Flagstaff, AZ @ Orpheum Theater
Dec 9 – Napa, CA @ Uptown Theatre Napa
Dec 10 – Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up
Dec 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
Dec 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
Dec 14 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
Dec 17 – Jackson, MS @ Duling Hall
Dec 19 – Shreveport, LA @ Louisiana Grandstand
Dec 20 – Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
Dec 21 – Pelham, TN @ The Caverns
Jan 23 – Telluride, CO @ Sheridan Opera House
Jan 24 – Beaver Creek, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center
Jan 25 – Steamboat Springs, CO @ Strings Pavilion
Jan 27 – Jackson, WY @ Center for the Arts
