Mitski’s back, and she’s filled with more existential agony than ever.
After disappearing from the public eye—and social media—for over two years, the singer-songwriter made a comeback on Oct. 5 with her new single and music video, “Working for the Knife.” Following the release of the video, the artist announced on Twitter that she will embark on a 2022 spring tour through North America and Europe, with tickets going on sale in the upcoming days.
On the new track, Mitski laments the feelings many have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as people working within a capitalist economy: inadequacy as tied to our cultural definition of productivity. She opens the song with, “I cry at the start of every movie/ I guess ‘cause I wish I was making things too/ But I’m working for the knife.” Her biting lyrics are emphasized by the track’s gritty production, which includes distorted guitar strums, tinny percussion and heavy synths.
The lyrics and sound culminate in a stormy video, where Mitski fakes us out at first. She calmly strolls off an elevator wearing a black cowboy hat (“Be the Cowboy” fans will understand the callback), then explodes into an interpretive dance. During the quieter moments of the video, between the flashes of thrashing arms and legs, the artist longingly strokes wooden railings and concrete walls, grasping for something that isn’t there.
If that weren’t enough to satisfy Mistki’s dedicated supporters, her North America and Europe tour will commence this February. Presale tickets for superfans will go on sale Oct. 6, while the general public can snag some on Oct. 8.
Don’t miss out on Mitski this spring!
February
February 17 – Asheville, The Orange Peel
February 18 – Raleigh, The Ritz
February 19 – Atlanta, The Eastern
February 21 – Birmingham, Iron City
February 22 – New Orleans, Civic Theatre
February 24 – Houston, The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall
February 25 – Dallas, The Factory in Deep Ellum
February 26 – Austin, ACL Live at Moody Theater
February 28 – Phoenix, The Van Buren
March
March 3 – Los Angeles, Shrine Exposition Hall
March 4 – Oakland, Fox Theater
March 7 – Portland, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
March 9 – Seattle, Moore Theatre
March 12 – Denver, Ogden Theatre
March 14 – St. Paul, Palace Theatre
March 15 – Milwaukee, The Riverside Theater
March 17 – Detroit, Royal Oak Music Theatre
March 18 – Toronto, Ontario, Massey Hall
March 19 – Montreal, Québec, St-Jean-Baptiste Church
March 21 – Boston, TBD
March 24 – New York, Radio City Music Hall
March 25 – Philadelphia, Franklin Music Hall
March 26 – Washington, The Anthem
March 29 – Pittsburgh, Stage AE
March 30 – Louisville, Old Forester’s Paristown Hall
March 31 – Nashville, Ryman Auditorium
April
April 21 – Bristol, Marble Factory
April 22 – Leeds, United Kingdom, University Stylus
April 23 – Glasgow, United Kingdom, Queen Margaret Union
April 25 – Dublin, Ireland, Vicar Street
April 26 – Manchester, United Kingdom, O2 Ritz
April 28 – London, United Kingdom, The Roundhouse
April 30 – Brussels, Belgium, Botanique
May
May 2 – Tourcoing, France, Le Grand Mix
May 3 – Paris, France, Le Cabaret Sauvage
May 4 – Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Paradiso
May 6 – Zurich, Switzerland, Mascotte
May 7 – Lausanne, Les Docks
May 9 – Berlin, Germany, Metropol
May 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark, Vega
May 11 – Stockholm, Sweden, Nalen
May 12 – Oslo, Norway, Rockefeller Music Hall
May 14 – Hamburg, Germany, Fabrik
May 15 – Cologne, Germany, Stollwerck
May 17 – Vienna, Austria, WUK
May 18 – Prague, Czechia, Rock Cafe
May 19 – Munich, Germany, Strom
