Photo by: Chipper Cavendish

Bad Astronaut's new album, Untethered, is set for release on November 8th, offering a fresh perspective on the band's classics. These reworked versions strip the songs down to their core, relying only on cello, piano, and vocals to highlight the raw emotion and songwriting behind each track. The band aims to showcase the essence of the music by removing most of the original instrumentation, allowing fans to connect with the heart of each song in a more intimate setting. The first single, "Grey Suits," is now streaming on all digital platforms.

Vocalist Joey Cape shares the story behind Untethered: "This record was a real 'passion project' for me. Angus Cooke (cello, percussion) and Todd Capps (piano, keyboards) had been performing covers as an instrumental duo, which I affectionately called 'Tangus.' After hearing their takes on punk classics, I suggested we revisit the Bad Astronaut catalog in a stripped-down format. It wasn't long before we began tracking these pared-down versions of a selection of our songs. The album is titled Untethered—an elevated synonym for 'unplugged.' We've always appreciated hearing the raw essence of a composition, and we hope the fans do too."

Formed out of deep friendships, Bad Astronaut has always had an air of mystery. Created by Joey Cape (Lagwagon), Marko DeSantis (Sugarcult), and the late Derrick Plourde, the band carved a unique space outside of their main musical endeavors. Their music, characterized by more experimental sounds and intricate production, stood in contrast to the punk backgrounds they came from. In addition to Untethered, the band recently released a limited-edition box set, fulfilling a long-held desire for the band and their fans. The set includes 2002's Houston: We Have A Drinking Problem, 2006's Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment, and 2001's Acrophobe—all remastered for vinyl. Also included is Inner-Space, a 7-inch featuring a never-before-heard alternate version of "Violet" and "Wide Awake," the band's first new material in 15 years. For Cape, this release is both nostalgic and cathartic. "It's a missing link in my life," Cape says. "When I have that box set in my vinyl collection, I'll feel like, 'Okay, I can finally move on.'" The band's surviving members, including DeSantis, reflect on the bittersweet nature of revisiting the past, especially given the loss of Plourde in 2005. "It's lovely to hear how Derrick would finish my musical sentences," Cape notes, highlighting the enduring bond the band shares through their music.

Bad Astronaut has always been more than a side project—it's a reflection of Cape, DeSantis, Capps, and Cooke's collective musical vision, free from the constraints of their primary bands. "We were always talking about indie music or rediscovering classic music," DeSantis recalls, citing influences like Built To Spill, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith, whose "Needle In The Hay" the band covered on their debut album, Acrophobe.

While the box set and Untethered feel like natural conclusions to Bad Astronaut's story, there's always the possibility of more music. "I've got many hard drives that say 'BAD ASTRONAUT' on them," Cape teases. Whether or not those recordings see the light of day, the band remains a testament to enduring friendship, creative freedom, and a love for music that defies genres.