Empath Sign to Fat Possum Records, Announce Tour Dates and LP Reissues

Empath announced on Wednesday that they will sign to Fat Possum Records. The Philadelphia-based noise rockers also announced fall tour dates, as well as the reissue of their debut album, Active Listening: Night on Earth, originally released in May 2019 via Get Better Records.

The deluxe version of the reissued album will include a physical copy of their third EP,Liberating Guilt and Fear, released in March of last year, marking the first time the EP is available on vinyl.

Active Listening: Night on Earth and Liberating Guilt and Fear will be released on Oct. 4 as a special-edition dual release between Fat Possum and Get Better.

Empath, composed of Catherine Elicson (lead vocals, guitar), Randall Coon (synths), Emily Shanahan (synths) and Garrett Koloski (drums), first made waves in their native Philly indie-punk scene and beyond with the EP releases of Crystal Reality, Vol. 1 and Crystal Reality, Vol. 2 in 2016.

With highly streamed singles such as “Soft Shape,” “The Eye” and “Roses That Cry,” Empath showcase their ability to fuse together sounds of nature, such as chirping birds, with heavily distorted guitars, reverberating synths, and elements of psychedelic rock and contemporary punk.

The group will tour North America and Europe this fall, playing shows with Sheer Mag, Mannequin Pussy and Guerilla Toss. We highlighted both Empath and their tourmates Sheer Mag as Philly bands you need to know about last fall.

Check out the full list of Empath’s tour dates below.

Empath Fall Tour Dates:

August
17 – Richmond, Va. @ The Camel *
18 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Masquerade *
19 – Asheville, N.C. @ The Mothlight *
21 – Nashville, Tenn. @ The End *
22 – New Orleans, La. @ Gasa Gasa *
23 – Houston, Texas @ Warehouse *
24 – Austin, Texas @ Mohawk *
25 – Dallas, Texas @ Three Links *
27 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Rebel Lounge *
28 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Echo *
30 – Santa Ana, Calif. @ Constellation Room at The Observatory *
31 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Bottom of the Hill *

September
03 – Portland, Ore. @ Mississippi Studios
04 – Seattle, Wash. @ Black Lodge
05 – Spokane, Wash. @ Lucky You
08 – St Paul, Minn. @ Turf Club ^
10 – Chicago, Ill. @ Hideout
11 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Now That’s Class
12 – Ithaca, N.Y. @ The Haunt +
13 – Buffalo, N.Y. @ Sugar City +

October
26 – Toulon, France @ Le Port Des Creatures (Midi Festival)
28 – Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique
30 – Paris, France @ TBA

November
01 – Bristol, U.K. @ The Crofters Rights
02 – London, U.K. @ Dingwalls (Mirrors Festival)
04 – Manchester, U.K. @ The Star and Garter
05 – Glasgow, Scotland @ The Hug and Pint
06 – Sheffield, U.K. @ Record Junkee
09 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ Le Guess Who Festival
12 – Koln, Germany @ Blue Shell
13 – Berlin, GermanyE @ Cassiopeia
14 – Hamburg, Germany @ Molotov SkyBar

(* w/ Mannequin Pussy)
(^ w/ Sheer Mag)
(+ w/ Guerilla Toss)