Johnny Marr Shares Melancholy New Track and Video, “Hi Hello”

Johnny Marr, former lead guitarist of The Smiths, has released “Hi Hello,” a new track from his forthcoming solo album Call The Comet.

Out on June 15, Call The Comet will be Marr’s third solo album after his 2013 debut The Messenger and his 2014 follow-up Playland. Marr’s latest release was his 2015 live album Adrenalin Baby, recorded live at his Manchester Apollo, Glasgow Academy and Brixton Academy shows, featuring music from his first two albums and four Smiths covers.

Marr previously unveiled his new album’s dark, ambient lead single “The Tracers”—his new single “Hi Hello” is much more subtle and mellow. “Hi Hello” features a mix of acoustic and electric guitar, and melancholy keyboard melodies, with Marr’s lyrics depicting his continued fascination with both utopian and dystopian reality.

Marr talked about what the album represents for him, “Call The Comet is my own magic realism. It’s set in the not-too-distant future and is mostly concerned with the idea of an alternative society,” Marr said. “The characters in the songs are searching for a new idealism, although there are some personal songs in there too. It’s something that people like me can relate to.”

Marr announced five North American dates in support of his new album, including shows in Los Angeles, Toronto, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

Watch his new video for “Hi Hello” below and revisit 10 great Johnny Marr guitar moments here. You can check out Marr’s upcoming tour dates further down and preorder his new album right here.

Johnny Marr Tour Dates:

May
12 – Dublin, Ireland @ Button Factory
14 – Leeds, U.K. @ Brudenell Social Club
16 – London, U.K. @ Islington Assembly Hall
18 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Nalen
19 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ DR Koncerthuset Studie 2
20 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso Noord
21 – Berlin, Germany @ Festsaal Kreuzberg
24 – Paris, France @ La Gaite Lyrique
30 – Toronto, Ontario @ Velvet Underground
31 – New York, N.Y. @ Gramercy Theatre

June
02 – San Francisco, Calif. @ August Hall
05 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ Teragram Ballroom
07 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neptune Theatre