Titus Andronicus (band)

Titus Andronicus's first album, The Airing of Grievances, was released in April 2008 and was described as the sound of a "violent, overblown and irreverent" indie band in a positive review by Pitchfork.[4] The band went on extensive tours of North America and Europe to promote the album through 2009, including a "Bring On The Dudes Tour" with friends the So So Glos and tours opening for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Lucero.[5]

In 2010 the band released their second album, The Monitor, through XL Recordings. A sprawling concept album loosely based on themes relating to the American Civil War, it was critically well received,[6] and debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[7] That month, Rolling Stone named the band one of the seven best new bands of 2010.[8] The band continued their extensive touring that included a tour of record stores, tours opening for the Pogues, Bright Eyes, and Okkervil River, plus appearances at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, and Roskilde Festival.[5] Titus Andronicus recorded a version of Nirvana's "Breed" for the tribute album Newermind at this time as well.

Their third album, Local Business, was released in 2012. A more stripped down record, Local Business was recorded live in the studio with almost no overdubs, creating an album that was "plug-in-and-play" ready, helping the band sound as close as possible to the album when playing live.[9][10] It was listed at number 38 on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2012,[11] reached number 105 on the Billboard Top 200 chart,[12] and gained positive reviews as well as a 7.0 from Pitchfork.[9] Touring for the album included an expansive headlining tour with opener Ceremony, a co-headlining trek of the United Kingdom with Fucked Up, and another tour with the So So Glos dubbed the "Bring Back The Dudes Tour."[5]

The band released their fourth album, The Most Lamentable Tragedy, on 2015 via Merge Records. Taking the form of a 93-minute, 29-song, five-act rock opera (including covers of Daniel Johnston and the Pogues),[13] Stickles described the record as a "complicated metaphor about manic depression, melding elements of philosophy, psychology, and science fiction through the plight of one troubled protagonist’s inner demons." The band also disclosed a film element to the album and thus far released a 15-minute music video covering Act Two.[14] The Most Lamentable Tragedy was released to positive reviews,[15] and the group announced a "TMLT Around the World Tour" covering the United States and Europe.

Their fifth LP, A Productive Cough, was released in 2018 via Merge Records.[16] It featured a "ballad oriented approach" not seen previously on Titus Andronicus albums, and was followed by a stripped down two piece tour featuring Stickles and keyboardist Alexander Molini.[17] Their sixth album, An Obelisk, was released in 2019 via Merge Records.

Titus Andronicus has performed live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon[18] and Last Call with Carson Daly[19] twice. Their song "Titus Andronicus" was used in an episode of the TV show Elementary entitled "The Adventure of the Nutmeg Concoction".[20] "Titus Andronicus Forever" was featured in the TV show Bored to Death[21] and the film Premium Rush,[22] while "Dimed Out" was used to close out the first season of the Showtime show Billions.

Original keyboardist Matt Miller died in March 2021 at the age of 34.[23]

Their seventh studio album The Will to Live was released on September 30, 2022.[24]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Titus Andronicus (band).

• Official website
• Titus Andronicus discography at Discogs
• Venus Zine & Dirty Laundry TV present: Titus Andronicus
• Interview with Patrick Stickles on TheWaster.com
• Synconation speaks with Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus