Philly DIY heroes Algernon Cadwallader are back with their first album in 14 years

When they were first active in the early 2000s, the impact Philly’s Algernon Cadwallader made on east coast DIY was seismic. Incorporating the catharsis of post-millennial emo and the technical prowess of math rock, they packed basements and warehouses for six years, up until their split in 2012.

The band’s legacy only grew during their time away, and when they staged a reunion tour in 2022, the year-long run of shows gave fans their first opportunity to see Algenon in non-basement venues — they played two nights at Union Transfer in Philly, as well as a headlining gig at Philly Music Fest. And now, there’s new music on the way.

Today, Algernon Cadwallader announced Trying Not To Have A Thought, the band’s third studio LP and first in 14 years. It’s due out September 12th on Saddle Creek Records — also the label home to guitarist Joe Rienhart’s other band, Hop Along — and the band is going on a fall tour in support of it that features regional gigs in Allentown and Philly.

With the announcement comes the release of “Hawk,” the opening track to Trying Not To Have A Thought, and on it you can hear the band staying true as ever to their roots while taking a huge sonic leap forward. The time spent honing their chops onstage in other projects (Peter Helmis also led indie rock outfit Yankee Bluff; both he and Reinhart played in cult faves Dogs On Acid) and in the studio (Joe Reinhart co-founded and built up The Headroom, the revered recording space currently nestled in Clifton Heights) has paid off in a big way — the song sounds huge, explosive, but undeniably Algernon-esque.

Watch the video for “Hawk” below, and find the dates to Algernon Cadwallader’s fall tour here. They’ll headline Arrow at Archer Music Hall in Allentown on December 5th, and Union Transfer in Philadelphia on December 13th. Tickets and information can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar.