Kurt Vile has announced his new album, Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me, due out May 29 via Verve Records. The record, his first since 2022’s (Watch My Moves), arrives alongside the lead single Chance To Bleed and dates for an extensive 2026 tour across North America, Europe and the UK. Vile described the album as a love letter to his hometown of Philadelphia.
Kurt Vile shared details of Philadelphia’s Been Good To Me on April 7, calling it his “bringing it all back home to Philly” record. “I’m treating it like my last record. I put everything into it,” Vile said. “It’s my best vocal record. It’s my best electric guitar record. It’s my most organic record, made in the comfort of my own zone.” The album, recorded between late 2023 and early 2026, blends meandering ballads and road songs, with Vile returning to his home-recording roots at higher fidelity. It features his band the Violators and extended musical family, including a cover photo by William Eggleston. The tracklist includes Zoom 970, 99 BPM, Rock ’o Stone, You Don’t Know Cuz It’s My Life, Philly’s Been Good To Me, 99th Song, Red Room Dub, Every Time I Look at You, Piano for Sarah and Avalanches of Snow. The lead single, Chance To Bleed, looks back at Vile’s early days in Philadelphia’s underground scene. Vile called it “hillbilly techno,” centered on a shoegaze-inspired guitar riff. Guests include Natalie Hoffman of Optic Sink and NOTS, Ethan Buckler of Slint and King Kong, and Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound and the Oblivians. The song was recorded with the Violators in Athens, Georgia, then Memphis, Tennessee, and mixed in Los Angeles by Rob Schnapf. Vile also revealed a massive tour starting June 16 in Toronto at History. North American dates continue through July, including a Philadelphia homecoming at the Dell Music Center on July 25. The European leg runs August to September, with UK and Ireland shows in September supported by Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, including London’s Troxy on September 9. Additional North American dates follow in November. Openers include Twisted Teens, Being Dead, They Are Gutting a Body of Water, Optic Sink, the Sadies and Alex Amen.
