Bleachers (Fun.'s Jack Antonoff) unveil debut single, tour dates, announce Yoko Ono collaboration

Fun.'s Jack Antonoff has unveiled a brand new solo/side project, Bleachers, complete with a debut single, “I Wanna Get Better,” and a handful of tour dates. Additionally, Jack, who fronted New Jersey's Steel Train before joining Fun., took to his blog to explain the project's origin and why he choose to keep it a secret, also revealing details on a collaboration with Yoko Ono in a new interview with Billboard.

Bleachers' debut album, which is slated to arrive in the spring via RCA Records, was written on the road, recorded in secret, and co-produced by Antonoff, John Hill, and Vince Clarke (of Depeche Mode), and is confirmed to feature a collaboration with Ono. The group is expected to make its live debut next month at SXSW, and its television debut March 26 on the upcoming Late Night With Seth Meyers.

Read Jack's blog post below:

“hi

didn’t realize today would be as emotional as it is. I’ve been working on bleachers for a year and a half now. I didn’t mean for it to be this big secret, but I didn’t want anything to speak for it besides the music itself. we live in a real “big announcement next week!” type of culture, and this all meant too much to me to put anything out there besides actual music. to (sorta) quote david fricke, ‘everyone’s texting I’ll be there in 5 minutes…. just FUCKING be there in 5 minutes.’ that quote rang in my head every time I wanted to just tell everyone what I was doing. that’s my reasoning/apology for being so secretive and making an album without letting you guys know.

but now you know, and it means the world to me. everything I do, whether it’s fun., bleachers or something else, the work only comes to life because you all inspire me to make it real. I could so easily sit in the studio (or rather in bed) and just work on things forever and never get to the point. moments like today, releasing new music and being able to connect you about it are why it all matters.

I made this album in bizarre and unideal circumstances – on a world tour. in the past I was never able to write on the road. I’m not sure why but this time around I felt compelled to. moments I should have been sleeping were spent in the studio. ‘I wanna get better’ for example was recording in sweden, malaysia, new zealand and nyc.

I’m rambling because I’m excited and I’m tying on my phone. point is, thank YOU. I feel very supported and scared which means things are worth while.

entire album is coming in the spring, new music before that and live dates all over the world (some already announced).

ok. talk soon.

xxx bleachers xxx
x
x
x
xjack”

And listen to Bleachers' energetic debut single, “I Wanna Get Better:”

Additional dates are expected to arrive in the near future, but, for now, here's where you can catch the group live:

March 12 – Palladia’s Epic. Awesome Showcase (SXSW) – Austin, TX
March 13 – 2014 mtvU Woodie Awards and Festival (SXSW) – Austin, TX
March 19 – Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA
March 26 – Late Night With Seth Meyers – New York, NY
March 27 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
June 8 – Governor’s Ball – Manhattan, NY
June 20 –  Firefly Music Festival – Dover, DE
July 5 – Wireless Festival (Perry Park) – Birmingham, UK
July 6 – Wireless Festival (Finsbury Park) – London, UK
July 10 – Bilbao BBK Live – Bilbao, Spain

Fun. are currently taking some time off from touring, following an incredibly busy and successful past few years, but are expected to work on new music throughout 2014.