martinjohnson_thenightgame_live_2017

Hear Martin Johnson's (Boys Like Girls) new band, the Night Game

[Photo credit: Instagram]

It looks like Boys Like Girls vocalist Martin Johnson has been busy since last year’s 10-year anniversary tour for that band’s 2006 self-titled album. His new outfit, the Night Game, just released a debut single called “The Outfield” (listen below) and are touring this summer with John Mayer.

Read more: The best lyrics from Boys Like Girls’ first album

Not quite in the same ballpark as Boys Like Girls’ charming pop rock, the Night Game’s “The Outfield” flaunts a throwback maturity with a solid ’80s backbeat and a chorus reminiscent of classic John Hughes movies. “This song felt like the best introduction to what I’m trying to do and a really good way to segue into the project,” Johnson says in an interview with Billboard.

Speaking to NYC Monthly, who deigned the Night Game as “the new pop act with the most exciting frontman since Bruno Mars,” Johnson reveals that Boys Like Girls haven’t exactly broken up—the band members remain good friends. In fact, he doesn’t rule out the possibility of new BLG tunes in the future.

“I would say that we’re closer now than we’ve ever been. Everybody is doing different stuff musically, but I don’t know. Maybe one day we’ll make a song.”

For now, Johnson’s focus is evidently on his at-bat in the Night Game. The musician, who has written pop songs for the likes of Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift and Daughtry, is making the most of his second swing at the plate.

“I was trying to find love for music by making it for other people,” Johnson tells Billboard. “It wasn’t working for me. You get older and it becomes about maintenance, maintaining what you’ve made in your life. I had to start almost completely from scratch … to help me discover what I wanted to say.”

The Night Game will play a headlining gig at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn, NY on May 26 before heading out on their U.S. trek with Mayer this July and August. See the complete list of cities and dates after the track.

The Night Game tour dates (supporting John Mayer):

07/18 – Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
07/19 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
07/21 – George, WA @ Gorge Amphitheatre
07/22 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
07/25 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
07/27 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
07/29 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
07/30 – Inglewood, CA @ The Forum
08/01 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
08/03 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
08/05 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
08/06 – The Woodlands, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
08/08 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
08/09 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
08/10 – Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre At Lakewood
08/12 – Sunrise, FL @ BB&T Center
08/13 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
08/15 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
08/16 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park

Watch more: Boys Like Girls – Love Drunk acoustic (AltPress.com exclusive)