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The War On Drugs Announce 2023 Australian Tour

It's The War On Drugs' first Australian tour in five years.

Photo of The War On Drugs (Source: Supplied)

US rock act The War On Drugs will make their long-awaited return to Australia this December. After five long years, fans can soak up the band’s gorgeous melodies and Adam Granduciel ’s inimitable guitar tones.

Joining The War On Drugs for their first Australian visit since 2018 is special guests Spoon , who last performed down under in 2017, and Sydney folk artist Indigo Sparke .

The War On Drugs are promoting their latest album, October 2021’s I Don’t Live Here Anymore . The band’s fifth album received massive critical acclaim, debuted at #21 in Australia, and the track Harmonia’s Dream was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song last year.

In February last year, Spoon released their tenth album, Lucifer On The Sofa . Following 2017’s enthralling Hot Thoughts , with its added drum machines and synths, the Texas group opted to simplify the method for Lucifer On The Sofa.

Opener Held  – a Smog  cover – and The Hardest Cut, particularly, focus on a swaggering classic rock sound. The album is full of slinky, desert rock riffs, surprising turns towards stoner rock and balladry, and an undeniable feeling of defiant optimism. No one is keeping Lucifer or Spoon on the sofa. You can read The Music ’s album review here .

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The Music concluded about The War On Drugs’ previous visit to Australia: “The War On Drugs are technically perfect to the point of excellence where if you shut your eyes you can imagine reclining at home in a La-Z-Boy with the sounds filtering through top noise-cancelling headphones.” You can read the full review here .

Presented in partnership with Double J ,  tickets for all shows go on sale at 1 pm, Friday, 26 May, via the Live Nation website .

My Live Nation members can secure tickets during the exclusive presale beginning at noon, Thursday, 25 May, and ending on Friday, 26 May.

Throughout the tour, The War On Drugs will play some of Australia’s finest venues, including the Forecourt of the iconic Sydney Opera House, Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Brisbane’s Riverstage, and Perth’s stunning Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

THE WAR ON DRUGS

2023 AUSTRALIAN TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SPOON 

+ INDIGO SPARKE

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE FORECOURT, SYDNEY        MONDAY 4 DECEMBER

SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL, MELBOURNE            THURSDAY 7 DECEMBER

RIVERSTAGE, BRISBANE                                              SATURDAY 9 DECEMBER

KINGS PARK AND BOTANIC GARDEN, PERTH          MONDAY 11 DECEMBER

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The War On Drugs 2023 Australian Tour Setlists

By Music Feeds

Adam Granduciel and his comrades in The War On Drugs are back for their first tour of Australia since 2018 . The American band released its fifth studio album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore , in 2021. They’re joined on the Australian tour by Texas indie rock band Spoon , who haven’t been here since 2017, and Australian singer-songwriter Indigo Sparke .

The tour begins with two dates at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt, followed by performances at major outdoor venues in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. It’ll bring a close to two years of hard graft for The War On Drugs, who’ve conducted extensive tours of the USA, UK, Canada, Mexico and Europe since the release of I Don’t Live Here Anymore . Find all the tour setlists below.

The War On Drugs – ‘Red Eyes’

Riverstage, Brisbane

• Saturday, 9th December
• An Ocean in Between the Waves
• I Don’t Wanna Wait
• Strangest Thing
• Harmonia’s Dream
• Living Proof
• Eyes to the Wind
• Play It All Night Long (Warren Zevon cover)
• Under the Pressure
• I Don’t Live Here Anymore
• Occasional Rain
• Lost in the Dream

Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne

• Thursday, 7th December

Sydney Opera House Forecourt

• Tuesday, 5th December
• Monday, 4th December
• Arms Like Boulders

The War On Drugs 2023 Australian Tour

w/ Spoon & Indigo Sparke

• Monday, 4th December – Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney NSW
• Tuesday, 5th December – Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney NSW
• Thursday, 7th December – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne VIC
• Saturday, 9th December – Riverstage, Brisbane QLD
• Monday, 11th December – Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth WA

Tickets on sale now

Further Reading

The War on Drugs Announce 2023 Australian Tour with Special Guests Spoon

Foo Fighters 2023 Australian Tour Setlists

The Wiggles Announce the First Vinyl Release of Their 1994 Album ‘Yummy Yummy’

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The War On Drugs

We are thrilled to announce the return of The War On Drugs to Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 2018. With special guests Spoon , plus Indigo Sparke , the band will tour the region in December 2023 in support of I Don’t Live Here Anymore, praised by GQ as “the band’s clearest, most vibrant, and upbeat.”

Throughout the tour, The War On Drugs will play some of Australia and New Zealand’s finest venues, including Wellington’s Anderson Park, Auckland’s Spark Arena, the Forecourt of the iconic Sydney Opera House, Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Brisbane’s Riverstage, and Perth’s stunning Kings Park and Botanic Garden .

Led by Adam Granduciel, the GRAMMY-Award winning band has steadily emerged as one of this century’s great rock and roll synthesists, removing the gaps between the underground and the mainstream, between the obtuse and the anthemic, making records that wrestle a fractured past into a unified and engrossing present. The New Yorker called them “the best American ‘rock’ band of this decade” in support of 2017’s A Deeper Understanding while Stereogum hailed The War On Drugs as “one of the greatest American bands of their generation” following the release of I Don’t Live Here Anymore. It landed on numerous 2021 best albums of the year lists and garnered a second GRAMMY Award nomination (Best Rock Song) and BRIT Award nomination.

Joining The War On Drugs for the tour will be one of rock's most acclaimed acts, Spoon . Austin’s most esteemed rock ambassadors have released ten albums to date, including a string of five straight top 10 records: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007), Transference (2010), They Want My Soul (2014), Hot Thoughts (2017), and Lucifer on the Sofa (2022). Hailed by TIME as “one of the greatest American rock bands”, Spoon topped Metacritic’s chart as the single most critically acclaimed band of the aughts.

Event: The War On Drugs

Featuring: Spoon & Indigo Sparke

Date: Monday, 11 December 2023

• Kings Park & Botanic Garden

Tickets: TICKETS ON SALE NOW  18+ ONLY EVENT   Buy tickets

PRODUCTION REMINDER Event may contain smoke, haze, strobe lights & pyrotechnics.

WE PLAY RAIN OR SHINE If it looks like rain, please bring wet weather protection (ponchos & raincoats). Umbrellas are not permitted into the venue. Production Reminder: Event may contain smoke, haze, strobe lights & pyrotechnics.

TICKETS All tickets available through Ticketmaster.com.au and 136 100. This is a licensed event. All patrons must have a valid ticket for entry. Please note that Companion Cards can only be used when purchasing General Admission tickets.

Box Office for this event is cashless. Door sales available via EFT/Credit unless exhausted prior. 

MINORS Under 18's not permitted for this event.

SET TIMES & LINE-UP Occasionally changes to the line-up and/or program times occur that are out of the Promoters control. The Promoter reserves the right to change the line-up and/or program times without prior notification.

WHAT TO BRING Picnic rug and hamper, jacket, sun hat, sunscreen, sealed plastic bottled water/soft drink only (NO BYO Alcohol), comfy shoes and good vibes. For seating, see below. Empty aluminium or plastic water bottles are permitted to be brought into the venue for free filling at the water stations.  TICKETS -Deck – GA Standing tickets gain access to the deck in front of the stage. No seating is permitted.   -Lawn – General Admission ticket holders will need to bring their own picnic rug or seat if desired. Low-to-the-ground beach style chairs are recommended in the General Admission area. High back (deck/camping) chairs are permitted, however will be positioned at the rear of the venue. A seating area is provided for those with wheelchair requirements.

​My General Admission tickets say "GENADM" but have row and seat number on them - what does this mean? This is for ticket tracking purposes only. This information does not mean you have a reserved seat for the event. ​ PUBLIC TRANSPORT There are a range of public transport options connecting you to Kings Park & Botanic Garden. Please refer to the  Transperth Journey Planner  to plan your journey.

​ BUS SHUTTLE SERVICE    Shuttle buses run along Lovekin Drive & May Drive from 4pm - 7pm, picking up patrons at the lighting towers and delivering to main gate (Gate 1). Please note this is a ONE-WAY SERVICE ONLY, helping inbound patrons to enter the show. There are no return shuttle services. We kindly ask for a gold coin donation for this service – all proceeds go to Ronald McDonald House Perth. FOOD A wide range of food options to suit all tastes and budgets will be available for purchase at the venue. Visit jdsfastfoods.com.au to view food vendors in attendance, menus and to pre-order grazing boxes. Patrons can also visit ticketmaster.com.au to pre-order grazing boxes. Alternatively, patrons may bring their own food/picnic. Please be aware of prohibited items listed under “Not Permitted”.

SMOKING, VAPING & E-CIGARETTES The main event space is smoke, vape and e-cigarette free. If you are caught smoking/vaping outside of the designated smoking area, you may be evicted from the event

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY All bags are subject to a safety and security search upon entry. No Pass Outs. PARKING Available along Lovekin, Forrest and May Drives. A drop off zone is located at the venue entrance on Lovekin Drive. ACROD Parking is located on Forrest Drive near the DNA Tower. Access Forrest Drive via Park and Poole Avenue entrances, Crawley.

POST SHOW ROAD CLOSURE Lovekin Drive (in front of concert venue) & the pre-show drop off zone will be closed to all vehicles from just prior to show end for up to 1 hour post show. For Patrons being picked-up after the show the pick-up point is the Wadjuk Carpark.

ENQUIRIES Mellen Events on (08) 9383 3534 or [email protected]

VIP Premium Deck Experience - One (1) Deck Standing GA ticket - Early entry into the venue before the general public. - Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate - Dedicated VIP line at merchandise stand - Designated VIP check-in and onsite staff

Early Entry Lawn GA Experience - One (1) General Admission LAWN ticket. (No DECK access) - Early entry into the venue before the general public - Commemorative VIP Tour Laminate - Early access to merchandise stand - Designated VIP check-in and onsite staff

DECK STANDING = $152.78 LAWN GA = $112.00 VIP PREMIUM DECK STANDING = $178.27 VIP EARLY ENTRY LAWN = $142.58

*Prices are exclusive of transaction fees

5:00PM - General Gates Open 

6:10PM - Indigo Sparke

7:10PM - Spoon

8:30PM - The War On Drugs

* Times are approximate and subject to change 

PROHIBITED ITEMS

• Alcohol • Unsealed drink containers *empty reusable water containers permitted • Illicit drugs • Weapons, knives or wine spikes *cutlery & small cheese knives permitted • Glass *perfume bottles permitted. • Large items – i.e. bean bags, tents, sun shelters or tables • Trolleys including beach trolleys, sack trolley or wagons • Umbrellas • Sporting equipment • Professional recording devices, SLR cameras or drones • Animals (other than registered assistance animals) • Lasers or laser pointers • Any Dangerous goods

DO I NEED TO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR MY BABY or CHILD? No minors are permitted. 18+ only event.

MY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS SAY "GENADM" BUT HAVE ROW & SEAT NUMBERS ON THEM - WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? This is for ticket tracking purposes only. This information does not mean you have a reserved seat for the event. Please refer to SEATING under the TICKET PRICES tab.

​General Admission Grass ticket holders will need to bring a picnic blanket or rug with them to sit on (should you wish) or alternatively a low-to-the-ground beach style chair or director/camping chair. Please note that beach chairs (being low-to-the-ground) will be positioned in the first half of the General Admission Grass area and director/camping chairs (being higher off the ground) will be positioned toward the rear of the General Admission Grass area.

I LOST SOME BELONGINGS AT A SHOW // LEFT BEHIND CLOAKED OR CONFISCATED ITEMS - WHAT DO I DO? Please contact the Mellen Events office on (08) 9383 3534 or [email protected] in the days immediately after the show. If you cloaked items at the free cloakroom (or had a confiscated item cloaked), please let us know your Cloaking Ticket Number to better help us locate your item.

I PURCHASED A DRINK (ALCOHOLIC) AT THE VENUE & HAVEN'T FINISHED IT BY THE END OF THE SHOW. CAN I WALK OUT THE VENUE WITH IT? No, the event area is a licensed venue and as such, no alcohol can be taken off the premises (just as you can't purchase a drink at a pub and walk out with it - it must be consumed within the licensed area). Please assist security by leaving any unfinished alcoholic beverages behind.

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Mellen Events acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

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32 Graylands Rd, Claremont WA 6010 | [email protected] | +61 8 9383 3534

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The War On Drugs

Sidney Myer Music Bowl , King's Domain, Linlithgow Avenue, Melbourne CBD, Melbourne

• Thu 7 Dec 2023, 5:30pm

Restrictions

• Live Nation

With special guests Spoon plus Indigo Sparke, The War On Drugs will play Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl, December 7 in support of I Don't Live Here Anymore, praised by GQ as "the band's clearest, most vibrant and upbeat."

Led by Adam Granduciel, the GRAMMY Award winning band has steadily emerged as one of this century’s great rock and roll synthesists, removing the gaps between the underground and the mainstream, between the obtuse and the anthemic, making records that wrestle a fractured past into a unified and engrossing present. The New Yorker called them “the best American ‘rock’ band of this decade” in support of 2017’s A Deeper Understanding while Stereogum hailed The War On Drugs as “one of the greatest American bands of their generation” following the release of I Don’t Live Here Anymore. It landed on numerous 2021 best albums of the year lists and garnered a second GRAMMY Award nomination (Best Rock Song) and BRIT Award nomination.

Throughout their career, The War On Drugs has steadily evolved into one of rock’s most compelling live acts. “It’s hard to imagine a musical experience that’s more enveloping and uplifting” (Consequence).

Joining The War On Drugs will be one of rock's most acclaimed acts, Spoon. Austin’s most esteemed rock ambassadors have released ten albums to date, including a string of five straight top 10 records: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007), Transference (2010), They Want My Soul (2014), Hot Thoughts (2017), and Lucifer on the Sofa (2022). Hailed by TIME as “one of the greatest American rock bands”, Spoon topped Metacritic’s chart as the single most critically acclaimed band of the aughts.

Last here in 2017, Spoon will tour Australia for the first time since the release of their Grammy nominated tenth album ‘Lucifer On The Sofa’. More than two decades into their career, Spoon returned with this loud, low-down, melodious rock record which The Guardian called ‘timeless perfection’ and Rolling Stone said, ‘might be Spoon’s best record ever’.

Opening for the show will be Australian singer-songwriter Indigo Sparke.

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The war on drugs announce 2023 australian tour with spoon.

American indie-rockers The War On Drugs will be heading down under for the first time in five years.

To cap off the year, The War On Drugs will be gracing Australian stages for the first time since 2018.

They’ll be starting out in Sydney before making their way through Melbourne and Brisbane and then flying out to Perth for a big finish at Kings Park.

The War On Drugs 2023 Australia Tour

• Dec 4 – Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney
• Dec 7 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
• Dec 9 – Riverstage, Brisbane
• Dec 11 – Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth

Read all the latest product & music industry news  here.

On their Aussie tour, The War on Drugs will be joined by the Texas experimental rock group  Spoon  as well as the rising Sydney folk-rock star  Indigo Sparke .

Spoon rose to fame in the mid-2000s with two breakout albums, Girls Can Tell and Kill The Moonlight.

The group is best known for their alternative, art-rock sound as well as their hit single The Way We Get By which was featured in Stranger Than Fiction, The O.C. and Shameless.

The War On Drugs will be touring in support of their most recent album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore. Released in 2021, the album featured the singles Living Proof, Change and Harmonia’s Dream, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

The Philadelphia-based seven-piece has been around since 2005. Beloved for their unique fusion of indie rock, Americana and psychedelia, the band has released five studio albums.

They are fronted by the enigmatic musician and songwriter Adam Granduciel, who has also worked closely with Kurt Vile, Sharon Van Etten and Sore Eros.

The band is expected to bring a lively and moving performance to Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl when they touch down on December 7.

Tickets to see The War On Drugs with Spoon and Indigo Sparke will go on sale on May 26. To get yours, head  here .

‘Ego: The Michael Gudinski Story’ documentary will make its world premiere in Melbourne in August

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The War on Drugs on Difficult Touring, New Members & Making a ‘Very Simple’ New Album

Rolling stone au/nz caught up with the band’s frontman adam granduciel ahead of their return to australia later this year.

It’s a rare moment at home for The War On Drugs’ singer-songwriter Adam Granduciel. His band have been busy in recent months touring North America and Europe, and in a rare spell off the road he’s doing interviews about their forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand.

For some time now, home for Granduciel has been Los Angeles, but he still has a huge place in his heart for the place where it all started for The War On Drugs, Philadelphia.

  “I miss it all the time in different ways,” he says of his old hometown. “I miss the time, that life, and the coming of age and starting the band, but I love living out here in LA. I’ve been here since 2016, basically. 

“It’s a different place to Philly, but you can be an Eagles fan everywhere,” he says with a loyal laugh for his beloved NFL team. “I’ve got Philadelphia Eagles license plates; I’ve got Eagles flags and Tupperware. I got it all.”

The War On Drugs were one of the few bands to do significant touring once things opened up during the pandemic in 2021-22, and the album tour for their fifth LP, I Don’t Live Here Anymore , was an incredibly complex journey on all fronts. 

“It was weird,” Granduciel recalls. “It was insane because it felt like we’d been in lockdown forever – a year-and-a-half, two years – and then we were out doing the thing that we were so good at doing, but no one knew the rules. We didn’t know what we’d do if someone got COVID… it still felt like we were in lockdown.

“The first couple months – the US and European tours of 2021-22 – were exhausting on every level. It was constantly stressing if somebody caught it at the show last night, because there are thousands of people at it and you’re supposed to get back in your bubble and keep the show on the road. 

“It was just a very stressful, dark period, but we got through it.  We did an amazing job considering the circumstances and we’re a better band for it. No doubt about it. We’re a tighter group of people, a committed group of people… but it was definitely not fun. It was not like, ‘oh everything’s open again and we’re back on the road again, it’s amazing.’  It was definitely not that. It was like, ‘this is fucking stressful.'”  

  Indeed, while touring has now resumed a modicum of normality for the band, the initial run of the I Don’t Live Here Anymore album tour was a travelling mélange of highs and lows on every level. There were restrictions all around but the band were playing some of their most prestigious headlining shows to date.

“We did Madison Square Garden, but between COVID and the blizzard, it’s hard to know how many people would have come,” Granduciel concedes. “We had like 11,000 people there, which is amazing, but it was impossible to judge what the true turnout would have been, because of all these crazy factors.

“Even without COVID, the weather was totally restrictive. The weather in every city we played was terrible. And with the COVID thing it was like, ‘is anybody gonna come to these shows?’ People came but it was just too exhausting to be excited about anything. 

“I don’t mean it was all terrible, but we didn’t know what to do . The business of touring is not based on the theory that if somebody is sick you cancel the show. If that was the way it was in life, no one would ever tour. If it’s a case of ‘someone’s got COVID, let’s cancel,’  well that’s gonna bankrupt the band.

“So we were really straddling this line of trying to enjoy it and trying to be ‘is everyone healthy?’ If we don’t test, it’s very irresponsible for people in the band. So it was very confusing, but it was also fun.” 

Making matters even more complicated is that the band’s longtime guitarist, Anthony LaMarca is immunocompromised.  

  “At the centre of all our thinking was, ‘we’ve got to keep Anthony healthy. We’ve got to keep him free from COVID, ‘” Granduciel recalls. “Looking back on it, I don’t think there are many bands who could have pulled it off like we did.

“What with the COVID and the weather and central to our thinking is to protect our friend and our fanbase. We couldn’t really interact with anybody – friends, family, opening acts, labels, publicists.  We couldn’t have anybody backstage. Which was a bummer, you know?”

Perhaps adding some lightness and enjoyment to the proceedings, the tour also marked the recruitment of Eliza Hardy Jones on percussion and keyboards, a new member but an old friend from Philadelphia.

“She was part of our circle anyway, but it’s intense having a new member because you have another set of hands, there’s more gear, there’s more work for you to do,” Granduciel explains. “There’s another dynamic I have to learn as I haven’t toured with her before. 

“But Eliza is an incredibly easygoing person, an amazing touring person and an amazing person in general. That made it a little easier, because we were showing her all our stuff. ‘Look, this is what we do in New York,’  or ‘we’re doing two nights in Minneapolis, check this out.’  It was cool to have her on and show her our crowd and our fans and our community. It was special.” 

  The War On Drugs emerged in 2008 but the trajectory to now really began in 2014 with their breakthrough album, Lost in the Dream . At the time, Granduciel had been going through a period of deep depression, so it’s significant that the band’s third album served as a launchpad for their upward trajectory ever since.

“It’s only been recently that I’ve kind of been able to step back and appreciate it for what it was,” Granduciel notes. “Up ‘til the last couple of years, you don’t put too much emphasis on it, you just want to think that you’re still just gigging, and you don’t want to look back and talk about it. But I’m older now and have been looking through some old photos, video and demos from that time. 

“It’s amazing because not every band has that kind of thing happen. The record came out and it just slowly grew… yet actually quite quickly. The first six months of that record it was like, ‘the venue here needs to be twice as big. The venues in Europe are going to be huge.’  It was crazy. At the time you don’t want to think about it, you don’t want to ask why. There is no answer, but now I’m old enough to say it was cool. 

“There’s not a lot of bands who are given that opportunity where you’re already on your way, but people are just sort of opening the door for you. It was a pretty beautiful thing, honestly, because it allowed me to become something that I really never dreamed of. Which is to be able to do this for a living, given opportunities to make records and then have people talk about them. And tour and put together great groups of people.

“It’s really the most satisfying part – being given the opportunity to design the perfect group of people to tour and play music with.” 

While The War On Drugs are still busy touring on the back of 2021’s I Don’t Live Here Anymore , Granduciel says he’s been able to build a vision for their next album, despite the intensity of constant travel. 

“It’s been pretty intense, but in the first couple months of this year, I was able to  start kind of chipping away at a bunch of ideas,” he says. “I definitely just want to make something very simple and very to the point. Not like bedroom recording, but just a little different, I think, to the last two records I’ve done which were so much trial and error, where you’re just caring about things you never cared about, sonically. 

“The last two records have been fun to make, although I wouldn’t call them fun. At all. But I’m excited that I was given the opportunity to make them the way we did. But I couldn’t make another record like that… just taking so long.

“Something that I have loved about recording is when you just commit to an idea, you run a rough mix, and you keep the weird thing and don’t overthink it, and say ‘the drums sound weird but they’re cool.’  We were overthinking with the kind of music we were making – maybe it was what those songs needed, but I’m ready to make something that seems more homemade. If not sonically, then just in its intent.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The War On Drugs (@thewarondrugs)

The War on Drugs 2023 Australia & New Zealand Tour

With special guests Spoon & Indigo Sparke

Ticket information available via livenation.com.au or livenation.co.nz

Friday, December 1st Anderson Park, Wellington, NZ

Saturday, December 2nd Spark Arena, Auckland, NZ

Monday, December 4th (SOLD OUT) Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney, NSW

Tuesday, December 5th Sydney Opera House Forecourt, Sydney, NSW

Thursday, December 7th Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne, VIC

Saturday, December 9th Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD

Monday, December 11th Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth, WA

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The War On Drugs are an American Indie rock band, who formed in 2005. They originate from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

The War on Drugs was formed by musicians Kurt Vile and Adam Granduciel after they had both moved from Oakland and back to Philadelphia. Both had similar interests and had especially connected through their appreciation of Bob Dylan. This led to the two, recording, writing and even performing together. Through this instant connection and chemistry, The War on Drugs was born.

Early in the career of the band they had many accompanying musicians but none were official members, Vile and Granduciel then decided to settle official members of the band. These members included: Charlie Hall as the Drummer/Organist, Kyle Lloyd as drummer and Dave Hartley would be the bass player of the band.

In 2008 The War On Drugs gave away their EP 'Barrel of Batteries' for free.

After the release of their debut album 'Wagonwheel Blues' and the European tour which followed,founding member of the band Kurt Vile, had decided to leave so that he could focus on his solo projects. Following Vile leaving other members followed suit, those being: Charlie Hall and Kyle Lloyd by 2008.

Following the departure of key members, the band in 2008 now consisted of members: Adam Granducial, David Hall and Mike Zhangi (who would leave in 2010). By 2012 the bands lineup consisted of: Adam Granducial, Patrick Berkery, Robbie Bennett and David Hall.

2011 saw the release of The War On Drugs second album 'Slave Ambient' this generated widespread critical acclaim as it managed to receive 7 out of 10 from 'Spin', 'BBC Music' gave it a favourable rating and it received an A- grade from 'The A.V. Club'.

As of 2014 the current members of the band are: Adam Granducial on vocals, Dave Hartley on bass guitar, Robbie Bennett on keyboards and Charlie Hall on drum.

Live reviews

Grace is a highly underrated quality for a rock band to possess. When compared to other, more universal assets like rawness, volume and ability it might seem a little forgettable, but a band playing to the absolute best of their ability and making it look as natural as breathing can be the genesis of some truly unforgettable moments of live music. Not one band that I’ve seen sums this sight up as well as Philadelphia indie rockers The War on Drugs, and when it comes to their sold out show at the Koko, Camden’s most ornate venue, most traditional phrases describing a well played gig seem too violent to sum it up. They didn’t “smash it”, they didn’t “blow the roof off”, they didn’t “destroy the place”, they were far better than that. Make no mistake, Adam Granduciel and co played up a storm, their psychedelia inflected country-rock filling every inch of this beautiful venue but the atmosphere was unlike any gig I’ve been to in a very long time. The crowd lost themselves in the music in a way that didn’t lead to mindless moshing and crowd-surfing, the 1400 people were enraptured, moved by the music, not to the music. It was an experience as beautiful as it was exciting and anyone with a passing interest in this life affirming lunacy we call Rock and Roll should seek it out as soon as possible.

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Possibly the best gig I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing live. The guitars, the bass, the drums, the saxophone, the lights, the overall setting and the 'psychedelic' lightshow combining it all together adds to an unforgettable evening.

Not only that, but this ground-breaking indie-rock deliverer also played around two hours, non-stop, building up until the last two epic songs.

Let's talk about one of those: I was literally petrified during their performance of the soothing song Thinking Of A Place. Adam Granduciel gripped me with his euphony, all mixed with the bands grand performance and overall constant change yet stability. Every little tune that changes the song, hits you like a lovearrow, yet delivers a whole range of different emotional effects, ranging from excitement to love, from pain to deep pleasure and from melancholia to confidence.

If you ever get the chance, don't miss out on these boys, they're here to save our music industry.

Last night was mind blowing! Adam is absolutely brilliant as both a guitarist and a songwriter. The lyrics are raw, brutally honest emotion, intimately romantic storytelling at it's best. You're pushed further into the abyss with Adams face melting guitar strokes, and phenomenal drum beats. Yes, they played 'Lost in the Dream' (which I know every note), but it was enhanced with such refinement and nuance that I left the concert with a crush on both Adam AND the band, feeling utter joy and contentment. They are so tightly woven together you feel as if each note is planned and featured. Between music and lyrics, they evoke every emotion within you. Dylanesque voice, Jimmy Page/Eric Clapton guitar skills, charismatic stage presence. SEE THEM.

I'm not sure I've seen such an exquisite level of professionalism in a band. Either way, their music is transporting, well, painfully obvious considering their new album, to a dream. Words can't make The War on Drugs justice. Granduciel's guitar game is magnificent and mind blowing. What was fascinating to me is that on the morning of the day of the show I woke up literally lost in the sweetest dream. I am not kidding, it was such a curious day, I'll never forget it. How hypnotizing their music had been when I realized I was the last one clapping when people had already started to leave. I left the show drugged out, with the amplifiers ringing in my head for hours afterwards.

Massey Hall Sat.night I went to show and really enjoyed it. He is a good singer and great guitarist. He played several hits and a cover song as well. These guys are seasoned performers and the audience were clapping and enjoying the show. I miss guitar being part of the music scene so the 6 member band, filled that void for me.

Great show and would recommend fans to see.

I saw future islands here recently here, from the moment they hit the stage the audience gave them a standing ovation and sang cheered and clapped the whole show. I was amazed at how the audience showed there love for this band...another must see band. They played hit after hit.

A pleasant evening with nice music but nothing new that we older attendees hadn't seen before. Except maybe the use of a bass clarinet which was fun. They always sound great. Overall I thought there was too little space in the music especially when three keyboards were used

The set started modestly with three very similar songs but the band moved up a notch thereafter and by the end of the main set I was ready for more. They didn't take much encouragement to return to the stage for more and I'm pleased they did as this was their best music

It will be interesting to see where they go from here

Awesome night!

The band has been playing over 2 hours most part (if not all) of their last work "Lost in the dream" and some other songs.

All along they have been spreading feelings and emotions to the audience through their music. Playing intense, playing right, playing long, playing good.

I discovered the Live Music Hall for the occasion, and it was probably the best choice given the audience of such a band; it was large enough, a lot of people was in but it was not overly crowded, with 4 bars and an open air patio.

Probably the best concert I have been to so far this year.

I already enjoy the War on Drugs recorded music, but the live show is another level again. Went with three mates to the show in Central Melbourne and we all felt we had witnessed something special. It was the best concert in years (and we go to a LOT).

They must play together all the time because they're tighter than a bank vault yet the passion and the freshness shine through. One gets the sense that the War on Drugs are arriving, that a breakthrough is imminent.

If you get the chance to hear them live, don't miss the War on Drugs. Memorable.

Adam Granduciel and The War on Drugs put on a driving,well-tuned (a new guitar ever song) that has the audience moving for the first 70 minutes before breaking into the softer ballads. Kudos to the guy singing along with the band, standing next to me - he's spent some time on Genius. The lighting seemed to be predominantly from the back and the sides so there were few good videos to be recorded, however, you don't want to miss his guitar solos or interactions with the saxophone player. Nothing like that since Bruce & Clarence...

A really really good show. They are pretty flawless live. We saw Kurt Vile (a former member of The War on Drugs) last year and he has such a terrible stage presence that we actually walked out of the show (something I’ve never done before) so I was a little worried this would be a similar show but they proved within the first minute that it was not. So so good, go see them if you like to watch incredible musicians play.

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The War on Drugs tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see The War on Drugs in concert? Find information on all of The War on Drugs’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

The War on Drugs is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 24 concerts across 4 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Where To Buy Tickets To The National and The War on Drugs' Co-Headlining Tour

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Indie rock titans The National have had a busy couple of years. They released two albums, First Two Pages of Frankenstein and Laugh Track in 2023, while guitarist Aaron Dessner co-produced Taylor Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department , released earlier this year. The band, currently touring Europe, will kick off a US tour in September alongside The War on Drugs. Dubbed the Zen Diagram tour, the North American tour includes dates in New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Mexico City. The Zen Diagram Tour will be supported by Lucius on all but the Mexico City dates.

Quick Answer: Where To Buy The National/The War On Drugs Tickets Online

• Best Places to Buy Tickets:  Ticketmaster ,  SeatGeek ,  Vivid Seats ,  StubHub
• When Is The Tour? : September 12 - October 10

The First Two Pages of Frankenstein was dubbed a "remarkable reassertion of the band's potency" in the Rolling Stone review, and it landed at number 13 on the 40 Best Indie Rock Albums of 2023 . Frankenstein and Laugh Track included collaborations from Sufjan Stevens, Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, and Justin Vernon. The War on Drugs has spent the last several years touring, largely in Europe. Their latest release was 2021's I Don't Live Here Anymore , which featured Lucius on the title track.

Where To Buy The National Tickets Online

Tickets for the Zen Diagram tour have been selling quickly, with some dates nearly sold out. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, which includes standard tickets and verified resale. Seats can be scored starting at $60 at the Hollywood Bowl. Prices and availability vary by city and section, and are subject to change at any time, so it's a good idea to browse multiple websites for the best seats and pricing.

Buy The National/The War on Drugs Tickets on SeatGeek

SeatGeek lets you see tickets by row and price in an intuitive 3D diagram, making it a great way to buy inexpensive resale tickets. SeatGeek tickets are backed by a Buyer Guarantee , including a refund or credit for shows that are canceled and not rescheduled. Plus, some dates include returnable tickets. We've spotted tickets for as little as $16 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA. Rolling Stone readers can use code ROLLINGSTONE10 for $10 off on orders over $250 (for eligible first-time purchases).

Buy The National/The War on Drugs Tickets on VividSeats

VividSeats is another trusted resale website, and we've spotted lawn seats at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion for as little as $11. Plus, fans can save $20 on orders of $200 or more with code RS2024 . VividSeat's buyer guarantee includes a refund/credit for canceled dates that are not rescheduled.

Buy The National/The War on Drugs Tickets on StubHub

StubHub has resale tickets starting at $19 for lawn GA seats at the TD Pavilion in Philadelphia, PA. StubHub offers a refund or 120% credit for dates that are canceled and not rescheduled, and the FanProtect guarantee ensures tickets are valid and arrive on time.

The National 'First Two Pages of Frankenstein'

The single LP album includes the lead single "Tropic Morning News" and the Taylor Swift collaboration "The Alcott," as well as two tracks featuring Phoebe Bridgers.

The War On Drugs 'I Don't Live Here Anymore'

I Don't Live Here Anymore continues the dreamy, Americana-inspired sound Adam Granduciel has honed over five studio albums.

The National/The War on Drugs Zen Diagram Tour Dates 2024

The full North American tour can be found below, all of which besides the Mexico City date feature Lucius as the opener.

Thu Sep 12 - Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

Fri Sep 13 - New York, NY - Forest Hills Stadium

Sat Sep 14 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center

Mon Sep 16 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Tue Sep 17 - Philadelphia, PA - TD Pavilion at the Mann Center

Thu Sep 19 - Laval, QC - Place Bell

Fri Sep 20 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage

Sat Sep 21 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center

Tue Sep 24 - Chicago, IL - United Center

Wed Sep 25 - Sterling Heights, MI - Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre

Thu Sep 26 - Madison, WI - Breese Stevens Field

Sat Sept 28 - Englewood, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre

Sun Sep 29 - Salt Lake City, UT - Granary Live

Tue Oct 01 - Seattle, WA - Climate Pledge Arena

Wed Oct 02 - Vancouver, BC - Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena

Thu Oct 03 - Portland, OR - Moda Center

Sun Oct 06 - Berkeley, CA - The Greek Theatre

Mon Oct 07 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl

Thu Oct 10 - Mexico City, MX - Palacio De Los Deportes

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The War on Drugs Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Europe 2024 tour, the war on drugs, upcoming shows.

• Date and Venue Doors Scheduled
• Sep 12 2024 Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook Gilford, NH, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 13 2024 Forest Hills Stadium Queens, NY, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 4:30 PM  –  Start time: 8:01 PM (Est.) Tickets 4:30 PM 8:01 PM Estimated
• Sep 14 2024 Xfinity Center Mansfield, MA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 17 2024 TD Pavilion at the Mann Philadelphia, PA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 22 2024 Bourbon & Beyond 2024 Louisville, KY, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 24 2024 United Center Chicago, IL, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 5:15 PM  –  Scheduled: 6:45 PM Tickets 5:15 PM 6:45 PM
• Oct 03 2024 Moda Center Portland, OR, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Oct 12 2024 Heineken Silver Live Out 2024 Monterrey, Mexico  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times

The War on Drugs at Bukta 2024

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The War on Drugs at Malakoff Rockfestival 2024

The war on drugs at friluftsscenen, lunden, horsens, denmark.

• Baby Missiles
• An Ocean in Between the Waves
• I Don't Wanna Wait
• Harmonia's Dream
• Strangest Thing
• Eyes to the Wind
• Up All Night
• Lost in the Dream

The War on Drugs at De Oosterpoort, Groningen, Netherlands

• Buenos Aires Beach
• Born in Time

The War on Drugs at Cactus Festival 2024

• State of Independence

The War on Drugs at Royal Albert Hall, London, England

• Love Is a Long Road
• Nothing to Find

The War on Drugs at Mountford Hall, Liverpool, England

• Your Love Is Calling My Name
• The Animator
• Come to the City
• Comin' Through
• Disappearing
• Under the Pressure

The War on Drugs at Marlay Park, Dublin, Ireland

• I Don't Live Here Anymore

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Most played songs

• Red Eyes ( 414 )
• Under the Pressure ( 413 )
• An Ocean in Between the Waves ( 365 )
• Eyes to the Wind ( 324 )
• Pain ( 278 )

More The War on Drugs statistics

Absynthe Minded Autumn Saints Blaudzun The Bottom Dollars Di‐rect Kate Hudson La Iaia Conrad Keely Newfoundman Solar Manoeuvre The Tisburys Windup Space

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Artists covered

Badfinger The Building Bob Dylan Bill Fay Craig Finn Grateful Dead George Harrison Tim Heidecker John Hiatt Jethro Tull John Lennon Tom Petty Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Pink Floyd Pretenders Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band Patti Smith Group Bruce Springsteen Sharon Van Etten Kurt Vile The Waterboys Ronnie Wood Neil Young Warren Zevon

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6,109 people have seen The War on Drugs live.

Trovaag Goss jgarde TheBricker Pgrevl SAU3R bjornbrodir Hornhouser Mdahlx fb:771441488 Gajero BertBoss semih35 AliMathers JorisRaven pinkwin Niener dreamtheaterfan BSlettenhaar BazzieP wilghoes Martin1412 Ingert Sjan72 thomasheen EnricoNL Imperador Niels_Bruwier eastcamp StormerPB KVSmiley JStalenhoef jelledewitte danny95lwd sanderknoben Schuere Shariramaut enaul Gary-B meloman Patric kiom21 oliviervdpt vcmirko MaartenMoey simon7 Joysnoize conjichiwa Blossomix CurrentWilco

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• UPCOMING TOURS

THE WAR ON DRUGS

Australian tour december 2013/jan 2014.

After an outstanding 2012 tour performing at Harvest festival – plus sold out sideshows – The War on Drugs return to Australia this summer as part of Falls Festival! The band will play intimate sideshows at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club and Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory, ahead of the release of their new album.

MELBOURNE: Doors 8:30pm | Hollow Everdaze 9pm | Lost Animal 10pm | The War on Drugs 11pm

SYDNEY: Doors 8pm | Day Ravies 8:30pm | The War on Drugs 9:30pm

More info about The War on Drugs .

Filed under: THE WAR ON DRUGS

NSW government confirmation of drug summit welcomed by alcohol and other drug sector leaders

The NSW government has confirmed that its promised drug summit will commence this year.

This the first drug summit in the state since 1999. 

The summit will take place over four days, beginning with two days in regional NSW in October then two days in Sydney over December.

A second drug summit will be held in New South Wales at the end of the year, the state government has confirmed.

The summit is scheduled to be held over a collective four days, beginning with two days of regional forums from October.

The second half of the drug summit will be held on December 4 and 5 in Sydney.

The confirmation comes after months of uncertainty of when the state government would announce the summit.

NSW Premier Chris Minns committed to holding a drug summit during the 2023 election.

"We know that drug use impacts individuals, families and communities in many different ways. The drug summit will bring people together to find new ways forward to tackle this incredibly complex and difficult problem," Mr Minns said.

'An important conversation'

Health Minister Ryan Park said the drug summit would include a number of viewpoints on drug use, those in health and non-health contexts and those who have interacted with illicit drug use.

"This is an important conversation for us to have and it will be the first of its kind in a quarter century," Mr Park said.

NSW's first drug summit was held in 1999 by then-premier Bob Carr in the wake of record opioid-related deaths in the state.

One of the outcomes that followed the summit was Sydney's Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC), the first supervised drug consumption facility in Australia.

Confirmation welcomed by NSW harm reduction workers

Today's announcement was welcomed by the state's alcohol and other drug workers.

Robert Stirling, the CEO of the Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (NADA), saw this confirmation of the summit as a step forward, given the lack of a government plan for harm reduction in over a decade.

"It's time for NSW to move on from punitive approaches to drug policy and focus instead on removing barriers to treatment and ensuring support services are adequately funded," Dr Stirling said.

Emma Maiden, the general manager of advocacy and external relations at Uniting NSW/ACT, which oversees MSIC, she hoped the summit would result in the expansion of safe injecting facilities, drug checking services and more drug diversion and support programs.

Others have also made calls for an expansion of drug checking services , following the rise of entirely synthetic, and incredibly potent, drugs being detected in Australia .

"What we would like to see is not a criminal justice response when someone is caught with a small amount of drugs, but a health welfare response. And that person is connected with education, and other health and rehabilitation services if they seek it," she said.

Matt Noffs, the CEO of the Ted Noffs Foundation, commended the government's focus on regional communities.

"For the first time in a long time, we've got a government that's listened on this issue," he said.

Mr Noffs said he believed the key focus of the summit was providing support to young people using methamphetamine in regional areas.

"Those regional areas are really struggling and they've got the least amount of resources.

"If you're going to ask me what the top thing is: youth crime, methamphetamine, regional areas. That's the top issue."

Need for action

Ms Maiden said she felt what we're seeing now was a "real commitment to the kind of transformational conversation that happened back in 1999" by the NSW government.

"I think, because the government seems to be very focused on learning as much … As possible, I am hopeful that we can do more than talk, but actually see a building of consensus across all the political parties so that we can have reforms to our drug laws."

Pointing to the 2020 Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug 'Ice' report and the government's response , Mr Noffs said the difference was that this summit can be a moment for meaningful change.

"This is a time for action," Mr Noffs said.

"What separates this from the ice commission is you had hearing after hearing after hearing, you had panels, experts, police, family community, and you had someone who heard all of those and put the recommendations forward," he said.

"The thing that needs to set the summit apart from that is it is a time for action."

In line with the drug summit, the NSW government also announced that 12 not-for-profit organisations will collectively receive $33.9 million over four years to deliver alcohol and drug support services.

The government said this funding is part of its response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug 'Ice'.

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