Downtown Boys Announce New Album ‘Public Luxury’ and Share Lead Single “No Me Jodas”
Providence, Rhode Island-based punk band Downtown Boys are set to release their new album, Public Luxury, on June 26th via Sub Pop Records. The announcement comes after nearly a decade since their last full-length album, 2017’s Cost Of Living. The band recently shared the lead single, “No Me Jodas,” accompanied by a music video directed by John McKay.
A Decade Since ‘Cost of Living’
Downtown Boys initially gained recognition in the 2010s for their energetic and politically charged punk rock. Following Cost Of Living, the band members remained active through various projects, including compilation tracks, a Selena cover, and a soundtrack contribution to the 2020 film Miss Marx. Individual members also explored music in side projects like The Snow and Gauche.
‘Public Luxury’: A New Sound
Public Luxury was recorded at Machines With Magnets in Providence, with band member Joey La Neve DeFrancesco co-producing alongside engineer Seth Manchester. DeFrancesco described the album as “bigger and more expansive than anything we’ve done before,” aiming to capture the energy of their live performances. He explained, “In writing this music, I tried to get closer to the feeling and sound of our live shows, which is where Downtown Boys is best experienced. When we perform, the guitars, keyboards, saxophones, the singing and intros, and the crowd yelling along with us all blend into a beautiful, cathartic energy. We wanted these songs to carry the depth of that live experience onto the recording itself.”
“No Me Jodas” and its Inspiration
Frontwoman Victoria Marie describes the album’s core message: “We as the people have the power – and we will have it all.” She further elaborated that the album embodies “finding power in the mundane” and is “for anyone and everyone who believes in the new future we can make together, a world that will be awkward, inconsistent, yet truly free when it comes to all that matters.”
The single, “No Me Jodas” (which translates to “don’t fuck with me”), transitions from an intense, driving intro into an upbeat, surf-punk style. The accompanying music video draws inspiration from “chicha,” a Peruvian music culture centered around economics, work, partying, and nightlife. Marie noted the ethic of chicha, as expressed by musician Chacalón, is “chamba and vacilón (hard work and partying).”
Tour Dates
Downtown Boys will be performing at the following venues this spring:
- March 26 – Providence, RI @ AS220 (with Black Eyes)
- March 27 – Boston, MA @ Deep Cuts (with Whyte Lipstick)
- March 28 – Portland, ME @ Space 538 (with Red Eft & Bait Bag)
Tracklist
- “Don’t Fuck Me”
- “The City Begins”
- “Mermaid”
- “Yellow Sun”
- “Long live the Rose”
- “Enemy Without”
- “You’re A Ghost”
- “Albuterol”
- “My Shell”
- “Public Works”
- “Public Luxury”
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