Washington, D.C., punk band Ekko Astral are releasing a deluxe version of their buzzy debut, Pink Balloons, for its one-year anniversary. The re-release includes the full 2024 album plus five bonus tracks, which are available right now as a digital EP called Pink Balloons: Popped; preorders are also open for a CD version shipping this summer.
You can hear “Shred Empty Blues (Popped Version)” — a riotous digital hardcore remix of the song “Head Empty Blues” by artists Mikie Mayo and dreamrats, featuring some choice new lyrics directed at Elon Musk — below.
The five-track bonus EP also includes “Pomegranate Tree,” a anti-war protest song that Ekko Astral released as a one-off single last year; new remixes of “uwu type beat” (by pet wife) and “on brand” (by They Hate Change); and a radio edit of “Sticks and Stones.”
Ekko Astral have tour dates supporting Bartees Strange starting this week, followed by their Liberation Weekend festival in the band’s hometown of Washington, D.C., on May 30 and 31, and another run of shows opening for Pup and Jeff Rosenstock in the fall.
“I could talk about how much this year meant for me personally, or how much it challenged me and how much I grew through those challenges,” Ekko Astral drummer Miri Tyler says in a statement. “But truly, the biggest takeaway for me after seeing the impact this record has made is that I’m finally part of something bigger than myself. The fact that these brilliant artists were inspired to produce their own remixes, the fact that people who have inspired me for years are excited to elevate this music and share it with their world, and the fact that I met so many trans and queer kids this year who were at their first concert — it all points to something so much bigger than one individual. I’m grateful it’s happening at a time when hope is so necessary, and I’m grateful we all get to be a part of it.”
Ekko Astral are led by singer Jael Holzman, a journalist who has also contributed to Rolling Stone. In the past year-plus, they’ve become one of the most vital political punk bands in the world, playing ferociously loud shows in a style they call “mascara mosh pit music” and remaining outspoken advocates for trans rights, an end to the bloodshed in Palestine, and other hot-button issues. Pink Balloons arrived last April on Topshelf Records, which is also releasing the new deluxe version. It rips.
Ekko Astral 2025 Tour Dates
Apr. 23 — Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall #
Apr. 25 — Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar #
Apr. 26 — Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg #
Apr. 27 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry #
Apr. 29 — Durham, NC @ Motoroco Music Hall #
May 1 — Nashville, TN @ The Basement East #
May 2 — Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West #
May 30 — Washington, DC @ Black Cat + DC 9 (Liberation Weekend)
May 31 — Washington, DC @ Black Cat + DC 9 (Liberation Weekend)
Sept. 3 — St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre *
Sept. 4 — Madison, WI @ The Sylvee *
Sept. 5 — Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed *
Sept. 6 — Detroit, MI @ Russell Industrial Center *
Sept. 8 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE *
Sept. 9 — Columbus, OH @ KEMBA Live! *
Sept. 10 — Cleveland, OH @ The Agora Theatre *
Sept. 20 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore *
Sept. 24 — Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall *
Sept. 25 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues *
Sept. 26 — San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger *
Sept. 27 — Austin, TX @ Radio East *
Sept. 30 — Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren *
Oct. 1 — Del Mar, CA @ The Sound *
Oct. 2 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium *
Oct. 4 — Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
Oct. 6 — Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *
Oct. 7 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox SoDo *
Oct. 9 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Rockwell at the Complex *
Oct. 11 — Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom *
Nov. 4 — Paris, FR @ Pitchfork Music Festival, Paris (Le Trabendo) !
Nov. 5 — London, UK @ Pitchfork Music Festival, London (Village Underground) ^
# w/ Bartees Strange
* w/ Pup, Jeff Rosenstock
^ w/ Ratboys, Upchuck
! w/ DuBlonde, Momma
