OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (FEBRUARY 4, 2025) – Praised for their own unique genre-defying sound that blends emo and alt-rock with jazz and funk along with a healthy dose of theatrics thrown in for good measure, Oklahoma City band Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards will release “Already Over (Smile Honey)” on March 7 (pre-save HERE) ahead of their 2025 tour, beginning on March 27 at The Roxy in LA.
“There’s a strange parasocial element that can come along with being a performer,” says Manchild. “Nowadays people think they know you because they follow you on social media, come to the shows, and think they know what’s going on in your life from what they see but in reality, they have no idea. This song is about putting on a facade, a smile, and gritting your teeth to go along with it, so as not to upset the balance of things.”
Founded by Johnny Manchild (writer, producer, vocals, keys), Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards have morphed into a collective of sorts with as many as ten collaborators affectionately named “the Poor Bastards” in regular rotation, with Johnny Manchild at the helm. The Poor Bastards includes core members Ethan Neel (drums) and Alex Coleman (bass) who will be joining Manchild for the tour and features a revolving touring band. They will be headlining venues mostly on the West Coast with more dates to be announced soon. Tickets for the tour are on sale now through the band’s website (all dates listed below).
From their hometown to the global stage, each release has been a marked discovery not just for the fans, but the Poor Bastards themselves carving a path and pulling together a community of rabidly dedicated fans from all over the world dubbed the “Manchildren” that grows larger every day with fans not only, driving hours across the country but flying in from all over the world to see the band play in the States. “Already Over (Smile Honey)”will bethe first of nine singles to be released this year to satisfy their fanbase bound together by a deep love of music, lyricism, and personal expression.
Press has praised their music too. The Needle Drop / YouTube music critic Anthony Fantano paused listening to their song “The Message” 10 seconds in asking “…why is this so good?” Their 2024 album release Rapture Waltz had The Big Takeover saying of “Oh, Songbird,” “Sitting somewhere between pop accessibility and rock groove, power-pop weight, and garage rock abrasiveness, it ticks lots of boxes for any discerning music fan. It exhibits the same jerky frisson and frantic energy found in many of the best New Wave songs back in the day, and feels like a brilliant update of the post-punk/new pop sound at its best. And given the state of pop today, such an accessible and infectious song could act as a rallying point, a storming of pop’s barricades; no guest rappers, no dance routines, just music designed to kick arse and cut the mustard, as they say in my part of the world.” The Oklahoman talks in depth about Manchild’s personal journey after Covid and said Manchild “frolics, bops and rages through the apprehensions of contemporary American life on his genre-defying new album.”
With almost 30 million streams and 54,000+ monthly listeners on Spotify, playing over 300 shows, releasing numerous singles, four albums, and a fifth album on the way in 2026, Manchild is looking forward to watching their fanbase grow and helping people through music along the way. “This music and this band have been a way for me to get find a path to better things” says Manchild. “We’re imperfect people in an imperfect world, but we focus on the things we can positively impact, and that’s what this music is ultimately about.”
TOUR DATES:
Mar 27 in West Hollywood, CA at The Roxy
Mar 29 in San Diego, CA at Til-Two Club
Mar 30 in Fresno, CA at Strummer’s
Mar 31 in San Francisco, CA at Bottom Of The Hill
Apr 3 in Sacramento, CA at Café Colonial
Apr 4 in Portland, OR at McMenamins White Eagle Saloon + Hotel
Apr 5 in Vancouver, BC at Fox Cabaret
Apr 6 in Seattle, WA at Funhouse
Apr 8 in Salt Lake City, UT at Kilby Court
Apr 9 in Fort Collins, CO at Chipper’s Horsetooth Lanes
Apr 10 in Denver, CO at Globe Hall
Apr 12 in Kansas City, MO at Minibar
Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards
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