Utah-based folk-pop outfit The National Parks doesn’t always turn up the electric guitars or layer huge background vocals, but when they do—as they have on their brand new single “Trouble”—it’s ready for national airwaves and huge crowd singalongs. “Trouble” bottles the butterflies of “love at first sight” in a righteous rock and roll format. “It’s a song about meeting someone and instantly feeling this electric connection,” says The National Parks frontman and namesake Brady Parks. “It’s a deep-down feeling where you know that from this point on your life will never be the same.”
Along with Megan Parks on violin, Sydney Macfarlane on vocals and keys, and Cam Brannelly on drums, The National Parks lean into a driving, high-energy groove that’s purpose-built and ready to shake the rafters of arenas worldwide. “I remember when we took this song to the studio we all felt the need to channel some Tom Petty vibes,” says Parks. “It became one of our most rock-leaning songs yet and we love the energy and life it has.”
Today, Folk N’ Rock premiered “Trouble,” writing, “”Trouble’ is pulsing with energy and is an infectious melody that is guaranteed to stay in your head.”
Fans can listen to “Trouble” today at this link, listen to the previously-released singles “8th Wonder” and “Sunshine,” and pre-order or pre-save the band’s upcoming LP, 8th Wonder, ahead of its March 3rd release right here.
The National Parks have also announced their fall tour dates that include stops at Brooklyn Made in Brooklyn and The Basement East in Nashville for their continued 2023 8th Wonder Tour. Tickets are now on sale and a full list of tour dates can be found below or at thenationalparksband.com/tour.
More About 8th Wonder: At the top of 2022, The National Parks hopped on Zoom for a “New Year’s Resolutions meeting,” which galvanized their next step and the vision for the album became completely clear. The band discussed their ambitions for the year ahead and ultimately decided they wanted to hone in more on their core identity for the next LP. That connection with the natural world became the thematic center of the writing process. “We’ve stepped into what The National Parks is,” Sydney elaborates. “We basically said, ‘This is who we are and who we have always been.’ We decided to show who we are without trying to prove anything. I think it’s our best work.”
“Angels,” the album’s first single and opening track, sets the tone for what’s to come. The layered, evocative song centers on breaking free of expectation and searching for adventure on the open road—a sentiment that threads through the rest of the album. On the song, Brady sings, “Imma tell our kids about this someday.”
Following “Angels,” The National Parks initially teased the album with the single “History Channel.” A pop-punk beat sets the pace as piano dances around a thick guitar riff. Brady’s voice echoes on the chantable chorus as he confesses, “I didn’t know I could feel this way.” “It’s about being caught up in day-to-day routines,” the frontman reveals. “Something happens, and you take a step back to admire life for how epic it really is. For me, it came right after our son was born. I was so in awe of Megan and having a baby. It took my life from the plains to the mountain range and it was so massive and mysterious. That’s the heart of it for me.” “We really tapped into the energy of bands like blink-182 and Taking Back Sunday,” Cam goes on. “It was so fun to record because we got to listen to music from our childhood.”
A violin solo glistens through “Sunshine” as acoustic guitars wrap around a steady beat. “You’re finding those people and holding onto that energy when the days are rough,” he says.
Then, there’s “Trouble.” It bottles the butterflies of “love-at-first sight.” Speaking of love, the finale “Rodeo” traces a roadmap of real romance across “all of the places we’ve been on this journey as we’ve pursued music and our relationships” in between steady handclaps and tambourine.
In the end, The National Parks welcome everyone into a much bigger and more wonderful musical world. “When you hear this, we hope you feel like you stepped outside,” Brady leaves off. “We hope you discover the spirit of the unknown and the adventure of life with all its ups and downs. This album is about embracing it all and living life to the fullest.
8th Wonder Tour Spring 2023 Dates:
Friday, March 17 – Salt Lake City, UT – Union Events Center
Thursday, April 20 – Rexburg, ID – Romance Theater
Friday, April 21 – Rexburg, ID – Romance Theater (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, April 22 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall
Tuesday, April 25 – Portland, OR – Mission Theater
Wednesday, April 26 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile’s Madame Lou’s
Friday, April 28 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone
Saturday, April 29 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Atrium
Thursday, May 4 – San Diego, CA – Voodoo
Friday, May 5 – Los Angles, CA – Troubadour
Saturday, May 6 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
Tuesday, May 9 – Houston, TX – The Bronze Peacock at House of Blues – Houston
Wednesday, May 10 – Austin, TX – Antone’s
Thursday, May 11 – Dallas, TX – Kessler
Friday, May 12 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th Street OKC
Saturday, May 13 – Denver, CO – Bluebird
8th Wonder Tour Fall 2023 Dates:
Thursday, September 28 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn
Friday, September 29 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
Saturday, September 30 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Monday, October 2 – Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
Tuesday, October 3 – Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
Thursday, October 5 – Nashville, TN – Basement East
Friday, October 6 – Charlotte, NC – Camp Northend
Saturday, October 7 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall
Monday, October 9 – Columbus, OH – A&R Music Bar
Tuesday, October 10 – Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Music Hall
Thursday, October 12 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
Friday, October 13 – New York, NY – Brooklyn Made
Saturday, October 14 – Boston, MA – Crystal Ballroom @ Somerville
Thursday, October 19 – Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi
Friday, October 20 – Chicago, IL – Metro
Saturday, October 21 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
Monday, October 23 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
Wednesday, October 25 – Kansas City, MO – RecordBar
Thursday, October 26 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic
Friday, October 27 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
Saturday, October 28 – Louisville, KY – Headliners
For all dates and ticket information, please visit thenationalparksband.com/tour.
