TV on the Radio released their new single “Happy Idiot” with a trippy music video on Funny or Die to match. In the video, Paul Reubens (Pee-Wee Herman!) plays a race car driver “Racer Steven” who hasn’t raced “in a long time.” The heartbroken racer makes lap after lap, haunted and tormented by the images of a past lover (Karen Gillan). Karen Gillan (of Doctor Who, Selfie) is seen in different outfits, sometimes cheering, sometimes baking a cake, all on the sidelines of the race. Meanwhile, the band stands by, singing along “Since you left me babe/ it’s been a long way down.”
“Happy Idiot” is the first single off the bands new album Seeds from Harvest Records, which comes out November 18. This record will be the first since the death of bassist/producer of the band, Gerard Smith in 2011. You can click here to download the single before the album release, and watch the surreal video below.
Tour dates:
10-17 Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl (with Massive Attack)
10-18 Big Sur, CA – Henry Miller Library
10-19 San Francisco, CA – Treasure Island Music Festival
10-22 Los Angeles, CA – Regent
10-24 Joshua Tree, CA – Pappy & Harriets
10-25 Las Vegas, NV – Life is Beautiful
11-12 Toronto, Ontario – Phoenix
11-13 Montreal, Quebec – Corona
11-14 Boston, MA – Paradise
11-16 Washington DC – 9:30 Club
11-17 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
11-18 New York, NY – Apollo
11-21-22 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Images c/o Pitchfork, TV on the Radio, Funny or Die.
