6 February 2026
Band: RATBOYS
Who: Chicago’s beloved guitar pop
indies, fronted by ratgirl Julia Steiner.
Album: Singin’ To An Empty Chair.
Their 6th longplayer.
Album artwork
Press Info: “11 songs showcase Ratboys‘ twangy, effervescent, as confident as they’ve
ever been, and more emotionally interrogative than ever before. If the band’s last record, 2023’s widely-praised The Window, was “a level-up record,” then Singin’ to an Empty Chair
is Ratboys at the peak of their powers.”
Julia Steiner (vocalist/lyricist/guitarist): “A big, overarching theme of this record is my
attempt to document my experience being estranged from a close loved one. The goal is to update this person on what’s been going on in my life and to try to bridge that impasse and reach out a hand into the void.”
DIY Magazine (UK) says: “At a time when country-tinged indie rock is by no means
in short supply in America – Wednesday, Waxahatchee and MJ Lenderman all spring
to mind – Ratboys have earned their seat at the top table.”
TUTV: Expect a tsunami of indie guitar pop fervor. Made me immediately think
of Australian group The Belair Lip Bombs, who scored best album of 2026 on
TUTV’s list with their 2nd one Again.
Signin’ To Empty Chairs is not as good as Again. Mind you, we get a handful of bouncy tunes (Open Up / Know You Then / Anywhere / What’s Right and At Peace In The Hundred Acre Wood), but we also get a handful of lukewarm songs to make this a memorable record. Anyway, indie guitar pop is alive and kicking.
KEY SINGLE
ALBUM