"I've been thinking a lot about debutism. Why do we love debut albums?" reflects Luke Pritchard as The Kooks prepare to release their seventh album, Never Know. Eighteen years after their own debut Inside In/Inside Out, this record feels like a return to the beginning. Pritchard's goal was simple: "The whole thing was to just forget that the past had happened," he says. But to truly move forward, they had to reflect: "What kind of music do we want to make, and how do we make it feel natural?"

The Kooks, whose 2006 debut sold over 2 million copies, have unexpectedly found themselves beloved by a new generation. While their original fans remain, they've layered on a fervent Gen Z following, headlining festivals and selling out shows worldwide. Social media has made them a generations' new favourite band again, introducing their unmistakable Brit-pop joy to fresh ears.

However, the road from global fame to this new renaissance has taken much blood, sweat and fears. "You're always trying to renovate your band and re-inspire yourself because you don't want to fall into a pattern or formula," Pritchard explains. Together with Hugh Harris, the band's core duo has mastered the art of reinvention.

Their debut was a defining moment for indie music in the 2000s, their first releases set the sound of a moment in time. There are few songs as defining of the 2000s as 'Naïve', but the band were never a one-hit wonder - their follow-up record, Konk, hit number one as one of four top 10 albums. The Kooks never stopped evolving, transitioning from indie rock to synthpop and krautrock influences. Over time, they've integrated wide-ranging inspirations-Harris' love of soul and opera, alongside Pritchard's classic influences like Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.

After years of essentially painting over the cracks through internal shifts and lineup changes, the decision to make Never Know marked a true rebuilding from the ground up. Pritchard's reflections on debutism led him to a breakthrough: "It's not about going back to the first album's sound but to the roots of our influences and asking, 'What is the identity of this band?'" It was about recapturing the debut's energy- friends in a room buzzing with potential, pulling things together quickly and without the time or the money to overthink it.

Please note: This show was originally scheduled at the Roseland Theater on September 13, 2024. All previously purchased tickets will remain valid at the Grand Lodge show in 2025.