NYC rock band Telescreens – named after the omnipresent surveillance devices in George Orwell’s 1984 – kick off 2026 with their latest single, the sky crawling “Preacher,” a track that fuses the band’s signature intensity with lyrical insight into adoration, authority, and the pressures of public life. Frontman Jackson Hamm shares, “‘Preacher’ is about the debaucherous things we worship as a society. We build people up as hero’s, icons, rulers of our culture, only to relish in the sight of their fall. This song is about being a dancing monkey, the dark natures of addiction, the highs that come from the spotlight and the lows that follow. And all the while they call you a preacher.”
The video for the track was directed by Jack Cohen and leaning into their band’s hometown features local (and national) legends Kareem Rahma (Subway Takes) and Paul Rizzo (The Bitter End). Hamm further notes, “This video is our first deep dive into the new narrative era of Telescreens. Set against the backdrop of a late-night talk show, ‘Preacher’ is a glitchy and psychedelic journey through time, and an exploration of the people we choose to idolize. It used to mean something to be on Television, to be seen by millions of people at once, it was powerful. Today, that power is readily available at our fingertips. We’re all one viral moment away from being thrust into stardom. So can you blame people for thinking that the world is waiting to hear what they have to say? Because maybe it is.” The single is accompanied by a pair of B-sides, “Red Days” and “So What.”
Today’s new single is Telescreens’ follow up to last Fall’s “Nothing” and its B-sides, “Gimme All You Got” and “Alcoholism.”Together they captured the band’s knack for balancing nostalgia and innovation, merging walls of sound with intricate melodic detail. Listen to all 3 here.
Known for their gritty, high-voltage live performances, Telescreens turn every stage into a full-body experience. Their shows are packed with sweat, movement, and the kind of unrestrained dancing that collapses the barrier between band and audience. Rooted in the ethos of New York City’s storied rock scene while fearlessly pushing it forward, the band has headlined NYC’s Webster Hall and Bowery Ballroom and played the main stage at Governors Ball 2024. Fans can expect that same chaotic, immersive energy as the band hit the road this spring for a North American tour as the support for Quarters followed by a run supporting Sir Chloe. The dates kick off March 14 in Philadelphia and conclude April 21 in Montreal. All shows are listed below and tickets are available here.
Formed in Manhattan and comprised of Jackson Hamm (vocals/guitar), Austin Brenner (bass), Josiah Valerius (keys/synth), and Oliver Graf (drums), Telescreens has built a reputation for thick, buzzsaw guitars, driving rhythms, and songs that tackle themes from longing and love to societal observation. “Everything we do is about creating a space where people can lose themselves in the intensity of rock and roll,” Hamm explains. Their debut album The Return (2020) introduced a cinematic, story-driven vision; 7 (2024) added heaviness and immediacy, and included “Phone Booth,” their standout single from the album. “Nothing” and “Preacher,” points toward what’s next: a band sharpening their vision, expanding their sound, and doubling down on the visceral energy that has always been at the heart of Telescreens.
Telescreens tour dates
3/14 – Theater of the Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA *
3/19 – Mahall’s – Cleveland, OH *
3/20 – Thalia Hall – Chicago, IL *
3/21 – Fine Line – Minneapolis, MN *
3/23 – Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO *
3/25 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT *
3/27 – Neumos – Seattle, WA *
3/28 – Mission Theater – Portland, OR *
3/30 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA *
4/01 – Quartyard – San Diego, CA *
4/02 – The Regent – Los Angeles, CA *
4/03 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ *
4/05 – Scoot Inn – Austin, TX *
4/06 – Deep Ellum Art Co. – Dallas, TX *
4/07 – House of Blues (Bronze Peacock) – Houston, TX *
4/17 – Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC ^
4/19 – Anabel’s – Toronto, ON ^
4/21 – Le Studio TD – Montreal, QC ^
* Support for Quarters
^ Support for Sir Chloe
