Car Seat Headrest Announces Rock Opera Album 'The Scholars' and US Tour

The band’s first album in five years, inspired by spirituality and post-COVID experiences, debuts May 2 alongside a limited-run tour.

The Scholars, a nine-track concept album set at the fictional Parnassus University, will explore themes of life, death, and rebirth through interconnected stories of students and faculty.
The lead single, 'Gethsemane,' is an 11-minute, multi-part track accompanied by a music video directed by Andrew Wonder, introducing the character Rosa and her supernatural journey.
This marks the band's return after a five-year hiatus, during which frontman Will Toledo faced significant health challenges, including a long recovery from histamine intolerance caused by COVID-19 complications.
The album features a collaborative songwriting approach and a live-band dynamic, with contributions from guitarist Ethan Ives, who also takes lead vocals on some tracks.
Car Seat Headrest will support the release with a carefully spaced nine-date US tour, starting May 16 in Salt Lake City and concluding November 1 in Oakland, to accommodate Toledo’s health needs.