Superchunk Return from Hiatus, Celebrate 20 Years of Merge Records

After spending the better part of the 2000's on extended hiatus, indie rock veterans Superchunk have finally returned with their first original studio effort in 8 years. "There was definitely a mood shift," Superchunk's Jim Wilbur tells Spinner about their 2001 tour. "We decided to take a little time and wait until the enthusiasm was there."

Last week, the band released 'Leaves in the Gutter,' a five-song EP, and will start working on a full-length album in the near future. But when it comes to playing gigs, Superchunk may have make a slight adjustment.

"We're not touring as much as we did in the past," Wilbur says. "We used to tour and we'd play Kirby's Beer Store in Wichita, Kansas for tips. And that would be a fun night. We're in our 40's now. It's just natural to kind of slow down."

One of their performances this summer will be the XX Merge Festival in July, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Merge Records, the independent label created with humble intentions by Superchunk members Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance.

"We would put records together in Laura's bedroom, drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon and stuffin' records into sleeves," Wilbur recalls. "And now they're putting out Arcade Fire records. It's kind of insane."