Superchunk Bassist To Stop Touring Due To Hearing Damage

Laura Ballance, bassist for indie rock band Superchunk, will no longer be touring with the band she helped found in 1989. She recently finished recording for the band's 10th studio album I Hate Music, but as she wrote on Superchunk's website, she doesn't hate music at all, so that is not the reason she will not be touring. Ballance has been suffering from a form of hearing damage called hyperacusis, which causes hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and oversensitivity to sound. She had continued to play with this condition over the last few years, but this caused things to get worse. She has said that if she can find a way to protect her hearing from further damage, she will return to playing live shows, but fans should not expect that to happen anytime soon.

Superchunk will be heading out on the road Ballance-less to support I Hate Music, which comes out on August 20th. Check out the tour dates below!

June 20 Calgary, AB Sled Island @ Republik
Aug 22 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
Aug 23 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle
Aug 24 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
Sept 2 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot
Sept 3 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Sept 4 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
Sept 6 Portland, OR MFNW @ Crystal Ballroom
Sept 23 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theater
Sept 24 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
Sept 26 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Sept 27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sept 28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sept 29 Washington, DC 9:30 Club