Tame Impala, the celebrated psychedelic music project helmed by Australian multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker, is back with a double dose of excitement for fans in 2025. On September 5, Parker not only dropped a brand-new single, "Loser," but also announced a highly anticipated U.S. arena tour in support of the upcoming fifth studio album, Deadbeat. The news has electrified fans and critics alike, promising a fall season brimming with dreamy synths, surreal visuals, and arena-filling performances.
The new single, "Loser," arrives as a shimmering, bittersweet anthem that leans into Parker's signature falsetto and lush, psychedelic production. According to T2 Online, the track is wrapped in a surreal, cinematic music video directed by Sam Kristofski. The video features none other than Joe Keery—best known for his role as Steve Harrington on Stranger Things and as a musician under the name Djo—playing the role of an unlucky antihero. Keery's character stumbles through a series of relatable misfortunes: he's dumped in the opening scene, awkwardly shoplifts a lighter, and loses on a lottery ticket. The video, with its quirky blend of melancholy and humor, paints Keery as the charming loser we can't help but root for.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Kevin Parker himself makes a cameo in the video, dressed as Keery's double. In a brief but memorable moment, Parker sighs a defeated F-word before melting back into the narrative—a sly wink to fans and a reminder that even the mastermind of modern psychedelia has his "loser" moments. As T2 Online puts it, the song is "a celebration of imperfection, a psychedelic anthem for anyone who has ever stumbled, fumbled, or felt stuck on life’s stoop." The combination of shimmering synths and Parker's emotive vocals makes losing sound, somehow, like the coolest thing in the world.
The release of "Loser" follows July's single, "End of the Summer," another hazy gem that set the tone for what fans can expect from Deadbeat. The new album, scheduled for release on October 17, 2025, marks Parker's first full-length project since 2020's The Slow Rush. The anticipation is palpable, with fans eager to see how Parker's sound has evolved over the past five years.
But the excitement doesn't end with new music. On the same day as the single's release, Tame Impala announced a limited U.S. arena tour to support Deadbeat. According to BrooklynVegan and Syracuse.com, the tour will hit six major cities, beginning with two nights at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on October 31 and November 1. From there, the band will play the United Center in Chicago on November 3, the Moody Center in Austin on November 6, Pechanga Arena in San Diego on November 9, and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles for two nights on November 11 and 12, before wrapping up at Oakland Arena on November 14.
Tickets are expected to be in high demand. The artist presale kicks off on September 10 at 12 p.m. local time, with general public sales beginning on September 12 at noon via Ticketmaster and other verified platforms such as Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and StubHub. For first-time Vivid Seats customers, there's even a promo code—SYRACUSE20—for $20 off any ticket order of $200 or more, as noted by Syracuse.com. The tour marks Tame Impala's first U.S. live shows since 2022, adding another layer of anticipation for fans who have been waiting years to see Parker and company return to American stages.
In an era when music videos can sometimes feel like an afterthought, the "Loser" video stands out for its artistic ambition and relatability. The choice of Joe Keery as the lead is inspired—his natural charisma and everyman appeal make the character's mishaps both funny and oddly touching. The video weaves through marketplaces, stoops, and fleeting glances, creating a lo-fi daydream where nothing seems to go right, but everything looks strangely beautiful. As T2 Online describes, it's "equal parts quirky, melancholic and weirdly relatable."
For longtime fans, the video also offers a playful meta-moment when Parker appears as Keery's double, briefly breaking the fourth wall. It's a reminder that beneath the glossy production and surreal visuals, Tame Impala's music is grounded in real, human emotion—regret, self-deprecation, and the universal feeling of not quite measuring up. Yet, in true Tame Impala fashion, these themes are delivered with a wink and a groove, turning sadness into something you can dance to.
The new album Deadbeat is already generating buzz, with both singles—"End of the Summer" and "Loser"—showcasing Parker's continued evolution as a songwriter and producer. The album's title itself hints at the themes of imperfection and introspection that have long been central to Tame Impala's appeal. As Parker moves into his fifth full-length release, fans and critics alike are eager to see how he balances the psychedelic soundscapes that made him famous with the more personal, confessional songwriting that has characterized his recent work.
Adding to the excitement, BrooklynVegan has announced a limited edition, numbered cassette of Deadbeat, exclusive to their shop and available for pre-order now. It's a nod to the band's analog roots and a treat for collectors who want a tangible piece of Tame Impala history.
Of course, the upcoming tour is more than just a chance to hear new music—it's a celebration of live performance, community, and the enduring power of psychedelic rock. With arena dates in major cities across the U.S., Parker and his band are poised to deliver the kind of immersive, euphoric shows that have become their trademark. The fact that this is their first U.S. tour since 2022 only adds to the sense of occasion.
For those who have followed Tame Impala's journey from bedroom recordings to global stardom, 2025 feels like a culmination and a new beginning. With Deadbeat on the horizon, a hit single in "Loser," and a major tour just weeks away, Kevin Parker is once again proving that even in moments of defeat, there's beauty, humor, and a killer soundtrack to be found.
As autumn approaches, fans across the country are marking their calendars, ready to lose themselves in Tame Impala's latest chapter. From the shimmering synths of "Loser" to the promise of arena-sized singalongs, it's shaping up to be a season where imperfection is not just accepted—it's celebrated.
