Courtesy of Post Animal
The Opener is The FADER’s short-form profile series of casual conversations with exciting new artists.
The Chicago psych-rock band Post Animal is in the midst of a renaissance. After former member Joe Keery (of Stranger Things fame) left the band in 2017 to pursue an acting career and start up his own solo project Djo, he and the band reunited in 2024 to write and record Post Animal’s upcoming fifth studio album, IRON, out July 25. “Last Goodbye,” the record’s first single, harnesses the breezy psychedelia present on their earliest records, albeit amped up and much more polished. But it’s not just in the studio where they’re colliding again. For the past month and a half Post Animal has been on the road with Keery as they open on Djo’s 2025 world tour, Back on You.
Last Monday, the members — Dalton Allison, Jake Hirshland, Javier Reyes, Wesley Toledo, and Matt Williams — took over Brooklyn for the first of three nights to preview their new songs, thrash out on stage, and banter with the packed-out crowd (which saw a few faintings from the heat). As they look ahead to more shows across Europe this summer and the arrival of the new album, The FADER caught up with Post Animal to chat about what they always have on their rider, their favorite song to play live right now, and the everyday delight of getting new socks. Read that ahead, and check out some exclusive shots from their year so far.
What’s something that’s always on your rider?
Celsius and deli meats.
Courtesy of Post Animal
Courtesy of Post Animal
What was the last movie you watched, and give a short review.
Wes saw Sinners, he thought it was Michael B. Jordan’s best performance as well as a great movie about music.
Name the last three songs you played/streamed.
The song “God’s Hate” by the band God’s Hate, “The Aftermath” by Mongrel, and “Fool in the Rain” by Led Zeppelin
Post Animal at Coachella 2025.
Courtesy of Post Animal
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Wes says that the Buddha is quoted in saying, “Desire is the root of all suffering.”
Courtesy of Post Animal
What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?
“Just play your f***in’ set.” – sound guy in Miami circa 2017 while we were line checking.
Courtesy of Post Animal
What’s your favorite song to play live right now and why?
“Last Goodbye,” it’s just so new and fun to perform together.
Courtesy of Post Animal
Describe the best show you’ve played this year so far.
All of these shows on the Back on You Tour have been so special. It was definitely monumental playing to the crowd at the Anthem in [Washington] DC due to the sheer size, but it’s hard to pick a number one!
Courtesy of Post Animal
Courtesy of Post Animal
What’s the best thing you bought yourself recently?
I tried to go for a pair of New Balance 1000’s in Boston, but they didn’t have my size, so I instead went for a 3 pack of New Balance socks, which were much needed and honestly an excellent addition to the sock rotation.
Courtesy of Post Animal
What was the last creative idea you had that made you ask, ‘Can we do that’?
We’ve been brainstorming how to incorporate a lighting rig element into our live show, which often starts with a “can we?”
Courtesy of Post Animal
What’s the ideal level of fame?
Taylor Swift.
Courtesy of Post Animal