Finger Eleven Confirm New Studio Recording, ‘Last Night on Earth’

Finger Eleven, one of the best-selling Canadian bands of all time, are experiencing a vibrant, full-circle moment. The multi-platinum Juno Award-winning group—Scott Anderson (vocals), James Black (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rick Jackett (rhythm guitar), Sean Anderson (bass), Steve Molella (drums)—criss-crossed America last summer with long-time former labelmates Creed, revisiting the summer of ’99.

Comments guitarist Rick Jackett:

“People were just smiling the whole time—it was contagious. We forgot we had so many friends in America. That was a cool feeling.”

That infectious, invigorating energy helped Finger Eleven enthusiastically complete their first new studio album in a decade, Last Night on Earth, primed for a November 7th release via Better Noise Music, their first with the label. They’ve released the album’s second single and video, the thunderous “Blue Sky Mystery,” featuring Richard Patrick from Filter.

Vocalist Scott Anderson notes that the chorus had a heavy Black Sabbath vibe, and the band maintained that throughout the song’s evolution, even as the verses underwent a larger transformation. Changes even came in at the eleventh hour of mixing, but they got the song they wanted. He wrote lyrics for “Blue Sky Mystery” about burrowing into the rabbit hole of a deep obsession.

Anderson comments:

“The more it’s in front of you, the less you understand it, the more you’re obsessed with it. You can’t get your mind around it, or away from it.”

Guitarist James Black recalls:

“‘Blue Sky Mystery’ was originally called ‘10 Ton Saber.’ I just pictured some guy in Star Wars with an enormous, bazooka-sized lightsaber.”

Filter lead singer Richard Patrick states:

“Working with Scott, James, Rick, Sean, and Steve could not have gone smoother. They are good guys and total pros. Coincidentally, Filter is also celebrating its 30th anniversary, and we’ve never had the opportunity to work with Finger Eleven before, save for an appearance at a festival together somewhere. Recording ‘Blue Sky Mystery’ was a lot of fun.”

Last year, fans got the first taste of Last Night on Earth via the high-octane “Adrenaline” (which reached the Top 20 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart) and a video that’s reached over 1760,000 views on YouTube. The song also reached #2 on the Active Rock chart in Canada, where the song held strong in the Top 5 for over four months and is still inside the Top 20 one year after release.

Jackett recalls:

“As we were making Last Night on Earth, there was this feeling that we were making a big rock record. We had done that early in our career, and then we veered away from it. But it was time to go back and embrace that bigness of the sound. Even the soft songs sound big.”

Further into the album, “The Mountain” rides musical peaks and valleys in its quest to chase the song, about the creative process expressed in a fantasy setting. Then there is the acoustic number “Last Night On Earth,” which tackles relationship turmoil. It’s the most personal new track for frontman Scott Anderson.

After rocking a busy festival season this summer, Finger Eleven will hit the U.S. with Alien Ant Farm and Brkn Love for a flurry of concerts leading up to the new album’s release. This will be followed by their biggest Canadian tour ever, with fellow native sons Headstones and Tea Party joining them. Tickets are available now on the band’s official website.

Finger Eleven ‘Last Night On Earth’ album artwork

Tour Dates:

08/02 – Port Colborne, ON – Canal Days Festival
08/22 – Regina, SK – Shake the Lake (Conexus Arts Centre)
08/23 – Mulhurst Bay, AB – Hilah Ayers Wilderness RV Park
08/30 – Goderich, ON – Goderich Salt Festival
09/06 – Hanmer, ON – East Valley Days Festival
09/25 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom
09/26 – West Springfield, MA – The Big E (no Alien Ant Farm/Brkn Love)
09/27 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
09/28 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s Pub
09/30 – Warrendale, PA – Jergels
10/01 – Albany, NY – Empire Live
10/03 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater
10/04 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
10/05 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
10/07 – Cleveland, OH – Mercury Music Lounge
10/09 – Columbus, OH – The King Of Clubs
10/10 – Des Plaines, IL – Des Plaines Theatre
10/11 – Hobart, IN – Hobart Theatre
10/12 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop
11/25 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Event Centre
11/26 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Arts Centre
11/28 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
11/29 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Casino Event Centre
12/01 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
12/03 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
12/05 – Toronto, ON – The Theatre at Great Canadian Resort
12/06 – Ottawa, ON – The Arena at TD Place
12/08 – Peterborough, ON – Memorial Centre
12/10 – Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
12/12 – Moncton, NB – Casino New Brunswick
12/13 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre