The Posies are strictly hush-hush regarding the exact whereabouts of their Somerville appearance, but their new album “Solid States” will be widely available on May 20. — Photo by Dot Pierson

By Jim Clark

Esteemed alt-pop combo The Posies are currently engaged in a “secret” U.S. tour of unconventional spaces in support of the impending release of their new album Solid States, due to drop on May 20. They will be stopping off in Somerville on Friday, May 13 for a sold out show at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.

The group has adopted the unusual tactic of selling tickets to their shows online through their website, disclosing only the cities they will be appearing in. Ticket holders will be notified of the exact location by email 24 hours before the shows.

None of these full band shows will be in clubs, but all in cool, alternative event locations in the each city. It could be a photography studio or a comfy living room or a house boat, rehearsal studio or deli. Those attending the Pop Up Secret Show will have an opportunity to purchase a copy of Solid States in advance of it’s official release date of May 20.

“I think it’s our most adventurous record to date,” says founding member Jon Auer. “There was the conscious idea to strive for something different from the Posies of past, to use different colors and flavors. That was the plan, but then life had its way with our concepts and schedules, and threw many profound, out-of-the-park curve balls in our direction. By this point, we’d already painted ourselves into a musical corner, which ultimately left us no other option but to figure our way out, bit by bit, wave form by wave form.”

“Solid States” is due for release on May 20.

“We definitely chose to make an album where the guitar was less in front and more of just another tone generator in a field of diverse sounds,” band mate Ken Stringfellow explains. “The title Solid States refers ironically to the shattering of our stylistic habits and personal lives in the years between the this album and the one before it. We decided that the songs would be written with electronic rhythms in place, and we’d add real drums to give it variety, but only after everything else was done.”

A lot has transpired between the release of their previous album, 2010’s Blood/Candy, and now. “We’ve had two band mates die, a divorce and remarriage, a transoceanic move,” according to Stringfellow. “There’s been good things and difficult things, but nothing is in the same place for us. So it makes sense that this record would sound different from its predecessors.”

Joined on the tour by drummer Frankie Siragusa, who also plays on Solid States, the power pop trio boasts a game-changing sonic makeover that has shaken their loyal fans and critics by their heels.

“When it comes to the Posies,” Auer muses, “I feel we jump on it and really go for it when it feels like it really needs to happen. We’re still doing it because we’re both still curious to see what happens next.”

A select group of lucky fans will be in for a treat this coming Friday the 13th, as The Posies take the stage – wherever that may be – to entertain and present their new music.

Solid States will be officially released on May 20 and made available through the usual outlets, including the group’s website at http://theposies.net.