Forty years in and BoDeans are still showing up. The legendary American roots rock outfit has launched a nationwide anniversary tour, “40 Years of Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams… and Good Things,” celebrating four decades of songwriting, touring, and heartland rock that helped define an era. Formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in the early 1980s, the band built their reputation the old-fashioned way, one show at a time, one unforgettable song at a time.
The tour pulls from across their catalog, hitting cornerstone tracks like “Good Things,” “Idaho,” and the enduring 1993 hit “Closer to Free,” alongside deeper cuts and select new material. Founding member, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Kurt Neumann remains the driving force. “It’s a great feeling to play music for people who want to hear it and sing along,” he says. “These days, it often brings them back to memories of their youth, and that’s what makes them happy.”
The BoDeans’ career résumé is genuinely impressive. Their 1986 debut ‘Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams,’ produced by T Bone Burnett, established their signature sound and earned an MTV Video Music Award nomination for “Fadeaway.” They’ve shared stages with U2, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tom Petty, The Pretenders, and David Bowie. They’ve logged more than 70 television placements, earned recognition in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Midwest Artists exhibit, and landed “Closer to Free” as the theme song for FOX’s Party of Five. That’s a legacy that sticks.
Their most recent album, ‘4 The Last Time’ (2022), written and recorded by Neumann in Austin, Texas, keeps the roots-driven energy alive with a modern lens on life, love, and resilience. More than a dozen studio albums deep, the band’s balance of radio-ready hooks and personal storytelling remains intact and fully in force on stage.
“Performing live is really important. It’s about living in the moment,” Neumann says. “It’s imperfect and electric, and I think that’s exactly why people are drawn to live shows. The audience is everything.”
“40 Years of Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams… and Good Things” Tour Dates:
April 30, Old Saybrook, CT, The Kate
May 1, Salisbury, MA, Blue Ocean Music Hall
May 2, Plymouth, MA, Spire Center for Performing Arts
May 3, Springfield, MA, Hope Center for the Arts
May 5, Kingston, NY, Assembly
May 6, Red Bank, NJ, The Vogel at Count Basie Center for the Arts
May 7, Sellersville, PA, Sellersville Theater
May 8, Annapolis, MD, Rams Head On Stage
May 9, Alexandria, VA, Birchmere
June 5, Green Bay, WI, Meyer Theatre (Sold Out)
June 6, Des Plaines, IL, The Des Plaines Theatre
July 3, Stevens Point, WI, Riverfront Rendezvous 2026 (Free)
July 4, Milwaukee, WI, Summerfest
July 10, Colorado Springs, CO, Phil Long Music Hall
July 11, Fort Collins, CO, Washington’s