It was late 2017 when the world seemed to stop for a certain subculture of music fans. Brand New had just released Science Fiction, an album that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, a feat almost unheard of for an independent-leaning emo band. Then, the walls came down. Allegations of sexual misconduct against frontman Jesse Lacey surfaced, involving a minor and a pattern of behavior that felt, to many, like a betrayal of the vulnerability he’d spent two decades selling. The band cancelled their UK tour, went dark, and for seven years, the "2000–2018" countdown on their merch looked like a final death certificate.
But then came December 2024. A secret show. A charity gig for Make Life Skate Life. Suddenly, the silence was broken.
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By the time 2025 rolled around, the conversation around Brand New Jesse Lacey had shifted from "will they ever come back?" to "should they have?" It’s a messy, complicated reality that fans are still untangling as we head into 2026.
The 2025 Comeback: More Than Just Nostalgia
When Brand New announced their 24-date North American tour in early 2025, the internet basically imploded. This wasn't just a small club run. They were hitting heavy-hitting venues like the WAMU Theater in Seattle and ending at the UBS Arena in Long Island.
People expected a legacy act. What they got was a band that sounded—honestly—better than they did in 2017. Lacey’s voice, which always had that signature "on the verge of a breakdown" gravel, sounded controlled and powerful. They weren't just playing the hits like "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows." They were playing new songs.
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During the Nashville show at The Eastside Bowl in March 2025, Jesse performed a solo set that included a handful of brand-new tracks. We’re talking about "Adios," "When I Died," and "Get It Back." Fans were told not to record, but of course, snippets leaked. The energy was different. It wasn't the angst of a 20-year-old; it was the reflection of a man in his late 40s who has spent a lot of time in the shadows.
What the Setlists Revealed
The 2025 tour wasn't a "greatest hits" cash grab. If you caught a show in Detroit or Philly, you noticed a few things:
- Dual Drummers: They leaned heavily into the wall-of-sound aesthetic from The Devil and God era.
- Visual Minimalism: No giant screens, no flashy pyro. Just the band and the music, which felt intentional given the baggage they carry.
- The "New" Material: The inclusion of songs like "Sealed to Me" (finally getting a proper spotlight) and the unreleased Nashville tracks suggested that a sixth album isn't just a pipe dream.
Why Jesse Lacey Still Polarizes the Scene
You can't talk about Brand New Jesse Lacey without talking about the 2017 allegations. It’s the elephant in the room that some fans choose to ignore while others can't get past it. Lacey’s 2017 statement—where he admitted to a "dependent and addictive relationship with sex" and apologized for his "selfish, narcissistic, and insensitive" past—didn't provide enough closure for everyone.
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For many, the music was a safe space for the "misfits." Finding out the guy writing those songs had hurt people felt like a personal loss.
During the 2025 tour, the band didn't address the controversy from the stage. There were no long-winded apologies or explanations. They just played. For some, this was a sign of growth—letting the work speak. For others, it felt like an erasure of the harm caused. It’s a tension that defines the band’s current existence. You've got people on Reddit tracking every rehearsal, and you've got others who threw their Deja Entendu vinyl in the trash years ago. Both sides are part of the story.
The Impact of Private Grief
One detail that emerged during the Nashville solo show was Jesse speaking publicly for the first time about the death of his stepson. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from a man who has famously avoided interviews and social media for most of his career. It added a layer of human weight to the new music he was debuting—songs that dealt with loss, mortality, and the terrifying reality of "starting over" when everyone knows your mistakes.
The Reality of a 2026 Album
So, where are we now? Rumors are swirling that "LP6" is essentially finished.
Procrastinate! Music Traitors, the band's label, has seen renewed activity. Side projects like Dear Orca and Stagediver (which Jesse is rumored to be involved with) have kept the core members busy, but the "see you again soon" comments at the end of the 2025 tour dates weren't accidental.
Is it coming in 2026? Most signs point to yes. But don't expect a traditional rollout. This is Brand New. They’ll probably drop a coordinates-only tweet or mail out weird CDs to random addresses like they did with Science Fiction.
What to Do Next
If you're still following the Brand New Jesse Lacey saga, the best way to stay informed isn't through mainstream music sites—they rarely get the scoops.
- Monitor the Procrastinate! Music Traitors official site. They often update the source code or hide clues in the shop before a big announcement.
- Check Setlist.fm for "Jesse Lacey" solo dates. He seems to be test-driving new material in smaller, low-stakes environments before bringing it to the full band.
- Support the survivors. Regardless of where you stand on the band's return, organizations like RAINN continue to do the work that the music industry often fails to do.
The "seven years" prophecy from the Science Fiction era has passed. Whether you're here for the music or watching from a distance, the Brand New story is officially in its second act. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s definitely not over.