The “Eskimo Live! Tour” is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness one of the most enigmatic and influential art collectives in music history breathe new life into one of their most groundbreaking works. Each night will unfold as a surrealist ritual, featuring narration, characters, and staging designed to expand the mythology that has surrounded Eskimo for nearly half a century.
Originally released at the height of punk’s rise, Eskimo marked a radical departure – not just for The Residents, but for the landscape of experimental music. Eschewing lyrics and genre conventions in favor of fictional anthropology, the album constructs a surreal sonic universe inspired by imaginary Inuit rituals, frozen landscapes, and absurd cultural myths. Eskimo critiques Western imperialism and cultural exploitation not through traditional protest songs, but through hypnotic drones, bone-chilling chants, and grinding sound collages. It is part satire, part sound sculpture, and wholly unlike anything before or since.
Long regarded as one of the band’s most daring conceptual works, Eskimo has remained unperformed for more than four decades – until now.
Critics immediately recognized the album’s impact. “What I am sure of is that it’s without doubt one of the most important albums ever made,” wrote Andy Gill in NME. And yet, despite its acclaim and influence, Eskimo became one of those rare albums mythologized not only for its sound, but for its inaccessibility on stage.
With the ESKIMO Live! Tour, that myth becomes a reality.
The tour follows a period of renewed creative energy for The Residents. In February 2025, the group released Doctor Dark, a genre-defying modern opera inspired by real-world tragedy and national hysteria. Featuring orchestration by conductor Edwin Outwater and blending heavy metal, classical composition, and avant-garde horror, the album was hailed as one of the band’s most ambitious efforts in decades. But Eskimo remains a cornerstone – a Rosetta Stone to understanding The Residents’ irreverent, immersive, and impossible-to-pin-down aesthetic.
For over five decades, The Residents have defied definition. They claim no members. They don’t give interviews. Their anonymity is a radical artistic stance – one that rejects ego and identity in favor of concept, collaboration, and controlled chaos. Their work has been archived at MoMA, studied by musicologists, and cited as formative by everyone from Devo and Animal Collective to Blue Man Group. But The Residents have never stood still. Their art evolves. Their mystery endures. And now, they’re finally hitting the road to bring Eskimo to life.
THE RESIDENTS – ESKIMO LIVE! TOUR 2026
January 8 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom
January 10 – Seattle, WA – Neptune
January 11 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
January 14 – San Francisco – Palace of Fine Arts
January 15 – San Diego, CA – Belly Up
January 18 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
January 20 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theatre
January 22 – Chicago, IL – Park West
January 24 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall
January 25 – Montreal, QC – Le National
January 27 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
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