As Acceptance prepares to drop Phantoms/Twenty—a 20th anniversary reimagining of their 2005 landmark Phantoms—the band has enlisted chart-topping powerhouse Teddy Swims to recreate their breakout single “So Contagious.”
For those who may not know, Swims previously shared with idobi Radio that Acceptance was a massive inspiration to him growing up. He shared on Gone Fishkin in 2023, “My favorite band ever is Acceptance. Jason Vena is my hero…and I got to meet him at When We Were Young and finally chat with him…Jason is the greatest vocalist.”
Of the collaboration, Acceptance shares “Our fondest memories of the Phantoms sessions can be re-told through the piano chords Jason sang into on the emotionally charged final chorus of ‘So Contagious.’ At the time, a song that was the truest form of what Acceptance could really be. Blending early indie rock influences in the single string verse guitars with big, dissonant choruses. ‘So Contagious’ captures the unbridled energy that comes with a new love.”
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They continue, “A few years ago, we connected with Teddy Swims by chance and sparked a strong connection through mutual admiration. From the moment we had the vision for Phantoms/Twenty, we knew Teddy was the only choice for So Contagious. Adding his signature soulful style to the song, Teddy was able to bring out of So Contagious, an entirely different experience. The result of which can be found in the final chorus of the song, as Teddy masterfully delivers some of the most dynamic moments found in Phantoms/Twenty.”
You can hear the reimagined version of “So Contagious” below.
Phantoms/Twenty will also feature collaborations with Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls, Cassadee Pope, Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive, John O’Callaghan of The Maine, and more. You can preorder and pre-save the album here.
Acceptance will also be hitting the road later this month. Check out their full touring schedule below and purchase tickets here.
Tour Dates:
- Aug. 22—Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
- Sept. 12—San Diego, CA @ The Observatory
- Sept. 13—Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
- Sept. 14—Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
- Oct. 17—Worcester, MA @ Palladium Upstairs
- Oct. 18—Brooklyn, NY @ The Brooklyn Monarch
- Oct. 19—Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
