Kevin Morby has dropped a new standalone single called “PBJ,” and it arrives with a music video and a food collaboration tour that treats the song like a recipe. The track follows his eighth studio album Little Wide Open, which came out in May via Dead Oceans.
The Sandwich Behind the Title
The title comes from a phrase Morby once heard a friend use to describe driving with the windows down while blasting the air conditioning. “I always loved the phrase and have used it ever since,” he explained in a statement. “I also love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (and all its variations) and so this is a very fun song for me. An end of summer song. Listen to it with the windows down … and the air conditioning up.”
The song itself pairs the imagery of heat, romance, and driving with a more wistful refrain about people gathering before inevitably dispersing. That sticky late-summer feeling runs through “PBJ.” Morby wrote all 13 songs on Little Wide Open.
The Band Behind the Track
“PBJ” was produced by Aaron Dessner, who also worked on the album. The song features Andrew Barr on drums and Justin Vernon on electric guitar. Morby contributes vocals, piano, synths, and Mellotron.
The Food Collaborations
Morby is celebrating the release with a series of food collaborations around the country. The lineup includes a PBJ ice cream from Van Leeuwen, a cookie from New York’s Culture Espresso, and a donut via Mr D’s Donut Shop in Kansas.
Each collaboration draws directly on the song’s title and its theme. The ice cream and the donut are the most obvious examples.
The Tour Dates Ahead
Morby has a busy stretch coming up. He starts with Richmond’s Iron Blossom festival later this month. Then he heads to Australia for a run of dates in November.
After that, he plays at My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday in Mexico this January. He closes the early part of the year at Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival in April.
The Song’s Musical Identity
“PBJ” is a standalone single, not a remix or a live version. It stands apart from the album that preceded it.
The song is a wistful ode to summer gatherings. Morby’s statement makes that explicit: “Listen to it with the windows down … and the air conditioning up.”
What We Make of It
The sandwich joke is the hook, but the song delivers something warmer than a pun. Morby’s statement about the phrase he heard a friend use is telling — he loved it immediately and kept using it.
That attachment carries into the song itself. The late-summer feeling, the heat, the romance, the inevitable dispersing of people — all of it is tied together by a phrase he found meaningful years ago.
The food collaborations add to the fun. An ice cream, a cookie, and a donut are all reasonable responses to a song called “PBJ.” They are practical, tasty, and entirely in keeping with the spirit of the track.
The tour dates show Morby moving across the globe. From Iron Blossom in Richmond to Australia, to Mexico and Knoxville, he is covering a lot of ground.
Key Facts Box
– Album: Little Wide Open (May, Dead Oceans)
– Songs: 13 total
– Producer: Aaron Dessner
– Guests: Andrew Barr (drums), Justin Vernon (electric guitar)
– Food collaborations: PBJ ice cream (Van Leeuwen), cookie (Culture Espresso), donut (Mr D’s Donut Shop)
– Tour: Iron Blossom (Richmond, later this month), Australia (November), My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday (Mexico, January), Big Ears Festival (Knoxville, April)
Tour Dates in Order
1. Iron Blossom (Richmond, later this month)
2. Australia (November)
3. My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday (Mexico, January)
4. Big Ears Festival (Knoxville, April)
“PBJ” is a wistful ode to summer that you can eat as well as hear.
See the video the story is built around at Consequence.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.