Live at The Empty Bottle in Chicago: Genesis Owusu / After Louise

Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM / 21+ REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE is Genesis Owusu's third studio album --- a 14-track project that stands as his most experimental and politically charged work to date. Released on 15 May 2026 via Ourness and preceded by the singles "PIRATE RADIO," "DEATH CULT ZOMBIE," "STAMPEDE," and "LIFE KEEPS GOING," the record features guest appearances from Duckwrth and Ladyhawke, and has been met with widespread critical acclaim. Pitchfork praised the way Owusu "folds together post-industrial dissonance, globe-trotting influences, and stinging social commentary," positioning him as "a unifying node in a post-everything landscape." The album unfolds as an eclectic musical journey, where Neo-Soul feeds into Alt Pop, Synth Punk into Funk, and genre borders dissolve into a vibrant, layered soundscape. It captures moments of collective ecstasy and desolation, resistance and joy, dance and reflection, while Owusu channels his sharpened lyricism into a reflection of the world's unrest. Written from a sense of necessity, the album is a piercing commentary on the political, social, and economic turmoil of contemporary society. Owusu ruminates on institutional corruption, the rise of extremism, and the fractures of modern life, while also calling for unity and brotherhood. The opening track, "PIRATE RADIO," sets the tone with its frantic instrumentation and unflinching honesty, followed by songs such as "STAMPEDE," "BLESSED ARE THE MEEK," and "THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE," which tackle far-right politics, genocide, and media manipulation. Amid the urgency, Owusu also finds space for introspection --- "HELLSTAR" and "RUNNIN OUTTA TIME" explore love and joy as acts of resistance, while the album's more personal moments examine apathy and the loss of empathy in a crumbling world. Recorded in South Wales with executive producer Dann Hume, the album emerged from free-flowing, unbounded sessions where no sound or genre was off limits. The result is a kaleidoscopic record that draws on influences from Deep Funk, Neo Soul, Brit Rock, and Alt Pop, fusing them into a powerful, cohesive statement. At its core, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE is a rallying cry and an act of hope --- a fearless reflection of the times that urges resistance, unity, and love amid global chaos.