California rap rock pioneers (hed)p.e. are celebrating one of the most important albums of the late 1990s nü metal era with a major anniversary tour. The band has announced the “Still Broke In America Tour,” marking 25 years of their 1999 album Broke with a run of headlining shows across the United States and Canada.
The tour will feature support from fellow heavy music veterans Primer 55 and Flaw on select dates. The run also intersects with the broader Nü Metal Sucks Tour, where (hed)p.e. and Primer 55 share the bill with Spineshank as the latter celebrates the 25th anniversary of its album The Height of Callousness.
Released in 1999, Broke became one of the defining albums of the rap rock and nü metal wave that exploded at the end of the decade. Blending hip hop, punk, metal, and reggae influences, the record helped cement (hed)p.e. as one of the more politically outspoken and genre bending bands of the era.
Frontman Jared Gomes, often known as Jahred, built the band’s identity around an aggressive hybrid sound that fused West Coast punk attitude with rap, funk grooves, and socially conscious lyrics.
Long History With Suburban Noize Records
While Broke originally arrived through Jive Records during the late 1990s nü metal boom, (hed)p.e. later became closely associated with Suburban Noize Records, one of the most influential independent labels in the rap rock and underground alternative scene.
Founded by Kevin Zinger, Suburban Noize became home to bands that blended hip hop, punk, and heavy music long before those crossovers became mainstream. The label released several (hed)p.e. records over the years, including Back 2 Base X in 2006 and later albums that further explored the group’s mix of rap metal, reggae influences, and politically charged themes.
The partnership placed (hed)p.e. alongside a roster that included artists such as Kottonmouth Kings, Big B, and other acts that helped shape the independent rap rock movement of the 2000s.
Over the years the band has remained a constant touring presence, building a loyal fanbase through relentless touring and a steady stream of releases.
A Return to the Broke Era
The Still Broke In America Tour will highlight songs from the Broke album, which features fan favorites such as “Bartender,” “Killing Time,” and “Feel Good.” The record’s mix of aggressive rap metal and groove driven hooks helped it stand apart from the wave of nü metal bands dominating radio and festivals at the time.
More than two decades later, the album still holds a cult following among fans of late 1990s heavy music.
The anniversary run also reconnects several bands from the same era, bringing together artists who helped define the crossover between metal, rap, and alternative music during the early years of the millennium.
Tour Dates
Spineshank, (hed)p.e., Primer 55 & Kissing Candice
April 24 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s Sports Cafe
April 25 – Katy, TX – H-Town Metal Fest at The Wildcatter
April 26 – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box
April 28 – Oklahoma City, OK – 89th St. Collective
April 30 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
May 1 – Kearney, NE – The Otherside
May 3 – Sauget, IL – Pop’s
May 5 – Memphis, TN – Growlers
(hed)p.e. Still Broke In America Tour
May 7 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel Of Bones (with Flaw)
May 8 – Baltimore, MD – Zen West
May 9 – Bensalem, PA – Broken Goblet
May 11 – Syracuse, NY – The Song And Dance (with Primer 55)
May 12 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom (with Primer 55 and Flaw)
May 13 – Buffalo, NY – Rec Room (with Primer 55)
May 16 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar
May 17 – Toronto, ON – Garrison
Spineshank, (hed)p.e. & Primer 55
May 8 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville (no (hed)p.e.)
May 10 – Summerville, SC – Trolley Pub (Spineshank only)
May 11 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel Of Bones (Spineshank only)
Spineshank, (hed)p.e., Primer 55 & Tidals
May 14 – Toledo, OH – Frankie’s
May 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Crafthouse (no (hed)p.e.)
May 20 – Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater (Spineshank only)
Spineshank, (hed)p.e., Primer 55 & Oceans On Other Planets
May 21 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
May 22 – Reading, PA – Reverb
May 23 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge
May 24 – Columbus, OH – The King Of Clubs
May 26 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom (no Primer 55)
May 27 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
May 28 – Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theatre
May 29 – Ringle, WI – Q & Z Expo Center
May 30 – Iowa City, IA – Wildwood
June 1 – Madison, WI – The Annex
June 3 – Wichita, KS – Wave
June 4 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep
June 5 – Denver, CO – The Federal Theatre
June 6 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater
