All these bands — well, at least The Killers and The Hold Steady — lately — well, more like the last 20 years, but whatever — seem to — these asides aren't bothering you, are they? — be becoming more musically enamored and influenced with the Garden State's most famous gift to the world (if you said The Shins or Braff, you are sad), Bruce Springsteen. But, it is easy to forget that The Constantines have a couple years on all these Brucey-come-latelys. In this fast-paced, rat-race world, where a day seems like a year, a year probably seems like at least a couple years, maybe even three, it may seem like longer, but it was about one year ago that those Canadian-uniters of punk, rock and Bruce put out their latest LP, Tournament of Hearts, on Sub Pop rock city.
Now you can relive those heady days by attending a show during a short tour by those scruffy and loveable brothers in arms, who formed the band back in Guelph, Ontario in 1999. Why so much talk of Canada? Surely not because it has been hyped-to-death as a country with an astonishing amount of amazing bands. Incidentally, Canada, I think Sweden is nipping at your heels, so watch your back and cover your ass. Canada, while it is old news in the independent rock world, is important to all this talk of The Constantines, mostly because their upcoming shows are almost all taking place in Canuck country. So grab your passport, prepare to be hassled by overzealous border security, and (legally) get super drunk — you crazy 19-year-old — while checking out the boys who have brought the Boss back into relevance (something he can't seem to do himself). Fellow Springsteen acolytes The Hold Steady, as well as the band with possibly the most ironic band name ever, The Tragically Hip, and the general good band The Creeping Nobodies will be playing alongside The Constantines during what essentially amounts to three different jaunts:
11.21.06 - Philadelphia, PA - The North Bar *
11.22.06 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw *
11.29.06 - Waterloo, ON - Starlight Social Club #
11.30.06 - London, ON - Call the Office #
12.01.06 - Toronto, ON - Lees Palace #
12.02.06 - Toronto, ON - Lees Palace (matinee - CARE Canada benefit) @
12.02.06 - Hamilton, ON - The Underground (evening show) #
12.08.06 - Sudbury, ON - Townehouse Tavern ^
12.09.06 - Brantford, ON - Ford Plant ^
01.29.07 - Peterborough, ON - Peterborough Memorial Centre $
01.31.07 - Oshawa, ON - General Motors Centre $
02.02.07 - Ottawa, ON - Scotiabank Place $
* w/ The Hold Steady
# w/ Lullabye Arkestra
@ w/ Jason Collet
^ w/ The Creeping Nobodies
$ w/ The Tragically Hip
