Pitchfork: The Books Launch American Tour

After a two-week lesson in recouping from a jam-packed European tour, the Books are retiring their copies of In Search of Lost Time to make room in their suitcases for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Tonight, Paul de Jong and Nick Zammuto will embark on their own adventure through the States (+ Canada) in search of fence painters, buried moola, and river rafting expeditions. Or, you know, fans, music, and good times.

In addition to the usual t-shirts and CDs, the Books will have oven mitts emblazoned with their band name for sale at the merch table. It's "the first item in our nascent kitchen line," according to their website. Sure beats Books bookmarks!

Now, young grasshoppers, recall Twain's claim that "Music is a good thing; and after all that soul-butter and hogwash I never see it freshen up things so, and sound so honest and bully," and go buy yourself an effin' ticket.

Dates:

03-01 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse *
03-02 Poughkeepsie, NY - Vassar College *
03-05 Pittsburgh, PA - Andy Warhol Museum *
03-06 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center for the Arts *
03-07 Oberlin, OH - Dionysus Disco *
03-08 Urbana, IL - Courtyard Caf� *
03-09 Minneapolis, MN - The Whole Music Club *
03-10 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews *
03-13 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
03-14 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
03-15 Ann Arbor, MI - University of Michigan Museum of Art
03-17 Los Angeles, CA - J. Paul Getty Museum ^
03-23 Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Arts *%
03-24 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *%
03-25 Philadelphia, PA - International House *%
03-29 Charlottesville, VA - Satellite Ballroom !
03-30 Raleigh, NC - TSC Ballroom !
03-31 Atlanta, GA - The Earl !
04-01 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds !
04-02 Orlando, FL - The Social !
04-03 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder at FSU !
04-06 Austin, TX - The Parish
04-07 Denton, TX - Hailey's &
04-10 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge &
04-12 Salt Lake City, UT - In the Venue &
04-14 San Diego, CA - The Casbah #
04-15 Los Angeles, CA - Knitting Factory #
04-17 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall #
04-19 Eugene, OR - W.O.W. Hall $
04-20 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge $
04-21 Seattle, WA - Husky Union Building Auditorium $
04-22 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards $
04-26 Milwaukee, WI - Onopa Brewing Co.
04-27 Cincinnati, OH - Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center (Music NOW Festival) #
04-28 Grand Rapids, MI - Ladies Literary Club
04-29 Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
05-01 Buffalo, NY - Soundlab
05-02 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
05-03 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa @
05-05 Brooklyn, NY - Northsix
05-06 North Adams, MA - The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
05-12 Middlebury, VT - Coltrane @
05-13 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground @
05-24 New York, NY - World Financial Center