Pitchfork

Calexico may have been nominated for the PLUG Awards' Americana Album of the Year category, but it isn't just stars and stripes they're interested in tackling in 2006.

The Tucson clan will launch a short December tour this weekend (December 2), and in addition to taking Annuals, the Broken West, and Los Lobos along for the ride, Calexico are bringing some special guests: reps from Humane Borders and Music for America, two organizations dedicated to raising awareness about humanitarian issues resulting from immigration and border control (specifically Mexican) regulations.

In addition to their North American plans, Calexico have a Japanese tour lined up for January with-- what? Can this be true? Iron & Wine?! What a surprise! Then it's back to the States for a pair of shows at Lincoln Center in New York City, as part of the American Songbook series.

12-02 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre *
12-03 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad *
12-04 Flagstaff, AZ - Orpheum *
12-05 Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse *
12-07 Santa Barbara, CA - Soho Restaurant #
12-08 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore ^
12-09 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore ^
01-19 Fukuoka, Japan - Soul Bird %
01-20 Okayama, Japan - John Bull Hall %
01-23 Kanagawa, Japan - Art Village %
01-24 Osaka, Japan - Club Quattro %
01-25 Nagoya, Japan - Club Quattro %
01-27 Tokyo, Japan - Club Quattro %
02-08 New York, NY - Allen Room at Lincoln Center (American Songbook series) (two shows)

* with Annuals
# with the Broken West
^ with Los Lobos
% with Iron & Wine