'Tally Ho!' The Clean to Come to America

I don't usually base a post solely on news of a tour. It only benefits the few readers that a) like the band and b) are lucky enough to live in or near the cities where they perform. Occasionally, though, a legend hits the road that excites me to the point where even the faintest glimmer of readers seeing them propels me to pass the word. Surprisingly, before today, it has already happened twice this year with annonced shows from fIREHOSE and Close Lobsters. Now comes word New Zealand's the Clean will wash up on America's shores for a brief one-week stint. Just as there is little hope of seeing Close Lobsters in Glasgow this April, I most likely won't get to hear the jangle of the Clean come June. As long as there are dates, however, the dream lives.

Although the Clean's first single came out more than 30 years ago, the band only has a handful of proper albums, and they are difficult to acquire. If you don't own any Clean, I suggest the double-disc 'Anthology' that came out in 2003. Almost all of their stellar early work is there. If you like that, check out their latest, 'Mister Pop.' The song "In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul" was No. 9 on my top tracks of 2009 list. And if you do live in one of the cities below, see them for me, won't you?

The Clean - Tally Ho! (mp3) (1981)
The Clean - Two Fat Sisters (Live) (mp3) (1981)
The Clean - In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul (mp3) (2009)

The Clean's Tour Dates
May 30 Los Angeles, The Echo
June 2 Austin, Texas, Club De Ville Chaos in Tejas Festival
June 4 Allston, Mass., Brighton Music
June 5 New York, Le Poisson Rouge
June 6 Philadelphia, Johnny Brenda's
June 7 Washington, D.C., Rock & Roll Hotel
June 8 Chapel Hill, N.C. Local 506