Australian rock quartet the Vines -- Craig Nicholls (guitar/vocals), Patrick Matthews (bass/vocals), Ryan Griffiths (guitar) and Hamish Rosser (drums) -- will kick off a North American tour on July 10th in Toronto. The band has been receiving high praise in the U.K. for their debut album, Highly Evolved, which won't hit U.S. stores for another month -- July 16th. To whet fans' appetites, the Vines' first single, "Get Free," is available for downloaded and can be burned to disc from the band's site, www.thevines.com.

"They're short and sharp," bassist Patrick Matthews says of the Vines' live shows. "We're not going to be forcing any new songs down people's throats. One more thing: Craig [Nicholls] is possessed. He rolls around, falls over, knocks the mike stand over, buggles his eyes, jumps on me."

Aside from the Vines' headlining shows, fans will have plenty of opportunities to catch Nicholls' antics during the eighteen-date tour. On June 8th, they play San Diego radio station 91X's "X Fest"; on June 14th, they play San Francisco's Live 105's "BFD"; and on June 15th, they play Los Angeles' KROQ's "Weenie Roast." The band will also appear on MTV's Live from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on July 9th, Late Night with Conan O'Brien on July 16th and The Late Show with David Letterman on August 19th.

But with all the hype surrounding the band, Matthews says the Vines' goals for the tour are pretty simple. "It sounds really stupid, but you don't have to think we're cool, just like our music," he says. "We just want to be liked and enjoyed."

The Vines tour dates:

7/10: Toronto, Opera House
7/12: St. Louis, Galaxy
7/13: Chicago, Metro
7/14: Detroit, Shelter
7/17: New York, Bowery Ballroom
7/19: Boston, Paradise
7/20: Philadelphia, Theater of Living Arts
7/21: Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
7/23: Atlanta, Cotton Club
7/24: Birmingham, AL, Five Points Music Hall
7/26: Austin, Stubbs BBQ
7/27: Houston, Engine Room
7/28: Dallas, Trees
7/30: Denver, Bluebird
8/5: Vancouver, BC, Richard's
8/8: San Francisco, Slim's
8/9-10: Los Angeles, Roxy Theater

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(June 6, 2002)