Pitchfork

Remember your first day of school? First kiss? First job? Well, get ready for something just as momentous: the first Silver Jews tour! Drag City has announced that genius wordsmith David Berman will take his show on the road in March, hitting "power cities" across America. At last, we'll get to hear a decade-and-a-half's worth of ragged poetry-rock, from the "Dime Map of the Reef" 7" to this year's Tanglewood Numbers, performed in all its hairy, fleshly glory.

Or so we hope. Apparently, the Silver Jews have decided to do this Barnum and Bailey style, as the "Love With the Lights On: Ballroom J Tour" will feature "a fiery oratorical performance" by ex-Pavement percussionist Bob Nastanovich, a "'professional style' multimedia stageshow", and "country comedy" by Kevin Guthrie and Corny Crow, according to a press release. The whole she-bang will be co-hosted by Berman's wife (and fellow Jew) Cassie.

Exactly who will be in the band (besides David and Cassie) has yet to be announced, but Berman warned potential ticket buyers, "Don't expect the Blizzard of the Masterminds this March. Think more along the lines of the Theatre of the Nephew." No, we have no idea what he's talking about either.

Power cities:

3-10 Athens, GA - 40 Watt
3-11 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
3-12 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall
3-16 Charlottesville, VA - Satellite Ballroom
3-17 New York, NY - Webster Hall
3-19 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
3-21 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
3-22 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
3-24 Columbus, OH - Little Brother's
3-25 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig

Also, keep in mind that the "SERIES 4" art exhibit at Brooklyn's Fire Proof gallery, featuring Berman's drawings, closes December 18. Also on display are artworks by Magnolia Electric Co.'s Jason Molina, the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle, Black Heart Procession's Pall Jenkins, and the Sea and Cake's Archer Prewitt. Get on that.

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