Pitchfork

With the Drag City release of his Sings Country Winners album on April 22, Neil Hamburger will make the transition from sadistically awkward stand-up comic to full-blown (albeit humorous) country western crooner. True to its title, the record consists of honest-to-goodness honky tonkin' music.

To complete the metamorphosis, Hamburger will play a series of West Coast shows in May and June where he'll be joined by the band that plays on the record. Those players include Rachel Haden, Prairie Prince, Dave Gleason, Atom Ellis, and Joe Goldmark, and between them, they've worked with the likes of George Harrison, John Fogerty, Weezer, Link Wray, and...the New Cars. Well, you win some, you lose some.

Hamburger also has two solo shows coming up on the East Coast April 19 and 20. The latter is also the date of Sings Country Winners listening parties at Chicago's Rainbo Club and NYC's Knitting Factory.

Jug Towns:

04-19 Danbury, CT - Heirloom Arts Theatre
04-20 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs
05-30 Mesa, AZ - Hollywood Alley *
05-31 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
06-01 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland *
06-10 Visalia, CA - Cellar Door *
06-11 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *
06-13 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *
06-14 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern *
06-15 Bellingham, WA - Rogue Hero *

* with live band