Old 97s Book 15th Anniversary Tour for Fall

The Old 97’s had been scrapping around the country for more than half a decade by the time their major label debut, Too Far to Care, was released in 1997. Their first two albums were somewhat ramshackle affairs that combined country, punk and an innate pop sensibility. Though the both had extreme highs mixed in to a lot of clutter, it was Too Far to Care that first got that sound right. In a sea of alt-country acts getting huge at the time, the Old 97’s found a unique place with their sound that, somehow, effectively combined country and Brit-Pop.

Fittingly, then, the band has announced a tour to celebrate the 15th anniversary of that album – which remains their best – later this year. The celebration dates will kick off August 24 in Dallas, and will run through October 29, when the band is scheduled to play Nashville. In between those dates, the group will visit Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle, Omaha, Chicago and New York, among others.

Each show on the tour will feature the band running through the entirety of Too Far to Care, as well as a second set of other songs they’ve recorded throughout the years. Lead singer Rhett Miller will open every show with a solo set.

Miller had the following to say about what made Too Far to Care so special:

Too Far to Care was a magical moment for the 97’s. Starry-eyed and flush with confidence thanks to our brand-new deal with Elektra, we felt no fear, just giddy excitement. An adventurous producer and a world champion A&R guy shepherded us through the recording process. And when it was all over, we captured our little bit of lightning in a bottle.

The Old 97’s released their most recent album, The Grand Theatre, Volume Two last year, and Miller says the band is compiling songs for their next album, though there are no official plans for it yet. Miller just released his fourth solo album, The Dreamer.