THE BOTTLE ROCKETS

The Bottle Rockets -- America's finest rock and roll band -- have released their summer tour schedule. There aren't any Chicagoland dates (yet) but the band's sound -- Tom T. Hall meets Crazy Horse? -- makes it well worth the trip to any of these appearances:

• August 5 - St. Louis, MO - Strassenfest
• August 6 - Springfield, IL - Underground City Tavern
• August 7 - Champaign, IL - High Dive / Whip Fest
• August 9 - St. Louis, MO - Harrah's Casino
• August 10 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge
• August 17 - Little Rock, AR - Sticky Fingerz
• August 19 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre
• August 20 - Austin, TX - Stubb's BBQ
• August 26 - Madison, WS - High Noon Saloon
• August 27 - Milwaukee, WS - Gilfest
• September 11 - Leroy, IL - Mustang Sally's / Whip Fest
• September 16 - Columbia, MO - Mojo's
• September 17 - Pattonsburg, MO - Big Creek Festival
• September 18 - St. Louis, MO - Iron Barley Oktoberfest

If you don't think the Bottle Rockets provide the perfect soundtrack for summer beer drinkin', you should probably stop drinkin' beer.