Stereophonics' North American Mini-Tour

The Welsh trio Stereophonics begin a brief North American tour at the Metro in Chicago on Sept. 14. The tour — which will find the group plugged in, brandishing electric guitars — follows the release of their much-acclaimed third album Just Enough Education to Perform, already a hit in the UK. It's a favorite of our friend David Hyman, who has been raving about the album for the past few months, and Neumu contributing editor Kate Guay recently described it in her review as "the most unassuming album I've heard in quite a while; [it] captures that lighthearted feeling with a warm summer current." The group was last in North America for a February acoustic tour in which they offered up covers of Neil Young and Beatles songs along with much of Just Enough Education to Perform. Following the Chicago date, they play the Warehouse in Toronto on Sept. 15, Irving Plaza in New York on Sept. 17 and 18, and the Avalon in Boston on Sept. 20. They wrap things up at the Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia on Sept. 21. — Michael Goldberg [Monday, August 27, 2001]