Hail! Hail! America’s favorite loopily leporine rock and roller, Nobunny, has announced his first tour in support of his latest album, First Blood, on Goner Records. And in case you haven’t heard, it’s his catchiest batch of tunes yet. The melodious masked man kicks it off with “Aint’t it a Shame,” a bittersweet tale of a rocky romance in which Nobunny’s lover has no choice but to endure his frequent indiscretions. He’s just that damned charming. “Blow Dumb” is a Velvet-y tribute to all the things that make life worth livin’ – “smokin’ Copenhagen,” make-out sessions and “burger breaks.” In fact, First Blood never overstays its welcome and lasts about as long as a particularly adventurous mid-party, burger run.

“(Do the) Fuck Yourself” immediately jumps to the top of the list of onanistic rock songs along with the Who’s “Pictures of Lily,” Devo’s “Praying Hands” and the Gizmos’ “Pumpin’ to Playboy.” Have fun trying not to sing this infectious little number in inappropriate situations. Almost as much fun as actual gherkin-jerkin’. Sure, we all know that Nobunny can deliver a raunchy, good-times number like no one else, but can our floppy-eared fop get sophisticated? Let the contemplative vibe and beautiful strings on “Breathe” answer that. “Live It Up” is the most optimistic of a collection of upbeat songs. Nobunny is so happy, he makes the 1910 Fruitgum Co. sound like Joy Division. On “I Was (On the Bozo Show),” Nobunny dreamily recalls a moment from his childhood where he actually shared the stage with the late, great clown-god Larry Harmon. In under half an hour, Nobunny goes through every worthy rock and roll subgenre-bubblegum pop, garage, rockabilly and psych- and still manages to beautifully articulate every single human emotion with ease.

TOUR DATES

Wed 2-Feb Olympia, WA @ The Northern
Thu 3-Feb Vancouver, BC @ The Railway Club
Fri 4-Feb Seattle, WA @ Funhouse
Sat 5-Feb Portland, OR @ Slabtown Bar
Wed 9-Feb San Francisco, CA @ The Knock-Out
Thu 10-Feb Sacramento, CA @ The Hub
Fri 11-Feb Los Angeles, CA @ 6th Street Warehouse
Sat 12-Feb San Diego, CA @ Til-Two Club
Sun 13-Feb Tucson, AZ @ Solar Culture
Tue 15-Feb Austin, TX @ Emo’s
Wed 16-Feb Houston, TX @ Rudyard’s
Thu 17-Feb Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
Fri 18-Feb Tulsa, OK @ The Eclipse
Sun 20-Feb Santa Fe, NM @ Corazon
Tue 22-Feb Phoenix, AZ @ Sound Kontrol
Wed 23-Feb Chino, CA @ Warehouse @ 12th & G
Fri 25-Feb San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of The Hill (Noise Pop)