We’ll come right out and say it: alongside Zemfira and Splean, Mumiy Troll are one of the very, very few Russian rock acts we’re not embarrassed to crank up with Brits or Yanks within earshot. And Mumiy (pronounced like roomy) Troll might be the worldliest of the three, what with lead singer Ilya Lagutenko’s multilingual punning (he’s fluent in Mandarin, among other things) and no-translation-needed feline yowl. 2009 brings the band’s first attempt to conquer the U.S. in earnest – and seemingly on their own terms.

Remarkably, the album Lagutenko and his crew are promoting here, Comrade Ambassador, is filled with Russian originals, not English radio sops; and instead of playing to immigrant fans in rented catering halls, they’ve booked a few indie venues (Maxwell’s?) and offbeat places (Salt Lake City?!) where they’ll have to prove themselves to unprepared natives. Interesting moves for a band used to playing stadiums. One gets the impression Mumiy Troll would actually like a bit of anonymity.

Well, no such luck. Watch this space for Troll updates throughout the tour. We’ll have exclusive videos and, if everything goes according to The Plan, Lagutenko’s own blog posts. In the meantime, the details. Print this page and staple it onto a plain white T-shirt for instant tour merch!

COMRADE AMBASSADOR TOUR

01/21/09 Black Cat, Washington, DC
01/22/09 Bell House, Brooklyn, NY
01/23/09 The Filmore At Irving Plaza, New York, NY
01/24/09 Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ
01/26/09 Middle East Downstairs, Cambridge, MA
01/27/09 Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY
01/28/09 Mod Club, Toronto, ON
01/29/09 Beachland Tavern, Cleveland, OH
01/30/09 Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
01/31/09 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
02/02/09 Hi Dive, Denver, CO
02/03/09 Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
02/06/09 Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
02/07/09 Berbati's Pan, Portland, OR
03/03/09 The Independent, San Francisco, CA
03/04/09 The Independent, San Francisco, CA
03/05/09 Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
03/06/09 Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

Mumiy Troll [English Website]
Comrade Ambassador Review [Far From Moscow]