Barenaked Ladies will tonight kick off the Last Summer on Earth 2012 tour in the US.

Barenaked Ladies, alongside Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd & The Monsters and Cracker perform tonight in Toldeo, Ohio, at the start of a 32-date US tour. Entitled the Last Summer On Earth tour, the 4 bands will rock venues across the States, including a show in Chicago this coming Monday which will be broadcast live on HDNet (UK availability TBC).

In the official press release forLast Summer on Earth, BNL frontman Ed Robertson said:

“I love playing outside in the summertime,” says Barenaked Ladies vocalist/guitarist Ed Robertson. “To travel and hang around with a bunch of bands, and get a chance to do some collaboration is part of the magic of a summer tour.” As for the tour’s moniker, Robertson says, “I’m a man of science, and therefore put zero stock in all of the disastrous predictions about the year 2012. But JUST IN CASE, I think everybody should come out and see one last great summer concert tour! It can’t hurt, right? Here’s hoping the Mayans just got tired of chiseling!”

BNL have been busy prepping for the shows and have given a handful of media interviews for the tour: Tyler Stewart spoke to the Alpharetta-Milton Patch, where he recalls how BNL once surprised John Popper of Blues Traveler by appearing aside him onstage wearing nothing but gold thongs. Tyler also gave an interview for the Dayton City Paper, discussing the tour and the recent rarities disc. Jim Creeggan had a few words for Toldeo Free Press, including the perks of gigging in a zoo. Finally, Ed Robertson had a brief chat with 103.7FM The Mountain, where, in addition to the tour, he also touches on the distribution format that new BNL music may take.

We would like to wish all our friends across the pond who are lucky enough to catch some of these show safe travels and lots of fun!

BNLUK will endeavour to update the masses with video footage and reports/reviews from the show – so stay tuned to the Twitter and Facebook for more info! If you’re a reader from across the pond and want to contribute photos/videos/reviews, please get in touch!