Mumiy Troll U.S. Tour Kicks Off Today In DC — Russia!

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!