They’re currently storming through North America and will do so ‘til the end of July, after which they’ll head downunder for an August stint supporting Hot Hot Heat. After a quick breather, they’ll be back in the States for a good month of shows beginning September 3 in Brooklyn.

The Kills, aka VV (Alison Mosshart) and Hotel (Jamie Hince), got together after Mosshart’s band Discount disbanded in 2000. With Mosshart in Florida and Hince in England, the two traded tapes by mail before Mosshart decided to emigrate to London.

By 2002, they had an EP on Dim Mak and were touring incessantly with the likes of Primal Scream and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, earning raves for their brash, energetic performances.

This spring saw the release of their debut full-length, Keep On Your Mean Side, on Rough Trade Records.