Nada Surf’s Hi-Fi Adventure

The album – if i had a hi-fi – is the first album of covers for the band. Recorded over three September weeks in Austin with collaborator and part-time keyboardist Louie Lino, the effort features a variety of songs from different genres, including a rendition of The Moody Blues’ “Question,” Soft Pack’s “Bright Side,” Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence” and Arthur Russell’s “Janine.”

“We really just wanted to do it organically, whatever we felt like covering in the moment, rather than trying to sum up our influences or something,” Nada Surf singer/guitarist Matthew Caws said. “It’s whatever we were excited about in the months before making it. And I think we got to everything we wanted to.”

Initially, the band will sell the album exclusively at its shows. The tour begins with three “album shows” on consecutive nights in New York City. The band plays its Let Go album at the Bowery Ballroom March 25; The Weight Is A Gift is featured March 26 at Brooklyn’s Bell House and Lucky is the album of the evening at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg March 27.

All three album shows will include fan favorites, b-sides and selections from if i had a hi-fi.

After New York City the band heads north to Toronto for a gig at Lee’s Palace March 29. Other stops include Montreal at Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour March 30 and Northampton, Mass., at Pearl Street March 31.

Cities on the schedule also include Philadelphia (April 1), Washington, D.C. (April 2) and Boston (April 3).

Then the band crosses the pond with a stop in London at the Institute of Contemporary Arts April 13. Other locations include Brussels at Botanique (April 19), Zurich at Abart (April 23), Berlin at Lido (April 26) and Paris at Trabendo (April 28). Last Euro show is in Longirod, Switzerland, at Long ‘I’ Rock Festival.

Nada Surf returns to the States with a short run along the west coast, playing Solana Beach, Calif., at the Belly Up Tavern May 24; West Hollywood at the legendary Troubadour May 25; San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall May 27 and Portland’s Wonder Ballroom May 29.

The band is holding a fan pre-sale Jan. 6. For more information, just click here.

You’ll also want to click here for Nada Surf’s Web site and here for the band’s MySpace page.