A Backyard Tire Fire review practically writes itself. Take everything you love about Patterson Hood’s emotional grit, The Old 97s classic barnburner footstompers, and the spirit Whiskeytown had when Ryan still had something to prove, and you’ve already got a good sense of what the band is about: Rockin’, drinkin’, raisin’ hell and kicking ass through the use of well-placed power chords.

The band’s new record, “The Places We Lived,” is no exception. It’s Midwestern Americana at it’s slice-of-hard-life best. This album is a little more folk-y than their last one–a little less gritty in many places, and it has much cleaner production. But it’s still a real solid record. I particularly enjoyed “Everybody’s Down” and “How the Hell Did You Get Back Here?” the latter of which is played live at the show posted below. Because the really great thing about BTF is their live skills. Check ‘em out on tour, and download a groovy show below, after the tour dates!

August 1 / Dunegrass Festival / Empire, MI
August 3 / Brown Baer / Elkhart Lake, WI
August 22 & 23 / Paulie’s / Bloomington, IL
September 5 / Metro / Chicago, IL
September 10 / Picador / Iowa City, IA
September 11 / The Rave Bar / Milwaukee, WI
September 12 / The Annex / Madison, WI
September 13 / 7th St. Entry / Minneapolis, MN
September 17 / TBD / Columbia, MO
September 18 / Record Bar / Kansas City, MO
September 19 / Josie’s / Emporia, KS
September 20 / Lucas School House / St. Louis, MO
September 24 / Grog Shop / Cleveland, OH
September 25 / The Basement / Columbus, OH
September 26 / Spin Nightclub / Indianapolis, IN (Sponsored by My Old Kentucky Blog)
September 27 / Southgate House / Newport, KY
December 3 / Mercy Lounge / Nashville, TN (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)
December 6 / Majestic Theater / Detroit, MI (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)
December 7 / Intersection / Grand Rapids, MI (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)
December 8 / Oneida Casino / Green Bay, WI (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)
December 10 / Ottos / Dekalb, IL (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)
December 11 / Peoples Court / Des Moines, IA (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)
December 12 / Cotillion Ballroom / Wichita, KS (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)
December 13 / Cains Ballroom / Tulsa, OK (w/ Reverend Horton Heat)

LIVE SHOW: 5/25/08 Performing most of their new record, some old faves, and some covers. A few tastes and a zip, as always.

Set list:

01 Lines
02 Thick Skin
03 Everybody’s Trying to be my baby (Carl Perkins)
04 Knockin on the Doghouse Door
05 Jimmy and Bob and Jack
06 Tom Petty
07 King of the Road (Roger Miller)
08 No Sense at All
09 Trying to Get Paid
10 Lawyers, Guns, and Money (Warren Zevon)
11 One Wrong Turn
12 This Morning’s Blues
13 A Thousand Gigs Ago
14 How the Hell Did You Get Back Here

ZIP FILE!