Drenge releasing first U.S. single and playing first U.S. tour dates in January

We Americans are blessed that our economic pull is such that most musicians of other nationalities eventually come to us. Of course, it's totally possible for us to go and find them, but frankly we've gotten lazy. One act that we're certainly pleased will soon be more readily available on American shores is the British blues-punk band Drenge.

A twosome, much like the genre's biggest name (The White Stripes), the group combines the vocals and guitar of Eoin Loveless with the drums of his brother Rory...a more Anglo-Black Keys if you will. The band generated buzz in its homeland by appearing at the big festivals, including Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds, plus served as an opener for the Arctic Monkeys, and the Rolling Stones at its huge Hyde Park concert.

The group released its debut album, Drenge, in August across the pond, but it will open 2014 by releasing its first U.S.-bound single on January 14. "Bloodsports" will be the single, along with B-Side "Dogmeat."

If you're already well familiar with Drenge, then this news won't be that moving for you, as the songs were featured on the earlier release. You will be interested to know, however, that the band will accompany the release with a run of U.S. tour dates, beginning a few days later. There are only a few at this moment, but you can see if they'll be near you on the calendar below.

01/17: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge

01/18: Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands

01/21: Seattle, WA @ Barboza

01/22: Portland, OR @ Holocene

01/24: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill

01/25: Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite

03/07-03/16: Austin, TX @ SXSW