VIDEO: Trampled by Turtles drop ‘Wild Animals’ on Letterman

UPDATE: Here’s the video!

It warms my heart to hear David Letterman talk about taconite. Good stuff, and a great performance.

“Wild Animals” by Trampled by Turtles

Progressive bluegrass/folk band Trampled by Turtles will appear on tonight’s Late Show with David Letterman on the very day their new album “Wild Animals” is released.

This is Trampled by Turtles second appearance on Letterman, having performed “Alone” there last year in support of their previous album “Stars and Satellites.” Letterman seemed to enjoy having the Duluth boys on the show, and sure enough they have a prime booking for the release of their new album.

I was able to listen to “Wild Animals” from Trampled by Turtles last week. It is a fitting continuation of the band’s progress heard in “Stars and Satellites.” Where TBT once had the reputation of pounding the crap out of traditional instruments like punk blue grass pioneers, soulful lyrics are beginning to mature around more intricate sounds. The single from “Wild Animals” is “Are You Behind the Shining Star,” and it’s easily the best song on the record. I’d expect them to play that on Letterman tonight.

Some people say you can’t have a hit single with banjo and violins. Heck, that’s a bit of conventional wisdom I’d like to see slayed in my lifetime.

“Late Show” with David Letterman airs on CBS at 10:35 p.m., locally on Channel 3 in Northern Minnesota — proud homeland of Bob Dylan, the Greyhound Bus Company and Trampled by Turtles.