Tour unites longtime Canadian friends

CUYAHOGA FALL, Ohio, July 12 (UPI) -- The co-headlining U.S. tour by Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies reunites some old Canadian friends.

"I've known them ever since I was a teenager in Canada," said Morissette -- who was, in fact, defeated in a "Rising Star" competition by a group that featured BNL bassist Jim Creeggan. "We have similar senses of humor. They've been a little more overt about their sense of humor than I have, but we really click in that way, too, so it's fun."

The tour kicks off Tuesday in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

The two acts will switch off closing each night, depending on who's stronger in each particular market.

"It seems about 50/50 where it makes sense for each of us to close," noted BNL's Ed Robertson. "She's got so many huge songs, she can carry her weight in a show."

Morissette is promoting her fourth album, "So-Called Chaos," and also has a cameo in the new Cole Porter film biography, "De-Lovely." BNL is supporting its 2003 release "Everything to Everyone" and has just finished work on a holiday album that will be released in the fall.