When the Zincs are on tour, they probably aren’t tearing up hotel rooms in alcohol-induced rages or snorting substances off of outlandish female body parts.

There is nothing about the band that would incite such behavior. Not their roots, not their influences and especially not lead singer Jim Elkington’s curiously down-to-earth persona.

Before moving to the U.S., Elkington spent his younger years across the pond playing in two London-based bands, Sophia and Elevate. Though his breakthrough into music wasn’t an easy transition, he slowly worked his way into the limelight.

“”I’ve played music since I was a kid,”” Elkington said. “”But I never had the ambition or confidence to pursue a band until I was 25.””

After experiencing artistic roadblocks with his two former bands and being lured by his girlfriend in the U.S., Elkington packed his things and headed to Chicago.

“”My girlfriend was the main reason I left, but I was a huge fan of Chicago music,”” Elkington said.

He was quick to mention Touch and Go Records (a Chicago-based punk label) as one of his favorite labels, which featured such progressive and influential bands as Big Black, The Meatmen, the Necros and, most recently, the infamous Butthole Surfers.

Aside from Elkington’s later American ’80s influences, it’s no surprise that his English background has left him with a strong taste for English folk music.

The genre, which originated during medieval times, has stuck throughout its culture’s history and ultimately, with the help of blues music, helped spark the English rock ‘n’ roll movement of the ’60s and ’70s.

“”I really enjoy English folk music, but it doesn’t come out in my music,”” Elkington said. “”It’s mostly just a spiritual influence.””

Though the Copper Family might not have much to do with the pop-rock sound of the Zincs, Elkington’s teenage rock idols certainly did. He was very quick to reveal his recent British pop-rock revival.

“”I recently got an impulse to listen to music I liked when I was 16,”” Elkington said. “”I began to listen to all my old Smiths and Go Betweens records, and it really shows in our music.””

The band has just released its second album, Dimmer, which is the Zincs’ first album as a complete band. Their first album, Moth and Marriage, was written, performed and produced solely by Elkington himself.

“”I really like the personality of the band,”” he said. “”It’s been a really fun project.””

The new album truly reflects that same admirable personality. It’s intriguing and compounds Elkington’s eclectic musical influences into a definitively diplomatic listen.

As well as its cunning sound, the band also boasts a variety of humorous lyrics. Though it’s mostly rooted in dry humor, it seems to be rather symbolic of Elkington’s divine personality.

“”I really don’t think about it much,”” he said with a laugh. “”It must be an English thing.””

The Zincs will be playing a 21-and-over show tomorrow with Edith at Plush, 340 E. Sixth St. Tickets are $7 and the show starts at 10:30 p.m.