Flogging Molly [ tickets ], recently in Ireland recording its next album, is back in the States this week to kick off a short tour of the West.

The outing is set to launch Thursday (11/29) in Sacramento, CA, and visit cities in Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Colorado before wrapping with the second annual Rock to Roll charity event Dec. 11 in Hollywood, CA.

Longtime Flogging Molly accordion player Matt Hensley, who left the band for personal reasons in January, has rejoined the Irish-flavored punk rockers and will be with them on tour. Fellow Side One Dummy Records act Dusty Rhodes and the River Band will fill the support slot.

Founded by Dublin-born singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave King, Flogging Molly has been working on its forthcoming album with co-producer Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alkaline Trio). The set is due during the first quarter of 2008 to coincide with the band's annual Green 17 Tour, according to its website.

Last year, the seven-piece outfit released the CD/DVD documentary "Whiskey on a Sunday," which was shot in seven countries over two years. The set captures Flogging Molly's explosive live performance with footage from the road as well as from the group's sold-out homecoming show at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre.

Flogging Molly's most recent studio album is 2004's "Within a Mile of Home," which shot to No. 1 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.