Alt-rockers Built to Spill [ tickets ] once again will delay recording plans for a new album to pave the way for a headlining tour of US venues early next year.

The Boise, ID-based band will continue to back 2006's "You in Reverse" on the outing, which kicks off with a pair of two-night California engagements, Feb. 22-23 in Los Angeles, and Feb. 24-25 in San Francisco.

The month-long tour crisscrosses the country, hitting clubs and small theaters in 23 cities and winding up back in California late in March. All dates are below.

The group's frontman, Doug Martsch, had told LiveDaily in a September interview that the band would be laying low until it worked out new material in the studio.

"I don't think we're going to be doing any more touring in the US until we've got some recording done," Martsch said. "We might do a handful of things here and there, like if someone wants to play a festival or something. Then we'll go to Europe again next summer. I think, with the US, we're going to try to lay low after this tour. We've been out so much in the last two years."

Built to Spill released the self-produced "You in Reverse"--which took five years to complete--in April of 2006. The gap between that disc and 2001's "Ancient Melodies of the Future" included an 18-month vacation from any kind of music-related work, according to a press release.

Martsch told LiveDaily that progress on a new album is happening, albeit at a slow pace.

"I'd almost say we're ready to make a record, except almost everything is kind of slow. I haven't quite been able to figure out if that's just what it is and we'll do it, or if we need to put more upbeat songs into it."

The group most recently released a 12" single in July featuring a pair of reggae-influenced songs: an original track titled "They Got Away" and a cover of "Re-Arrange" by reggae band The Gladiators.

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