Irreverent alt-rock duo Gene and Dean Ween [ tickets ] are embarking on a 12-date Northeast tour that begins March 23 in Sea Bright, N.J.

The band, which is without a record deal, has been busy working on music for television and a new album. Ween performs the theme song and all the internal music for the Fox television show "Grounded for Life." On Feb. 10, an episode of the Nickelodeon cartoon "Spongebob Squarepants" featured Ween's music.

Also, Ween's song "Tick," from the 1990 album "God Ween Satan--The Oneness," will be used as the theme to "The Tick," a live-action TV show based on the MTV cartoon of the same name, according to management.

Besides the next proper Ween record, the Weens will team with Eye Yamatsuka and Yoshimi--of the Japanese noise rock outfit the Boredoms--for a second Z Rock Hawaii album to be released later this year. The album will be issued jointly by Ipecac Records (which is owned by former Faith No More frontman Mike Patton) and Chocodog Records, and will be on sale through Ween's official website.

In between recording, Ween is planning on touring the West and Midwest before the end of the year.