Counting Crows [ tickets ] and Live [ tickets ] have announced the first leg of a co-headlining summer tour of North American amphitheaters. Most shows will go on sale on Saturday, April 29, although Chicago has an early on-sale date of April 22.

The tour's first leg, which runs from July 28 to Sept. 3, includes venues in the East, Midwest and Great Lakes areas. After a short break , the two rock bands will tour the South and West from Sept. 12 to the end of October; venues and on-sales for that leg have not been announced. A limited number of pre-sale tickets for the tour will be available through the Counting Crows' website.

According to a statement from the two bands, Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk and Crows' frontman Adam Duritz talked earlier this year about touring together.

''Live is a great band and Ed is a good friend,'' Duritz said. ''I think the fact that we come from different musical perspectives will make for a really dynamic evening of music."

''When I heard the song, 'Angels of the Silences' from the Counting Crows, I was totally moved," said Kowalczyk. "About a month after I met Adam Duritz and we became instant friends. We talked about the fact that we share a lot of fans and that it would be cool to tour together someday."

Before the summer tour, Live will tour the eastern U.S. with Tracy Bonham. Counting Crows have Midwestern dates lined up from May 17-31.