Hard-touring rockers O.A.R. [ tickets ] will take a break for the holidays, but the group plans to get back on the road early next year as it continues to support its latest album, "Stories of a Stranger."

So far, the band's first 2006 shows are a pair of mid-January dates--including a show at New York City's Madison Square Garden--followed by a stretch of February stops throughout the eastern half of the U.S.

The group is also slated to perform at holiday-themed radio-station festivals on Thursday (12/15) and Friday (12/16) in the Midwest. Details are included in the itinerary below.

O.A.R. offered up "Stories of a Stranger" in early October, and have banked on the album to "shatter many of the misconceptions surrounding the band," according to a Lava Records press release.

"We've got a lot riding on this record," vocalist Marc Roberge said in a statement. "We tend to get pigeonholed as a jam band, a college band or a touring band. We haven't been taken seriously as songwriters, and this is our chance to prove that we are first and foremost a rock 'n' roll band and our songs have staying power."

Veteran producer and former Talking Heads member Jerry Harrison--whose recent credits include albums from Live, The Verve Pipe and The Von Bondies--produced "Stories of a Stranger," which took over a year to make. Recording sessions took place in Virginia, California and New York City.

Guests on the set include keyboardist Bernie Worrell (Parliament) and Toby Lightman, who lends backing vocals to the album's first single, "The Stranger," and additional track "Heard the World." The group also collaborated with producer/songwriter Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews Band) on the cuts "Love and Memories" and "Program Director."

Also included on the new album is the previously unrecorded track "Wonderful Day," which has been a staple of the group's live show for some time, and reggae-rock mixture "One Shot."

The members of O.A.R. were featured guests on a recent episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." A repeat airing of the show is scheduled for Dec. 22, according to the band's website.

Meanwhile, the group is currently holding a contest whereby fans who purchase merchandise from the group's online store between now and Jan. 31 can win two all-inclusive trips to see O.A.R. during the band's 2006 tour. More information is posted at the group's MySpace.com website.