Irish rockers The Pogues [ tickets ] have mapped out their first dates for next year, with a brief US tour set for March after the band dispenses with its run of holiday shows closer to home.

The group hits Chicago March 5-6 for back-to-back shows, kicking off the brief US tour, which immediately sets on the East Coast for the remainder of its dates. Other cities include Washington, DC; Baltimore; New York; and a March 19 appearance in Boston to close out the short run. All dates are shown below.

The band will still be missing the services of longtime guitarist Philip Chevron, who was diagnosed last June with a "locally active" form of throat cancer, according to the band's website. Chevron missed all of the band's summer and fall tour dates while continuing to recover at home.

"My main gripe at the moment is that my throat is still real sore," he posted recently on the band's official message board. "So, I'm not out of the woods, but it is becoming possible to lead a slightly more normal life."

Although The Pogues--who reunited in 2004, including original lead singer Shane MacGowan--haven't released an album of original music since 1996's "Pogue Mahone," the band has remained busy on the reissue front. Last September, the group, in association with Rhino Records, released re-mastered and expanded versions of its first five studio albums: "Red Roses For Me" (1984), "Rum, Sodomy & The Lash" (1985), "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" (1988), "Peace And Love" (1989) and "Hell's Ditch" (1990).

Each CD contains up to seven additional songs over the original releases, as well as completely new liner-note booklets.