To coincide with the U.S. release of its fifth album, "Souljacker" (Dreamworks), alt-rock band Eels [ tickets ] will embark on a tour beginning March 16 at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.

"Souljacker" was released in Europe in September. Eels' current incarnation--frontman Mark Oliver Everett (aka E), drummer Jonathan Norton, guitarist Joe Gore and multi-instrumentalist John Parish--recorded the album in early 2001 in E's basement studio, OneHitsville, USA, and Parish's Honorsound studio in Bristol, England. Everett talked to liveDaily in January about the album's recording:

"Well, some of it was done in John Parish's basement, but most of it was done in my basement. The [initial] mood was really jovial, and we were getting a lot of work done, and then John Parish showed up, and it just kind of turned into this alcoholic fog. We weren't drinkers or anything, and then he showed up, and every night it was like, [in English accent] 'I think it's time for a beer.' And then, next thing you know, we're all--well, you know, we're in rehab now, trying to get over it."

Parish and his wife are having a baby, so he will not be onstage during this tour. Joe Gore (who has played with Tom Waits and PJ Harvey in the past) will be joining Eels on the road.