Counting Crows [ tickets ], who began the year touring overseas, will return to the U.S. for a series of college dates that opens in late March.

The pop-rock group's lineup recently was shaken up with the departure of longtime drummer Ben Mize. Jim Bogios, who has played with Sheryl Crow and Mark Eitzel, took over on drums when the band embarked on its current tour of Europe and the Far East.

The band, headed by singer-songwriter Adam Duritz, continues to tour behind its 2002 album, "Hard Candy," which hit stores in July. The band's cover of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," which is a hidden track on the album, has caught on at radio of late. The track, which features Vanessa Carlton [ tickets ], currently sits at No. 19 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart.

"Hard Candy" was produced by Steve Lillywhite (U2, Peter Gabriel), and includes contributions from Leona Naess and Matthew Sweet.

Last year, Counting Crows instituted a concert-taping policy similar to that of jam band Phish. Details are posted at the band's official website.