The Wallflowers [ tickets ] continue to support last year's "Red Letter Days" with a spring tour that kicks off in mid April.

The group, led by frontman Jakob Dylan, has mapped out stops at theaters and clubs throughout the eastern U.S. for most of April, and commences its May touring schedule with a two-night stand in Chicago.

Tickets for many dates are on sale now, with pre-sales and general on-sales for a number of remaining dates due to begin later this week. Details are available at the band's website.

Released last November, "Red Letter Days" debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The set is the follow-up to 2000's "Breach."

Late last month, longtime Wallflowers drummer Mario Calire announced that he was leaving the group in the midst of the current tour.

"Recently, the group has been wanting to go in new directions and I found myself wanting to go in others," Calire said in a message posted at the Wallflowers' website. "Rather than stay and be unhappy, or hold the band back, I realized it was time to make a change. I am leaving on excellent terms personally with the guys and we have left the door open to work together in the future."

The group quickly announced that drummer Matt Chamberlain--who has frequently collaborated with the band--would take over the drum kit in July, and that "a friend" would fill in during the interim while Chamberlain finishes up prior commitments.

A flurry of commotion on the band's website message-board followed, in which many fans expressed their displeasure with Calire's departure, some of which was directed at Dylan.

The feedback apparently got the singer's attention, as he posted a lengthy message to the fans last week.

"There are now more ex-Wallflowers than current ones," Dylan wrote. "But the three [Dylan, keyboardist Rami Jaffee and bassist Greg Richling] that stared down the barrel of [1996's] 'Bringing Down the Horse' are still here. That's when most of you first noticed us, even though we were already 7 years going. We were here before any glory or any of the things it brings.

"We understand most of you are concerned and curious about the future and so are we," he continued. "But when it's time to discuss the next record, the three of us will be there again."

Dylan went on to say that he is looking forward to returning to the road next month.

"In spite of the confusion, we're as excited as ever to get back out there. I always believe the next tour will be the best and I do now. Maybe different than the last, but I'm used to that."