The Strokes [ tickets ] will play a handful of small-venue, sneak-preview shows in the U.S. during early January, but fans will need to pay close attention--and have some luck--to snag tickets.

Between Jan. 3 and 9, the New York rockers are set to play gigs in Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and Atlanta, during which they'll perform short sets spotlighting songs from their forthcoming album "First Impressions of Earth," due Jan. 3.

Though cities and dates for the appearances have been announced, venues won't be revealed until a few days prior to each show. Most tickets will be awarded by local modern-rock radio stations; some will be sold, however, and ticket on-sale information will be revealed by the same radio stations, according to an email announcement from the band.

Cities, dates and the radio stations that will deliver more information are listed below.

A full North American tour is in the works, and will run from late-February through mid-April. The itinerary should surface soon, according to the band's announcement.