Staind [ tickets ] frontman Aaron Lewis [ tickets ] will start 2009 in the same fashion as he did 2008: by playing a batch of solo-acoustic dates.

So far, Lewis has lined up a trio of early January concerts in Nevada, as well as a late-February, two-night stand in Niagara Falls, NY. The Nevada and New York engagements bookend Staind's January/February European tour. No word yet if additional solo dates are in the works.

Meanwhile, Lewis and his bandmates are in the midst of a fall roadtrip with Seether [ tickets ] and Papa Roach [ tickets ]. Massachusetts-based Staind continues to support its latest album, "The Illusion of Progress," which last month debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200, marking the group's fourth consecutive album to debut at least that high on the chart.

"The Illusion of Progress" features the hit single "Believe," the music video for which is streaming at Staind's website.

Lewis and company will take advantage of an off-night from Staind's tour this evening by appearing on the nationally syndicated radio show "Rockline," according to the group's MySpace page.