James Mercer reemerges from the moody confines of Broken Bells, his collaborative onslaught with  Brian ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton, and announces that The Shins are gearing up for the road in advance of a record set for release in 2012.

It’s been almost four years since The Shins released their beloved album Wincing The Night Away and the road has since been anything but easy for the band. With the arrest of multi-instrumentalist Marty Crandall and his girlfriend for domestic violence charges, and the unequivocal firing of Jesse Sandoval the implication of a drastic falling out  seem out of the question which may or may not be accountable for the brooding nature of Mercer’s song lyrics on the Broken Bells LP. But it seems that all that is old news as Nasty Little Man has confirmed that Mercer has returned with a new tour, a pending new album and a new band lineup. The new band includes singer/songwriter Richard Swift, Modest Mouse drummer Joe Plummer, Yuuki Matthews of Crystal Skulls and singer/songwriter Jessica Dobson. The tour will likely feature songs from the anticipated Shins album which Mercer has said he will complete after the tour and then release in 20 12 via his own Aural Apothecary/Columbia imprint.

The Shins tour dates are as follows:

08/08 – Eugene, OR – W.O.W. Hall

08/09 – Bend, OR – The Domino Room

08/10 – Portland – The Doug Fir Lounge

08/12 – San Francisco, CA – Outside Lands Festival

09/22 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre

09/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Popped! Festival

09/24 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club

10/15 – Pensacola, FL – DeLuna Festival

Watch James Mercer and Joe Plummer perform a new song: