Sparta Polishes 'porcelain'

Modern rock outfit Sparta is eyeing a June release for its sophomore album, "Porcelain." Despite being absorbed into the Universal Music Group last year, DreamWorks will still issue the set.

"Porcelain" is the follow-up to Sparta's 2002 debut, "Wiretap Scars," which debuted at No. 71 on The Billboard 200 and has sold more than 120,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was produced by Mike Major, who worked with the band on its 2002 "Austere" EP, and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley).

Sparta has lined up a series of shows in advance of the new album's release, beginning March 11 in Hollywood, Calif. The group will also make appearances March 19 at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, and, as previously reported, at the Skate and Surf Fest in Asbury Park, N.J. (April 18) and the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. (May 1).

The group rose from the ashes of Texas rock act At The Drive-In, with Jim Ward, Paul Hinojos and Tony Hajjar founding Sparta and Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez forming the Mars Volta.

Here are Sparta's tour dates:

March 11: Hollywood, Calif. (Trouabdor)
March 19: Austin, Texas (La Zona Rosa)
April 15: Worcester, Mass. (Palladium)
April 16: New Haven, Conn. (Toad's Place)
April 17: New York (CBGB)
April 18: Asbury Park, N.J. (Skate and Surf Fest)
May 1: Indio, Calif. (Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival)