"The Mars Volta is a progressive-rock whirlwind, constructing maniacally complex music and performing it with a mixture of rigorous virtuosity, psychedelic euphoria and punk intensity...still rock's finest avatar of excess."--Jon Pareles, New York Times

Upon completion of their current trek through Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe, The Mars Volta will return to the U.S. for a run of headline dates beginning September 12 in Columbus and capped off by an appearance at the Austin City Limits festival.

The tour opener will be a make-up performance of the band's twice-canceled previous engagement in Columbus. "Vamos de veras!"

In other news from planet Volta, the band's own Omar Rodriguez Lopez shares the current cover of Rolling Stone with guitar legends Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen and B.B. King. The magazine's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs special issue features an in-depth Q&A with Omar, as well as The Mars Volta track "Drunkship of Lanterns" placing in the top 100.

Confirmed dates are as follows:

September 12   Columbus, OH    LC AMPHITHEATER
September 14   Boston, MA        ORPHEUM THEATER
September 17   New York, NY     HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM
September 20   Philadelphia, PA   ELECTRIC FACTORY
September 23   Asheville, NC       ASHEVILLE CIVIC CENTER
September 24   Atlanta, GA         TABERNACLE
September 26   Austin, TX           AUSTIN CITY LIMITS FESTIVAL