Hard rock crew Shinedown spent much of 2008 on tour, and 2009 is starting out no differently. After completing a European jaunt on the books for January and early February, the quartet will head back to the States for a new round of dates.

The upcoming 19-date run includes stops on March 3 at The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC, March 10 at Bogart’s in Cincinnati, OH, and March 18 at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, ND. Presales for the U.S. tour began January 12 and require membership in the Shinedown Nation fan club.

Shinedown is continuing to support the June 2008 release “The Sound of Madness,” which was the third studio album for the group. The album hit No. 8 on the Billboard 200, an improvement over the No. 23 peak for 2005’s “Us and Them” and the No. 53 peak for 2004’s “Leave a Whisper.”

The group began supporting “Madness” with a summer tour, and subsequently accompanied a number of bands on North American and international treks. Most recently, the group completed two fall runs with Avenged Sevenfold and Buckcherry, as well as a brief European outing with Disturbed.

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However, the band’s lineup shifted when lead guitarist Nick Perri departed after the final 2008 performance on December 18 at The Machine Shop in Flint, MI. Shinedown confirmed that member Zach Myers would take over as sole guitarist of the group. Myers previously held positions within the group as touring guitarist, bassist and rhythm guitarist.

“I’d like to thank Nick for touring with us over the past year and I wish Nick the best in his future endeavors,” vocalist Brent Smith said in a statement on the band’s Web site, continuing, “Zach is one of the most phenomenal guitarists I know. We’re looking forward to all the upcoming touring we’ll be doing in the New Year.”

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Shinedown itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)

February 23 Lafayette, LA Parc International
February 25 Charleston, SC The Music Farm
February 27 Jacksonville, NC Hooligans
February 28 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
March 2 Columbia, SC Club Level
March 3 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
March 5 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
March 6 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights
March 7 Rochester, NY Main Street Armory
March 9 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
March 10 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s
March 11 Mokena, IL The Pearl Room
March 14 Rolla, MO Gale Bullman Building
March 15 Kearney, NE First Tier Event Center
March 17 Sioux Falls, SD Ramkota Exhibit Hall
March 18 Bismarck, ND Bismarck Civic Center
March 20 Rochester, MN Mayo Civic Center
March 21 Kenosha, WI Brat Shop
March 23 Youngstown, OH Wedgewood Entertainment Center