The group is slated for a mix of tour dates, launching on the coast opposite from their New York City home. San Francisco gets the band for a two-night stand September 19-20, after which they join The White Stripes for a few more California shows.

Then, it’s Japan or bust! The Yeah Yeah Yeahs make a quick run around the island before heading south to another isle – Australia. They wrap their international tour plans back in the States with a month of shows in November.

About those new tunes: “We have five or six new songs and we’re going to head into the recording studio sometime in the spring,” head Yeah Karen O told NME.

“It’s good to come back to an audience with new material and let the crowd know that you’re writing new stuff – it’s always been that way with us.”

Writing new stuff, touring like mad, getting nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize – this band sure is busy. Oh, did we mention the Shortlist Music Prize? The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have made this year’s prestigious cut, which includes The Streets, Interpol, Damien Rice, and Cody ChesnuTT.