The trek looks to span from October 10, when they’ll play Scottsdale, Ariz.’ Cajun House, to November 16, when they hit Slim’s in San Francisco.

Although only about a dozen dates are confirmed over the five-week span, more are reportedly on the way.

Co-founder Louise Post and the gang played Australia in December and plan to hit European festivals next year.

Post is backed by guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick and drummer James Madla, both of whom joined the band in 1999 and played on the 2000 release Resolver.

Co-founder Nina Gordon left the group for a solo career in 1998.

Veruca Salt is releasing a new EP on tour, titled Lords of Sounds and Lesser Things. It serves as a bit of a preview to the band’s next album, which is scheduled for a summer 2006 release. The self-released disc will only be available at shows or through the official Veruca Salt Web site.

They’ll be debuting some of the new material live, as well as tossing in the familiar tunes from their previous three albums.

Veruca Salt last toured the U.S. in 2001 before going on extended hiatus. According to the band’s Web site, Post took a break to focus on physical and spiritual health after experiencing “industry shell-shock” following the band’s split with its last label, Beyond Music.

The group says it has emerged renewed and refreshed, with new management and a new crop of songs for an as-yet-untitled fourth album.