David Bazan drops Lion for something with fewer 'Parts'

Singer/songwriter David Bazan continues to tackle new road dates as the former creative force behind indie rockers Pedro the Lion looks to spread his own name around.

Bazan, who was the sole permanent member of the Seattle-based group, appears tonight (Nov. 9) in Birmingham, AL, with 17 cities left to visit on a tour schedule that got underway last month. The singer opened for Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard during the latter's summer tour.

Indie-pop outfit All Smiles (featuring guitarist Jim Fairchild of the now-defunct Grandaddy) will back Bazan for the remainder of his November dates, while singer/songwriter J. Tillman nails down the opening slot on all of Bazan's December shows. Dates are listed below.

Bazan, who last year toured as a member of indie singer/songwriter-based supergroup The Undertow Orchestra (the band also features Mark Eitzel of American Music Club, Vic Chesnutt and Will Johnson of Centro-Matic), released his solo debut, "Fewer Moving Parts," in 2006. The singer's record label, Barsuk, expects Bazan to release his full-length debut sometime early next year.

Pedro the Lion's fourth and final album, "Achilles Heel," was released during 2004. Bazan produced the album and wrote all but one of its songs.