Mike Doughty gets 'Happy' on upcoming trek

Singer/songwriter Mike Doughty has lined up some fall headlining dates mostly centered on the Eastern US to support his forthcoming solo album, "Sad Man Happy Man."

The former Soul Coughing frontman kicks off the outing Oct. 8 and 9 in Pittsburgh, PA, and the trek runs through late November. Highlights include dates in Chicago (10/15-16), Nashville (10/21) and New York City (10/31). The run concludes with a Nov. 25 show in Towson, MD. Dates are below.

"Sad Man Happy Man" is Doughty's third solo album since the breakup of Soul Coughing in 2000. The performer co-produced the set with engineer Pat Dillett (They Might Be Giants, David Byrne), except for the album's first single, "Douby Gratified," which boasts production by David Kahne (Paul McCartney, Sugar Ray).

"Basically I'm trying to make stuff I want to listen to," Doughty said in a press statement of the new album, which is due in stores Oct. 6. "And I mean that in a literal sense, not like, 'Were I a listener, I would like this,' but rather something I can listen to on the subway on headphones and really dig.

"This is my life, this is what I do. That sounds matter-of-fact, but I really do look at it as a sort of calling--and being an artist at its best is selfless. I'm working for the language, I'm working for the music, I'm working for the songs. I'm a happier guy when I'm conscious of that."