Phoenix has unveiled the first leg of North American tour dates in support of the band's upcoming fifth album, Bankrupt!. In addition to its previously revealed appearance at the Coachella Festival in April, the French quartet will begin a six-week run of dates on March 28th in Vancouver, Canada. The last confirmed show is May 11th at the Sweetlife Festival, a "music and food event" planned for May 11th in Columbia, Maryland that will also feature Passion Pit, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and others. More dates on the trip are expected to be announced soon.

Phoenix bassist Deck D'Arcy told us a while back that he thinks the band's music is more energetic live: "You know, we play the songs the way they are supposed to be live, but I think people are a bit surprised by the fact it's more 'violent' than what they expect. It's hard to say because I don't see the show, but I think it's -- well for us, it's natural, but I think it's more energetic, and it's less detailed but more energy than on the album."

• A pre-sale for the tour will take place via the band's website on Thursday (February 7th) at 1:00 p.m. General public sales begin on Friday (February 8th), also at 1:00 p.m. ET..
• The shows will be Phoenix's first on this side of the Atlantic since ending the touring cycle in 2010 for its commercial U.S. breakthrough, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.
• Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix won the 2010 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album, and featured the hit singles "1901" and "Lisztomania."
• Newly confirmed Phoenix tour dates (subject to change):
  March 28 - Vancouver, BC - QE Theatre
  March 29 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre
  March 30 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
  April 2 - Davis, CA - Freeborn Hall
  April 8 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater
  April 9 - Tuscon, AZ - AVA Amphitheater
  April 10 - Las Vegas, NV - The Cosmopolitan Pool
  April 13 - Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
  April 20 - Indio, CA - Coachella Festival
  May 11 - Columbia, MD - Sweetlife Festival

WHAT DO YOU THINK??

• What do you usually like better, the studio or live versions of songs?
• Do you think bands tend to play their songs with more energy when they play them live?

CHECK IT OUT: Watch Phoenix perform "Lisztomania" at the 2010 Glastonbury Festival:

Phoenix's Deck D'Arcy Says Songs Have More Energy Live

Read more at Rolling Stone and Billboard

Read more about their new album at NME