A Perfect Circle, the highly anticipated project featuring Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, gave fans in Los Angeles a taste of what awaits on its upcoming debut album Wednesday night with a little help from soon-to-be tourmates Nine Inch Nails.

A Perfect Circle (which features Keenan, guitarist Billy Howerdel, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, bassist Paz Lenchantin, and drummer Josh Freese) played L.A.'s Troubador on Wednesday, rolling out a hefty chunk of what lies ahead on "Mer De Noms," which hits stores on May 23. The band also offered up a classic Cure cover and invited Nine Inch Nails' Danny Lohner on stage to play bass on one song.

Starting April 12, A Perfect Circle will assume the opening slot on NIN's U.S. tour, and many had speculated that NIN would return the favor by opening for Keenan and company at the Troubador show. However, the rumor turned out to be precisely that, as A Perfect Circle shared the bill only with The Catherine Wheel.

On Thursday,

A Perfect Circle returned to the business of shooting its first video, for the single "Judith," with director David Fincher. On the path to directing acclaimed films such as "Fight Club" and "Seven," Fincher directed videos for Madonna ("Express Yourself"), Aerosmith ("Janie's Got A Gun"), and The Wallflowers ("6th Avenue Heartache") (see [article id="1433136"]"David Fincher To Direct A Perfect Circle Video"[/article]).

If you would rather catch A Perfect Circle live, here's where you can see the band with Nine Inch Nails:

• 4/12 - Cleveland, OH @ CSU Convocation Center
• 4/14 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace Of Auburn Hills
• 4/15 - Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
• 4/17 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
• 4/18 - Milwaukee, WI @ U.S. Cellular Arena
• 4/20 - Indianapolis, IN @ Conseco Fieldhouse
• 4/21 - Chicago, IL @ UIC Pavilion
• 4/22 - Madison, WI @ Dane Co. Expo Ctr. Col.
• 4/25 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
• 4/26 - Chicago,

IL @ UIC Pavilion