Singer/songwriter Elliott Smith will hit the road again in May for a monthlong trek behind his fifth solo album, Figure 8 (April 18).

Fresh from a short string of solo-acoustic shows in late February and early March and an appearance at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, the guitar-playing pop-rocker will set off — this time with a full band — on May 5 in Dallas and head north.

Stops are scheduled in Washington, D.C., Boston, Philadelphia and Providence, R.I., with three shows at New York's Irving Plaza, May 17–19. Rockers the Whiskey Biscuits will fill the opening slot through May 19.

Additional shows are tentatively scheduled, starting May 20 in Burlington, Vt., through June 8 in Los Angeles, according to a Smith publicist.

Smith, a former singer/songwriter for the indie-rock band Heatmiser, released his first solo album, Roman Candle, in 1994. He continued to gain a loyal following with his lo-fi rock sound on Elliott Smith (1995) and Either/Or (1997), but his popularity soared when six of his songs were included on the soundtrack to the 1997 movie "Good Will Hunting." "Miss Misery" (RealAudio excerpt) was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

On the critically acclaimed XO (1998), Smith mixed his previously stripped-down sound with lush production, as heard on the poppy "Baby Britain" (RealAudio excerpt).

The singer continued his foray into soundtracks by covering the Beatles' "Because" (RealAudio excerpt) for the "American Beauty" soundtrack (1999). That movie won five Academy Awards on Sunday.

Figure 8 will continue in the same melodic direction as XO, while adding harder rock elements, according to producer Tom Rothrock. It includes the single "Happiness" (RealAudio excerpt).

Elliott Smith tour dates:

May 5; Dallas, Texas; Trees

May 6; Austin, Texas; La Zona Rosa

May 8; Atlanta, Ga.; Variety Playhouse

May 10; Raleigh, N.C.; Ritz Theatre

May 12; Washington, D.C.; 9:30 Club

May 13; Philadelphia, Pa.; Trocadero

May 15; Boston, Mass.; The Roxy

May 16; Providence, R.I.; Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel

May 17–19; New York, N.Y.; Irving Plaza

May 20; Burlington, Vt.; Higher Ground

May 22; Montreal, Quebec; Spectrum

May 23; Toronto, Ontario; Phoenix Concert Theatre

May 24; Detroit, Mich.; St. Andrew's Hall

May 25–26; Chicago, Ill.; Metro

May 27; Minneapolis, Minn.; First Avenue

May 29; Denver, Colo.; Ogden Theatre

May 31–June 1; Seattle, Wash.; Showbox Theatre

June 2; Vancouver, British Columbia; Commodore Ballroom

June 3; Portland, Ore.; Crystal Ballroom

June 5–6; San Francisco, Calif.; Fillmore

June 7–8; Los Angeles, Calif.; Palace