Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys

Credit: Katie Hasty

The Black Keys will be heading into the studio this week, to start work on the follow-up to 2011's "El Camino." Maybe Wayne Coyne can be involved: the Flaming Lips will be playing a handful of shows with the 'Keys in a co-headlining tour this spring.

In an interview with MOJO, the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach said that they plan to complete a new set by early spring. "We're going to start making the new album in the second week of January and we're hoping to have it done by some time in March," he said [via NME]. "The record isn't written yet, we'll do it when we get into the studio. This is when we both work best, when we're dying to make an album. All of our records take place in the studio, in that we make stuff up while we're there."

Of course, Auerbach now runs his own studio, Easy Eye, based in Nashville, so keep an eye out for him and drummer Patrick Carney. It was back in October that Carney told CBS Local that the duo is hoping to release it this year, with Danger Mouse back behind the decks. "[An album] is definitely gonna happen in 2013. It’s just a matter of how long it takes us to make the album and deciding when we want to get back on the road."

"The road" won't be happening this summer, as Auerbach also told MOJO they're taking the summer off.

Meanwhile, to get a Black Keys fix before then, check out their co-headlining tour with Flaming Lips at select large venues. They're both booked for Lollapalooza Brazil at the end of March, and then will re-unite for four dates in April, starting at the Spring Center in Kansas City on April 28.

It's an interesting combo: the Lips' live show has obviously been concept-driven, with bonkers live shows, complete covers sets, dancing audience members and, of course, the crowd-ball with lone inhabitant Wayne Coyne. The Black Keys, on the other hand, spent this summer with a stripped concept, with throwback light-up letters, oversized work lights and little else beyond the two rockers rocking at each other.

Below are each bands' tour schedule.

The Black Keys are also looking forward to the Grammy Awards, apparently, as they'll be featured in a forthcoming promotional video for the ceremony and #theworldislistening campaign. Look out for the commercial, "Soundcheck," on CBS. The Grammy winners are likely on tap for performing at the February ceremony.

The Black Keys 2013 Tour Dates:

March 29 – Sau Paulo, BR @ Lollapalooza Brazil
March 30 – Sau Paulo, BR @ Lollapalooza Brazil
March 31 – Sau Paulo, BR @ Lollapalooza Brazil
April 2 – Bueno Aires, AR @ El Festival Mas Grande de la Historia 2013
April 3 – Bueno Aires, AR @ El Festival Mas Grande de la Historia 2013
April 6 – Santiago, CL @ Lollapalooza Chile
April 7 – Santiago, CL @ Lollapalooza Chile
April 28 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Sprint Center *
April 30 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ CONSOL Energy Center *
May 2 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood *
May 3 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena *

* with The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips 2013 Tour Dates:

March 29 – Sau Paulo, BR @ Lollapalooza Brazil
March 30 – Sau Paulo, BR @ Lollapalooza Brazil
March 31 – Sau Paulo, BR @ Lollapalooza Brazil
April 28 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Sprint Center *
April 30 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ CONSOL Energy Center *
May 2 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood *
May 3 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena *
May 20 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
May 21 – London, UK @ Roundhouse
June 14 – Hultsfred, SWE @ Hultsfred Festival
June 15 – Aarhus, DEN @ NorthSide Festival

* with The Black Keys