Bloomington, IN (Top40 Charts/ AEG Live) - With the first dates of John Mellencamp's No Better Than This Tour getting underway this week and following the recent announcement of the tour's second leg starting in February of 2011 comes notice of a third leg of dates next spring as well as two added shows in New York and Toronto in February. The newly announced string of No Better Than This tour dates will bring Mellencamp, his music and his band to Texas, the west coast western Canada and circling back to the U.S. Midwest. Tickets for these dates are slated to go on sale Friday, October 29 at 10 AM.
The tour, designed as a uniquely formatted 'evening with,' brings Mellencamp's music to theater-sized venues, a rare opportunity to experience one of America's most iconic songwriters and performers in an intimate setting, highlighting all phases of his artistry. The third leg of the tour kicks off April 1 in Grand Prairie, TX (Dallas/Ft. Worth) continuing to Austin, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, going on to Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina concluding in Omaha and Ames, Iowa.
The tour will feature classic Mellencamp material associated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee over the course of his 35 year long career as well as the new music from No Better Than This. The album, released by Rounder Records, held the top spot on the Americana Music Chart for five straight weeks and was produced by T Bone Burnett. It was recorded in three historic locations in the American South: Savannah's First African Baptist Church, Sun Studio in Memphis and Room 414 of San Antonio's Gunter Hotel where Robert Johnson recorded in 1936. The sessions were documented on a 55-year-old mono tape recorder using just one vintage microphone at each location. Rolling Stone's review of the album noted, 'Mellencamp has never sounded looser or easier on a record,' suggesting the artist was 'channeling spirits and stepping into period styles. They fit him perfectly." The Americana Music Association honored Mellencamp last month with its Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting, presented by Rosanne Cash.
Tickets bought for the newly announced U.S. dates include a digital download of No Better Than This. Details regarding how to redeem the album download will be sent via email a few days following purchase to ticket buyers. A tutorial outlining this process is posted on Mellencamp.com.
As a reflection of the diversity of styles and material that have been a hallmark of Mellencamp's eclectic career, the concerts are formatted into three segments. These showcase John Mellencamp in an acoustic context, fronting a small combo recalling blues/country and rockabilly roots and with his full rock band. Musicians backing Mellencamp include Michael Wanchic (guitar), Andy York (guitar), Miriam Sturm (violin), John Gunnell (electric and upright bass), Dane Clark (drums) and Troye Kinnett (accordion/keyboards).
Of special note is the fact that the tour's 'opening act,' is a documentary film by Kurt Markus entitled It's About You. Shot on Super8 film over the course of last year's Bob Dylan-John Mellencamp-Willie Nelson tour of minor league baseball stadiums, it chronicles the creation of No Better Than This while serving as a cinematic 'think piece' on the state of the country at the end of the first decade of the 21st Century. Markus, whose still work has put him in the front ranks of contemporary American photographers, has been cited for his extraordinary vision of his work documenting the American West and is the recipient of Life Magazine's Alfred Eisenstaedt Photography Award. Ticket holders are urged to get to their respective No Better Than This Tour venues on time to be on hand for the film's start.
Mellencamp noted, 'I'm very excited to have the opportunity at this time in my life to go on tour and present these songs in this manner.'
Fans should to log on to www.mellencamp.com for the most up-to-date concert and ticket on-sale information.
John Mellencamp No Better Than This Tour, promoted by AEG Live, tickets on sale 10/29/10 at 10 AM
Feb. 10 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
Feb. 19 - New York City, NY - Radio City Music Hall
Apr. 1 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theatre
Apr. 2 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theatre*
Apr. 3 - Houston - Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
Apr. 6 - Denver, CO - Temple Buell Theatre
Apr. 8 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Theatre
Apr. 9 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
Apr. 12 - Seattle, WA - McCaw Hall at Seattle Center
Apr. 13 - Vancouver, BC - Orpheum Theatre
Apr. 15 - Edmonton, AB - Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
Apr. 19 - Saskatoon, SK - TCU Place
Apr. 22 - Regina, SK - Conexus Arts Centre
Apr. 27 - Omaha, NE - Omaha Civic Music Hall
Apr. 28 - Ames, IA - Stephens Auditorium
*Austin on sale date to be announced in the near future
Previously announced:
Oct. 29 - Bloomington, IN - Indiana University Auditorium
Oct. 30 - Bloomington, IN - Indiana University Auditorium
Nov. 1 - Cincinnati, OH - Music Hall
Nov. 3 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
Nov. 5 - Kansas City, MO - The Midland by AMC
Nov. 6 - St. Louis, MO - Fabulous Fox Theatre
Nov. 8 - Indianapolis, IN - Clowes Memorial Hall
Nov. 11 - Indianapolis, IN - Hinkle Fieldhouse
Nov. 13 - South Bend, IN - Morris Performing Arts Center
Nov. 16 - Fort Wayne, IN - Embassy Theatre
Nov. 17 - Cleveland, OH - Palace Theater
Nov. 19 - Detroit, MI -Fox Theatre
Nov. 20 - Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Hall*
Nov. 22 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre (1)
Nov. 23 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre (1)
Nov. 26 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre (1)
Nov. 27 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre (1)
Feb. 3 - Lowell, MA - Lowell Memorial Auditorium
Feb. 4 - Waterbury, CT - Palace Theatre
Feb. 6 - Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre
Feb. 9 - Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
Feb. 15 - Washington, DC - DAR Constitution Hall
Feb. 18 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
Feb. 21 - Philadelphia, PA - Academy Of Music
Feb. 24 - Richmond, VA - Landmark Theatre
Feb. 26 - Columbia, SC - Township Auditorium
Feb. 27 - Atlanta, GA - Fox Theatre
Mar. 1 - Durham, NC - Durham PAC
Mar. 3 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Broward Center
Mar. 4 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Mar. 5 - Jacksonville, FL - Times Union Center Moran Theatre
(1) Co-promoted with Jam Productions
Tickets available at www.aeglive.com
