Mellencamp’s ‘No Better Than This’ Tour Launches In Fall

Technically speaking, Mellencamp’s fall tour is “an evening with” as the Heartland’s favorite rocker presents a variety of songs from his 30-year-plus career.

Mellencamp also has a new album coming out this month. Produced by T Bone Burnett, his debut on Rounder Records titled No Better Than This was recorded at three historic locations in America’s south; Savannah’s First African Baptist Church, Memphis’ Sun Studio and Room 414 of the Gunter Hotel in San Antonio where Robert Johnson recorded in 1936. Keeping with the stripped down theme of the album, a 55-year-old mono tape recorder and one vintage mic were used at each location.

Mellencamp will be doing more than mixing the old and new on his fall tour. Instead, his shows will be presented in three segments – acoustic, small combo and full rock band.

Although Mellencamp’s dates are being presented as “an evening with,” there is an opening act – a documentary film shot by Kurt Markus entitled “It’s About You” which explores last year’s Bob Dylan / Willie Nelson / Mellencamp tour of minor league baseball stadiums as well as detailing the creation of No Better Than This. In addition to its musical nature, the doc has been described as a “think piece” on the state of the U.S.A. at the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

The tour begins in Mellencamp’s home state of Indiana at the ISU Auditorium in Bloomington Oct. 29. Cincinnati at the Music Hall is scheduled for Nov. 1; Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium Nov. 3 and Kansas City at The Midland By AMC Nov. 5. Other stops include St. Louis, Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Chicago.

Tickets for most shows go on sale Aug. 14 at 10 a.m. Pittsburgh goes on sale Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. and Chicago goes up Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. All times local. For more info click here for the John Mellencamp website.