Benmont Tench Announces Solo Album, Plans Tour

Benmont Tench, the keyboardist of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, announced the release of his second solo album, The Melancholy Season, set for March 7 through Dark Horse Records. This will be his first solo album in over a decade, following 2014's You Should Be So Lucky, and features production by Jonathan Wilson along with contributions from several notable musicians. The title track, also named 'The Melancholy Season,' has been released alongside a music video, and explores themes of alienation between a couple during a cold evening. Tench will preview songs from the new album during a residency at Café Carlyle in New York from February 18 to 22, followed by a West Coast tour beginning March 12. He emphasized that the inspiration for the song comes from his observations of the Orion constellation, which he associates with the emotional changes of the colder months. Pre-orders for the album are currently available, and Tench's tour will include multiple notable cities.