Thrice singer Dustin Kensrue has announced a new solo album, Desert Dreaming, due April 5 via BMG (pre-order). It’s billed as an alt-country album, and first single “Death Valley Honeymoon” is very alt-country. Its rustic, twangy, pedal steel-fueled vibes suit Dustin well, and his and guest singer Cat Clyde‘s voices sound great together. Cat also joins Dustin in the video and you can check that out below.
The album was produced by Dustin and made with upright bassist Seth Richardson, pedal steel guitarist Abe Levy, and drummer James McAlister. It’s set in the American Southwest, and Dustin says that “the setting really is the main character of the record.”
According to a press release, the new single “details the wild but true story of how Kensrue’s grandparents met and recounts their honeymoon in the seemingly unlikely destination of Death Valley,” and Dustin adds, “There were multiple moments while writing that I felt like I was channeling my grandparents’ spirits in one way or another. Having Cat Clyde sing my grandmother’s verse in the song really brought the whole thing home for me and she absolutely nailed it. Even the actor who plays my grandpa in the video showed up on set and gave me and my sister a start when we saw how eerily his face and smile made him resemble my mom’s dad.”
Dustin has also announced a tour, including a Brooklyn show on May 2 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets for the whole tour are on presale now. All dates are listed below.
Tracklist
1. Death Valley Honeymoon
2. High Scalers
3. Treasure in the West
4. Lift Your Eyes
5. Western Skies
6. The Heart of Sedona
7. Sage & Lilac
8. The Light of the Moon
9. Leaving Tonight for Santa Fe
10. Desert Dreaming
Dustin Kensrue — 2024 Tour Dates
4/24/24 – Austin, TX – The Parish
4/25/24 – Dallas, TX – Sons of Hermann Hall
4/27/24 – Orlando, FL – The Social
4/28/24 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
4/29/24 – Nashville, TN – Eastside Bowl
5/1/24 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
5/2/24 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
5/3/24 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
5/4/24 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
5/6/24 – Lakewood, OH – Mahall’s
5/7/24 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick
5/8/24 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge
5/9/24 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
5/11/24 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
5/12/24- Salt Lake City, UT – Commonwealth
5/14/24- Seattle, WA – Neumos
5/15/24 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
5/17/24 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
5/18/24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre
5/19/24 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory