More "No Better Than This"

John Mellencamp expands his “No Better Than This Tour” that was to close in Chicago next month with all-new dates beginning in February of next year.

Billed as “an evening with,” the tour features John Mellencamp digging into his vast catalog of songs as well as tunes from his latest album.

Each concert is divided into three segments with the first showcasing Mellencamp performing acoustically while the second features the singer / songwriter fronting a small combo. The third promises to be a party with Mellencamp backed by his full rock band.

The newly announced leg of the tour begins in Lowell, Mass., at the Memorial Auditorium Feb. 3.

Even though it’s “an evening with,” there is an opening act of sorts, the film documentary “It’s About You,” shot on Super 8 film during Mellenamp’s 2009 tour of minor league baseball stadiums with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.

Produced by T Bone Burnett, the new album (yes, titled No Better Than This) sports a retro sound with Mellencamp recording the album in three historic locations in the American South – the First African Baptist Church in Savannah, Memphis’ Sun Studio and Room 414 of San Antonio’s Gunter Hotel where Robert Johnson recorded in 1936. Adding to the Americana vibe of the album, the sessions took place using one vintage microphone and were recorded on a 55-year-old mono tape recorder. Talk about getting back to basics.

All the backstage passes for October and November gigs are gone, but here are the new dates:

Thu 02/03/11 Lowell, MA Lowell Memorial Auditorium

Fri 02/04/11 Waterbury, CT Palace Theater

Tue 02/15/11 Washington, DC DAR Constitution Hall

Fri 02/18/11 New York, NY Radio City Music Hall

Mon 02/21/11 Philadelphia, PA Academy Of Music

Thu 02/24/11 Richmond, VA Landmark Theater

Sat 02/26/11 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium

Sun 02/27/11 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre

Tue 03/01/11 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center

Thu 03/03/11 Fort Lauderdale, FL Broward Center For The Perf. Arts

Fri 03/04/11 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall

Sat 03/05/11 Jacksonville, FL Moran Theater

JM is a perennial fave at BPD. So act quickly before they're all gone.