Multi-platinum and three-time GRAMMY winning band Jars of Clay kick off their 26 city autumn tour in the U.S. on 5 October with tour mates Matt Wertz and former Sixpence None the Richer lead singer, Leigh Nash.
The tour follows the band's critically acclaimed seventh studio project, Good Monsters, which released on 5 September.
Such reviews include USA Today, which gave Good Monsters high marks with a 3.5 (out of 4) star review in its 9/5 edition, while allmusic.com and iTunes say, "'Monsters' stretches the four-piece band past any set of expectations and results in their boldest effort to date." Amazon.com notes, "Top to bottom, Monsters is the most complete and mature work to date for a group that continually challenges themselves as well as their fans."
On sharing the road and stage with Matt and Leigh, who also call Nashville home, Dan Haseltine, Jars' lead singer, says, "We're really looking forward to this tour with Leigh and Matt. Leigh is a long-time friend and Matt is simply an amazing talent we're really looking forward to touring with."
Good Monsters, completely self-produced by the band, offers eleven original songs and a remake of the Julie Miller-penned anthem "All My Tears".
The album even boasts a couple of stirring guest appearances: Nashville-based singer/songwriter extraordinaire Kate York guests on "Even Angels Cry", and Leigh Nash sings on "Mirrors and Smoke".
Long considered a critical success, Jars of Clay have also enjoyed major commercial success over their decade long career, including a double-platinum selling debut project and more than 5 million records sold in total.
Additionally, the African Children's Choir is featured on the moving, "Light Gives Heat", a song inspired by the band's work in Africa through their non-profit organisation, the Blood:Water Mission.
Founded by Jars of Clay, Blood:Water Mission hopes to raise at least US$300,000 (£160,064) for clean water projects in Africa with the help of sales from Good Monsters CDs.
According to the United Nations, over 300 million people in Africa lack access to safe drinking water and 477 million people live without adequate sanitation facilities.
As part of the effort, The Global Water Challenge, with support from The Coca-Cola Company, will provide a matching donation of up to US$100,000 (£53,346) to the band's initiative. The partnership will donate US$1.00 for each of the first 100,000 copies of Good Monsters sold. Funds raised will go toward the provision of clean water in Africa.
