Iconic singer, songwriter, guitarist, and Alice In Chains co-founder Jerry Cantrell released his new solo album, Brighten, on October 29th. Cantrell recently spoke to Steve Baltin of Forbes about his new music, an excerpt follows:

Are there one or two things that you really are thinking about doing differently going forward, whether it's for your solo stuff or for Alice In Chains? 

Cantrell: "We've always been a varied band, and we've performed everywhere from the smallest clubs to the biggest f**king venues and everything in between, and there are interesting qualities about all of them. And I love playing in small places, it's fun as long as the sound system is good and people can hear and you got enough room where you can stand on a stage without f**king breaking each other's head stocks off. Just as a fan, I've been in some small clubs and seen some really big artists that don't play small clubs. It's pretty f**king badass. It's so intimate, and it's very exclusive, because there's only so many bodies you can fit in there, so it's a cool moment. And the live shows are the thing. We write our music, we record our music, we throw it out there, and that's a beautiful thing and it's very meaningful, and it's part of the process that I love and enjoy. But the goal is getting to be able to stand on the stage in front of people and play those songs and all the other songs for people and have that live experience. So, we're one of the jobs that requires getting a lot of people together, so there's a lot of things to consider, like trying to make sure people are safe in this new environment and trying to keep healthy because you can't cancel. You don't want to be in a situation where you're going out in a week, you gotta shut down for a couple of weeks, and then you try to get to reschedule all that stuff, availabilities and it's a lot to think about, a lot of things to consider."

What do you take from Brighten as a complete work?

Cantrell: "It feels to me like a record. I don't know why that's such a weird thing to say, but it kind of is (laughs). I guess people are more interested in songs, just like I've always been interested in albums. Instead of a chapter out of a book or a blurb, I like reading the whole novel. Good albums, or just albums in general, are time capsules of a particular period of time in a very small group of individuals that are lived, rocked, recorded and then it's that way forever. And then it's given to the world and left to fend for itself. Whether it scrapes along, or whether it completely flourishes and goes all over the place. I've had the experience of both and the one constant is, and I guess it's the reason that I continue to do it is, I remember how I felt listening to albums and listening to the radio. And how that made me feel and wanting to create music and albums and songs that made other people feel the way I felt then. I've been able to achieve that. Still amazed that I still get to do it. And I feel like I'm still doing it at the top and best level that I can on this record."

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Jerry Cantrell's Brighten Tour 2022 kicks off March 24 in Minneapolis, MN and wraps up May 8 in San Diego, CA. The complete routing is as listed:

2022 tour dates:

March
24 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
26 - Chicago, IL - The Vic Theatre
28 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
29 - Toronto, ON - History
31 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theatre

April
2 - Atlantic City, NJ - Music Box @ Borgata
3 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
5 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
6 - Boston, MA - Big Night Live
8 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
9 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
10 - Charlotte, NC - Fillmore
12 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
13 -  St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
15 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
17 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
19 - New Orleans, LA -  Fillmore
21 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
22 - San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theatre
23 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
25 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
27 - Denver, CO - The Summit
28 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot

May
1 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
2 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
4 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
5 - Los Angeles, CA - Belasco Theatre
7 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
8 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues

Brighten artwork and tracklisting:

"Atone"
"Brighten"
"Prism Of Doubt"
"Black Hearts And Evil Done"
"Siren Song"
"Had To Know"
"Nobody Breaks You"
"Dismembered"
"Goodbye"

"Brighten" video:

"Atone" video:

(Photo - Jonathan Weiner)