Benmont Tench Shines During Poignant ‘The Melancholy Season’ Solo Set

Encountering Tom Petty in Gainesville, Florida for the first time at the age of just 11, Benmont Tench would become a crucial component in the sound of one of America’s great songwriters, tickling the ivories on two Mudcrutch records, all 13 Heartbreakers studio albums and two of Petty’s three solo projects, a run responsible for record sales exceeding 80 million globally over 45 years (one of the best selling catalogs ever).

While his work as a session musician has found him appearing on songs by artists like Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones since 1981, it would take until 2014 for his first proper solo album You Should Be So Lucky.

Following it up more than a decade later, Tench released The Melancholy Season this past March, a collection of 12 tracks which finds him plying his remarkable craft alongside guests like Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), longtime collaborator Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek) and more, resuming a U.S. tour in support of the new album September 13, 2025 in Woodstock, New York.

Performing solo on the piano last month at Garcia’s, an intimate, sold out show in front of just 300 lucky fans at Chicago’s warmest new venue, Tench ran through a stunning 19 song set which drew from both solo albums, the vaunted Petty canon and well-chosen covers from artists ranging anywhere from the Grateful Dead to Joy Division.

Opening up with “The One That Got Away,” Tench shifted to a more contemplative tone with “Today I Took Your Picture Down,” maintaining that vibe as he slowed down Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” working up an uncharacteristically sparse take on the otherwise synth-driven post-punk number while placing the focus on the moving words at the heart of the haunting track.

In the studio, Tench took on the lead vocal to the piano-driven “Welcome to Hell” on the second Mudcrutch album, delivering it with a bit of a ragtime vibe on stage in Chicago.

“What the hell, a couple of covers,” said Tench with a smile. “I like this guy. He was a good songwriter,” he continued dryly with a wink and a nod, setting up a solo take on Petty’s “Straight Into Darkness,” from 1982’s Long After Dark. “Good song, right?” quipped Tench at the deep cut’s conclusion.

“The great American songwriters… This one’s from St. Louis,” he explained, referencing Chuck Berry following his take on the Dead’s “China Doll.” “It was recorded down the street,” Tench continued, referencing 1959 and ’60 sessions which took place about three miles south at Chess Records for Berry’s “Bye Bye Johnny,” a sequel of sorts to “Johnny B. Goode.” “I wish that’s how I played the piano,” he mused, shouting out the playing of Berry sidemen like Johnnie Johnson and Lafayette Leake. “Damn.”

Continuing with the covers, Bob Dylan’s “Blind Willie McTell” stood out as a highlight on stage at Garcia’s, with Tench tearing through it unabated despite kicking over a bottle of water.

Midway through the tour, Tench shook up the setlist, explaining the process behind “Wobbles,” which grew from an instrumental in 2014 to a song with lyrics on the new album, steering deftly into “You Should Be So Lucky.”

Tench, 71, has battled cancer for nearly fifteen years. On stage in Chicago, he explained to fans that he recently had part of his tongue removed, persevering despite the vocal hurdles that process has brought.

“I said I’m tongue tied and I am. A funny thing happened on the way to Chicago,” Tench began. “I’ve had this since 2011 and it really hadn’t gotten in my way,” he continued. “So, I go in and they take out my jaw. And they take out a little bit more of my tongue. And they rebuild half of my jaw. Damn. Bob’s your uncle!” joked Tench despite the circumstances. “Then they hit me with radiation – and they zapped the hell out of me. But I’m here! And sometimes it hurts. But I’m here,” said the pianist. “So, that’s what happened on the way to Chicago.”

Growing chattier, and seemingly more comfortable as the show continued, Tench offered up a poignant message as the Garcia’s set headed toward its final moments.

“This song is about not hating people – even if they’re hateful,” he said, explaining the message behind “I Will Not Follow You Down” from The Melancholy Season. “Save your tears. You’re gonna need them,” sang Tench during the new song’s anthemic chorus, one of the evening’s standout moments.

Cruising toward close with The Velvet Underground’s “Rock & Roll,” Tench emerged from encore to put his spin on one of Petty’s most cherished recorded moments.

By slowing it down, Tench shined a spotlight directly on the narrative that drives “American Girl,” putting forth a stirring, unexpectedly beautiful rendition of arguably Petty’s most recognizable songwriting.

“I love this city – you all should know that by now,” said Benmont Tench on stage in Chicago. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much.”