August 5, 2009 -- THE DEAR HUNTER--Casey Crescenzo (singer/pianist/guitarist/lyricist/multi-instrumentalist), Andy Wildrick (guitar), Erick Serna (guitar), Nick Crescenzo (drums), Nate Patterson (bass)—is heading out on a headlining tour starting September 23 in Akron, OH to promote their critically acclaimed ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH, which was released June 23 on Triple Crown Records. After the headlining trek concludes October 3, the band will head out with Thursday through October 24. Once the Thursday tour concludes, they’ll head back out for another week’s worth of headlining shows.
In video news, Casey Crescenzo is hard at work in his home studio in Providence, RI directing and producing the animated video for “What It Means To Be Alone,” which will be ready for TV and Internet consumption by the time the tour begins. To quench their fans’ thirst for new video footage, THE DEAR HUNTER will release a live clip of “He Said He Had A Story,” which was shot last month at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. It can be seen now on the band’s YouTube page (www.youtube.com/thedearhuntervideos).

Fans can also check out a special tour announcement by Casey on the band’s YouTube page, which includes information about special acoustic appearances the band will make along the tour route on various street corners, parking lots, public parks or wherever else they’re inspired to perform.
ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH has been racking up rave reviews since the album’s release:

“Casey Crescenzo, the multi-talented fountainhead of THE DEAR HUNTER, assembled a masterwork in ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH, ostensibly the midsection of his ongoing, six-act tale of a born-loser boy who falls for a whore. LIFE AND DEATH expands the Danny Elfman-does-gypsy-vaudeville sound pioneered on TDH’s two previous albums, dedicating more space to better explore the densely layered vocal swathes (‘Writing On A Wall’) and polyrhythmic grooves (‘In Cauda Venenum’) for which Crescenzo’s become known. He flexes some serious harmonic muscle on the lachrymose ‘Saved’ and the aching, album-closing trifecta ‘Son,’ ‘Father’ and ‘Life and Death.’ If you’d prefer to simply commence wetting your shorts, jump to the 4:15 mark of ‘Thief’ and listen through to the end of ‘Mustard Gas.’ F**king bravo, man. 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.”

--Casey Lynch, Alternative Press,
August 2009

“It’s as though the album is the stage for this artist…To say that ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH has depth would be an understatement. You could bury this record on the ocean floor, and that distance still wouldn’t reach its core. It’s more of an exercise than something you listen to casually, but once you put yourself through the test of fully appreciating a song like ‘What It Means To Be Alone,’ you’ll emerge a better person for it. 8 out of 10”

--Amy Sciarretto, Outburn,
July 2009

“…dramatic, dissonant, style-shifting rock…baroque orchestral arrangements, Broadway-esque piano ballads and everything in between. One minute DEAR HUNTER leader Casey Crescenzo is drenched in a backdrop of lush harmonies (‘Writing on a Wall’), the next he's roaring through a wall of bombastic guitars and horns (‘In Cauda Venenum’).”

--Evan Lucy, Billboard,
July 11, 2009

“…a great example of getting away with a ton of bold guitar work that is always in service of the song…There is a grand theatricality to ACT III that brings to mind Oingo Boingo, Queen and Jellyfish…this is such a great record.”

--Matt Blackett, Guitar Player,
September 2009

“The indie chamber-pop sound fits nicely into (Casey) Crescenzo’s compelling songs that document that life-changing evolution of the human spirit.”

--Mary Houlihan, Chicago Sun-Times,
July 3, 2009

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