Warren Haynes is out on the road with his newly reactivated Warren Haynes Band, and it appears they kept busy during a break between international and U.S. dates. In a new interview with The Pitch, Haynes confirmed that he and the WHB have recorded a new studio album. In that same interview, he also explained John Medeski‘s absence on this current leg of the tour.
“Well, this band, minus [saxophonist] Greg Osby, just finished a new studio record and we’re hoping to have that record out late September, early October,” Haynes said. “We’re even starting to play some of the new material from it now. When we were in Europe, we pulled out three or four songs and we pulled some of the new stuff out, since we’ve been back in the States, as well, and we’ll probably play something in Kansas City [at the tour opener] from the new record.”
Never one to gather dust, Haynes has already put out two albums with Gov’t Mule since the dawn of the decade. During that same stretch of time, he also collaborated with Dolly Parton, Edgar Winter, and Blackberry Smoke on individual releases—highlighting both his stylistic diversity and status as one of rock’s most in-demand guitarists. Despite that productivity, Haynes hasn’t issued an album under his own name since 2015’s Ashes & Dust, which he recorded with Railroad Earth.
This yet-untitled album with the Warren Haynes Band would mark the bandleader’s first recorded studio material with the band’s new lineup. Ahead of the Now Is The Time Tour—which features one set of Warren Haynes Band and two sets of the Dreams + Songs Symphonic Experience—Haynes said he would be joined by keyboardist and longtime collaborator John Medeski, Gov’t Mule bassist Kevin Scott, and returning WHB member and two-time Grammy Award-winning drummer Terence Higgins. However, ahead of this weekend’s tour opener in Kansas City, Haynes revealed that Matt Slocum (Sixpence None the Richer) would sub for Medeski as he fulfills some prior commitments.
“Now, I should point out that for this run, John Medeski is being replaced by Matt Slocum, who is fantastic as well, and then John will be back for the next run,” Haynes said without providing any specific dates.
The Now Is The Time Tour featuring the Warren Haynes Band and the Dreams + Songs Symphonic Experience continues through the end of the month with shows throughout the Midwest. Visit Haynes’ website for tickets and a full list of tour dates and check out the full interview with The Pitch here.
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