Dustin Kensrue

Since the formation of Thrice in 1998, Dustin Kensrue was most notably known as the lead singer, lyricist, and guitarist for the well-regarded Irvine, California post-hardcore quartet. And while Thrice always remained his top priority, he began more seriously working on solo acoustic material around 2004. Originally writing under the project name Ursus Veritas, Kensrue eventually dropped the moniker, choosing instead to work under his own name. Tracks first appeared online via MySpace in spring 2005, and Kensrue eventually took some brief time away from work on Thrice's fifth studio effort the next year to finish up the recording of his debut record with co-producer and Thrice bandmate Teppei Teranishi. He hit the road for ten days that summer to play select dates around the United States. Playing various originals, covers, and the occasional Thrice song, he was joined on his first solo tour by Lucero's Ben Nichols on East Coast dates and ex-Hot Water Music frontman Chuck Ragan on the West Coast. Kensrue ultimately signed with Equal Vision in fall 2006, and the label issued the folk- and country-tinged Please Come Home the following January. Keeping with Thrice's history of giving back to charitable organizations, five percent of the album's proceeds were donated to a non-profit.