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Mike Kinsella is part of a singularly talented and prolific family. Not just of blood, but of the entire Illinois scene. At the age of 12 Mike joined his first band - alongside his brother Tim, the seminal Cap'n Jazz. From there he has played an integral part, across a number of instruments, in many Illinois based acts such as Joan of Arc, The One Up Downstairs, American Football and The Shirts and Skins, in which he performs alongside his wife. However, since his first solo record as Owen in 2001, he has carved perhaps the biggest reputation all on his own.
Since releasing 2009's New Leaves shortly after the birth of his daughter, Kinsella has embraced the untraditional role of being a stay-at-home father - a situation that has invariably led Mike to ruminate on the passing of his own father and their strained relationship, something that was covered on 2010's Ghost Town, perhaps Mike's most well-rounded and most warmly received release yet.
That Ghost Town proves to be yet another step toward a new musical direction should come as no surprise to those who have followed Owen's songwriting evolution from sparse acoustic offerings (on his self-titled debut) to lush, string-filled arrangements (At Home With Owen, New Leaves).
With production by Brian Deck (Iron & Wine) and Neil Strauch (Bonnie 'Prince' Billy), the songs on Ghost Town become as beautifully fleshed-out as Kinsella finds the lyrical apparitions he confronts to be frustratingly lacking substance.
As a result, the record serves to reincarnate the souls haunting Kinsella - enabling him to achieve closure and move forward with the next chapter of his life.
Mike will tour Ghost Town, as well as playing songs from earlier records and undoubtedly offering surprise choices from his other projects, in the UK in 2012.
The following dates have been announced:
02/02/2012 – Brighton, UK @ The Green Door Store
03/02/2012 – Newport, UK @ Le Pub
04/02/2012 – Nottingham, UK @ Glee Club
05/02/2012 – London, UK @ Old Blue Last
