Fri 3 Feb
The trickle of punks unplugging in favour of an acoustic guitar has become a flood in recent years and among this new breed of troubadours, Owen’s Mike Kinsella stands as a fine example, combining first-rate songwriting with a healthy DIY ethic. An important figure in the Chicago music scene, where his bands Cap’n Jazz, Joan Of Arc and American Football straddled the line between indie, emo and post-hardcore, he has produced a string of six intimate, bittersweet records under the Owen banner since 2001’s eponymous debut.
Kinsella has a finger in every pie when it comes to the Owen project, which initially became a reality in the bedroom of his mother’s house under the steam of Polyvinyl Records. His work begins with a plucked note, continues through a smattering of keys, drums and samples, and ends with signing off the artwork, giving the music an authenticity and strength of feeling not easily replicated.
His latest collection of songs, Ghost Town, was released at the tail-end of 2011. It is in part a rumination on his relationship with his father and is a textured, beautiful album, where deceptively complicated guitar lines sit perfectly beneath Kinsella’s sincere, measured delivery. His forthcoming stop at Newport’s Le Pub is definitely a must-see for any self-respecting fan of singer-songwriters, from Bob Dylan to Elliott Smith and Chuck Ragan. Tickets: £8. Info: 01633 221477 (HB)