Holy smokes! Jay Arner and his band are preparing to embark on their first tour of America. And they have a new video. Watch it here, and then tell your friends in Philadelphia to check him out!

Jay Arner's Upcoming Tour Dates: 
Oct 3 - Simply Delicious, Vancouver, BC *
Oct 4 - Heartland, Seattle, WA *
Oct 5 - Neato Burrito, Spokane, WA *
Oct 6 - VFW, Missoula, MT *
Oct 7 - Wild Joe's, Bozeman, MT *
Oct 8 - Pangea House, Minot, ND *
Oct 9 - TBA, Fargo, ND *
Oct 10 - Fuck Mountain, Minneapolis, MN *
Oct 11 - Observatory Studios, Chicago, IL
Oct 12 - The Shop, Pittsburgh, PA
Oct 13 - MakeSpace, Harrisburg, PA *
Oct 14 - Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA
Oct 15 - Brooklyn Rod and Gun Club, Brooklyn, NY
Oct 16 - TBA
Oct 17 - Pete's Candy Store, Brooklyn, NY (Riot Act Day Party) 
Oct 18 - Piano's, New York, NY (Planetary Group Day Party)
Oct 21 - TBA, Burlington, VT
Oct 22 - Divan Orange, Montreal, QC
Oct 23 - Gus' Pub, Halifax, NS (Halifax Pop Explosion) 
Oct 25 - Gus' Pub, Halifax, NS (Mint Records Day Party) 
Oct 27 - Thunder and Lightning, Sackville, NB
Oct 28 - Flask Lounge, Portland, ME
Oct 30 - Coco 66, New York, NY
Oct 31 - Paperhaus, Washington DC
Nov 1 - TBA, Baltimore, MD
Nov 2 - The Garage, Charlottesville, VA
Nov 3 - Pinhook, Durham, NC
Nov 4 - Green Room, Athens, GA
Nov 5 - The Other Basement, Nashville, TN
Nov 6 - TBA, Memphis, TN
Nov 7 - Circle Bar, New Orleans, LA
Nov 8 - Crown and Harp, Dallas, TX
Nov 9 - Museum of Human Achievement, Austin, TX
Nov 10 - TBA
Nov 11 - Burt's Tiki Lounge, Albuquerque, NM
Nov 12 - TLMS, Tuscon, AZ
Nov 13 - TBA, Flagstaff, AZ
Nov 14 - Katzen Culture Club, Los Angeles, CA
Nov 15 - TBA, San Francisco, CA
Nov 16 - Alibi, Arcata, CA
Nov 17 - Rontoms, Portland, OR
Nov 18 - Hollow Earth Radio, Seattle, WA
* with Cult Babies

 

Hello Internet!

We at Mint just wanted to let you know about our most recent collaboration. This time, we're partnering with the intrepid Ketamines, who are presently preparing to tour Canada with our pals Tough Age AND piecing together a collection of four 7" records that will be released on various labels. We'll be helping them get the fourth, and maybe final in the series, out this winter.

The artwork matches up to form a giant collage, made by scissor enthusiast and artist, Felix Morel of Montreal. COLLECT ALL FOUR. The other three are available from Pleasence Records, Leaning Trees Records and Hosehead Records or from the band on tour (go and see them already).

The Ketamines come from the prairie hinterland town of Lethbridge, Alberta, but presently call Toronto home. You can read more about them here.

 

The Ketamines on tour: 

Aug 14 - Toronto, Ontario at Parts and Labour %

Aug 22 - Hamilton, ON at This Ain't Hollywood *

Aug 23 - Toronto, ON at Imperial Lounge *

Aug 24 - Windsor, ON at Phog Lounge *

Aug 25 - St. Catherines, ON at Niagara Artists Centre *

Aug 27 - London, ON at Call the Office *

Aug 28 - Guelph, ON at Van Gogh's Ear *

Aug 29 - Kingston, ON at The Artel *

Aug 30 - Ottawa, ON at Gabba Hey! *

Sept 01 - Kitchener, ON at Uncross Your Arms Fest *#

Nov 15 - Toronto, Ontario at Silver Dollar - Mammoth Cave Anniversary Bash!

 

* with Tough Age # with Sam Coffey

% with Human Eye, Cellphone and Wrong Hole

BIG NEWS: Vancouver's Tough Age is the newest addition to the Mint Records Roster! Tough Age blends scrappy pop-punk with surf overtones and are influenced by obscure '60s CanCon singles, Guided By Voices, cats and comic books. On Friday, Jarrett K (Korean Gut, Apollo Ghosts), Penny Clark, Lauren Smith and Chris Martell, who is a drumming wizard, came by for drinks and made it official. We're thrilled to be working with them and will be releasing a full-length release this fall. 

Tough Age on Tour:
 
August 22 / Hamilton / This Ain't Hollywood
August 23 / Toronto / TBA
August 24 / Windsor / Phog Lounge
August 25 / St. Catharines / Niagara Artists Center
August 27 / London / Call the Office 
August 28 / Guelph / Van Gogh's Ear
August 29 / Kingston / The Artel 
August 30 / Ottawa / Gabba Hey!
August 31 / Montreal / TBA
Septeber 01 / Kitchener / Uncross Your Arms Festival 
*all dates with The Ketamines

You can stream some Tough Age demos, and a new song, on bandcamp here
 
And here is Korean Gut's "In My Socialist Choir" from our most recent CiTR Pop Alliance Compilation.
 

Hello! June is festival month! And we’re once again hosting a free afternoon party at Sled Island. This time, it is upstairs at The Palomino on Friday, June 21, and we’re bringing along three of our recent signings, Jay Arner, Pick a Piper and the intrepid Renny Wilson. Hope to see you there!

 

Mint Records at Sled Island!

Friday, June 21st at The Palomino (109 7 Ave SW) 

Featuring: Jay Arner, Pick a Piper, Renny Wilson

12-3:30pm, Free (but not all ages – sorry!)

 

Pick a Piper - on at 12:30pm

The Toronto-based three-piece, Pick a Piper is an electronic project led by Brad Weber, who you may recognize as Caribou’s touring drummer. Their self-titled debut is hypnotic, percussive and chock full of guest appearances including members of Braids, The Ruby Suns and The Born Ruffians. Recently, a handful like-minded electronic artists including Caribou, The Junior Boys, Teen Daze, and many others remixed Pick a Piper songs. The band is presently touring Canada to promote their self-titled Mint Records debut.

"Weber has a knack for combining electronic and organic elements into dreamy psych-pop that sounds as good on the dance floor as it does through a pair of headphones." - Now Toronto (NNNN)
"The eight-track effort blends watery, disembodied grooves and shimmering atmospherics with tight-wristed percussion and guest vocals (from members of the Ruby Suns, Enon and Brainiac, Born Ruffians, and Braids) that also keep your feet fixed firmly on the ground." – SPIN

Jay Arner - on at 1:30pm

For years, Vancouver multi-instrumentalist Jay Arner has teamed up with others to translate the sounds in his head. He's fronted an indie rock band, played synthesizers and samplers in a pop duo, manned the drums for a piano-punk songwriter, and held down the bass in a eight-member collective. Along the way, he's also become a sought-after producer and remix artist, working out of the legendary Hive studios and recording acts like Mount Eerie, Apollo Ghosts, Rose Melberg, No Gold and many more.

Now, finally, he is going it alone. Every sound you hear on his eponymous debut album — due out on June 25th on Mint Records — was self-recorded by Arner in his 72-square-foot practice space using a precariously perched desktop computer and his home recording gear. The sum of his many talents, these 10 songs sizzle with DIY energy and encompass the scope of the songwriter's diverse resume.

“Jay comes correct on his long-play solo debut. This is no mere vanity trip for the Van City staple, as the unassuming mug on the cover laid down every note, lick and casual drum fill. Swoon-inducing New Romanticism and feather-banged bombast is the top down, drive time soundtrack for summer ’13.” – Weird Canada
"...Arner expertly folds sour feelings into his semi-sweet sounds and, as "Midnight on South Granville" accumulates quivery layers of analogue synths and builds gracefully to its conclusion, it becomes quietly riveting." – Pitchfork

Renny Wilson - on at 2:30pm

After almost a decade of struggle, strain, and delay, the debut record from Edmontonian Renny Wilson has now seen the light. His first ever release Sugarglider draws blood from disco keystones such as Bad Girls, and the spirit of Arthur Russell. Common elements of chillwave, krautrock, and a healthy dose of Haunted Graffiti can also be heard in a bold, tempo-matched digital-delay. The man, and his outrageous performancejust might be the most memorable thing you see all week.

"Sugarglider is a revelatory listen that exposes a genuine talent who's managed to excel at effortlessly nailing a distinct sound." - Exclaim!
“Chock full of gummy basslines, tony sax hooks, and spaced-out disco nods, Sugarglider feels like the soundtrack to a slideshow of some faded, pimply prom photos.” – Pitchfork

 

Festival season is here! And if you are crafting your NXNE schedule, here are a few Mint shows to add to the collection:

Thursday, June 13

- Jay Arner at Handlebar (9pm)

- Pick a Piper at The Painted Lady (2am) 

Friday, June 14

- Pick a Piper at The Comfort Zone (11pm) 

Saturday, June 15

- Hot Panda at the Joao Carvalho Mastering BBQ at 43 Laing St. (5:20pm) 

- Jay Arner at The Comfort Zone for the Silent Shout/Gorilla vs Bear Party (10pm) 

- Hot Panda at Sneaky Dees (1am)

 

Wow. Now this makes us unbelievably happy. Here's a remix of Renny Wilson's "Lady Pain" from the insanely talented Jay Arner. Enjoy! 

Here's the latest video from Pick a Piper. It was illustrated and animated with care by brothers Graeme and Kyle Reed. The band has also unveiled a massive summer tour that includes pit-stops at Sled Island and NXNE. See you there! 

NEW TOUR DATES: 

May 8, 2013 - Toronto, ON - The Horseshoe (with Gold Panda)
May 28, 2013 - New York, NY - Le Baron (DJ SET)
June 13, 2013 - NXNE: Toronto, ON - The Painted Lady
June 14, 2013 - NXNE: Toronto, ON - Comfort Zone
June 15, 2013 - Sault Ste Marie, ON - Lop Lop Lounge
June 16, 2013 - Thunder Bay, ON - Crocks
June 18, 2013 - Saskatoon, SK - Vangelis Tavern
June 23, 2013 - Edmonton, AB - Wunderbar
June 26, 2013 - Nelson, BC - Kootenay Coop Radio CJLY Basement
June 28, 2013 - Kelowna, BC - The Habitat
June 29, 2013 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
June 30, 2013 - Victoria, BC - The Copper Owl
July 14, 2013 - St John's, NL - The Ship

"The eight-track effort blends watery, disembodied grooves and shimmering atmospherics with tight-wristed percussion and guest vocals (from members of the Ruby Suns, Enon and Brainiac, Born Ruffians, and Braids) that also keep your feet fixed firmly on the ground."  - SPIN

"Pick a Piper, the project of Caribou member, Brad Weber, is fast becoming one of 2013's brightest, most unlikely discoveries." - This Is Fake DIY

"Weber has a knack for combining electronic and organic elements into dreamy psych-pop that sounds as good on the dance floor as it does through a pair of headphones." - Now Toronto

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we'd like to take a moment to introduce you to our newest addition to the Mint roster. He's witty. He is humble. And he is an incredibly talented songwriter, producer and remix-creator. You may recognize him from Vancouver's beloved Fine Mist, or heard him work his behind the scenes magic on noteworthy records from Apollo Ghosts, Bleating Hearts, Myths and several others. His name is Jay Arner and we think he's great. Jay's self-titled solo debut is out on Mint Records on June 25th, 2013. 

Upcoming Shows: 

May 8th - Zoo Shop, Vancouver, BC with Thee Ahs

May 18th - The Biltmore, Vancouver, BC with Shotgun Jimmie and Gal Gracen
 

CONGRATS TO PICK A PIPER, THEIR BEAUTIFUL NEW RECORD IS OUT TODAY! If you haven't had a blissful psychadelic experience recently, we recommend checking out their incredible video for "All Her Colours" below. 

Then go see them on TOUR! They have many dates booked - many have not been announced at this time.

Pick a Piper on Tour: 

April 3 - Starlight - Waterloo, ON
April 4 - La Petite Boite Noire - Sherbrooke, ON
April 5 - Quai Des Brumes - Montreal, QC
April 6 - Pantoum - Quebec City, QC
April 7 - Pressed Cafe - Ottawa, ON
April 10 - The Spill - Peterborough, ON
April 11 - E Bar - Guelph, ON
April 12 - Homegrown - Hamilton, ON
April 13 - Rivoli - Toronto, ON
April 14 - Moustache Club - Oshawa, ON
April 19 - APK - London, ON
April 20 - Phog Lounge - Windsor, ON
April 26 - DIY Arts Collective - Barrie, ON
"The eight-track effort blends watery, disembodied grooves and shimmering atmospherics with tight-wristed percussion and guest vocals (from members of the Ruby Suns, Enon and Brainiac, Born Ruffians, and Braids) that also keep your feet fixed firmly on the ground." - SPIN