NEWSFLASH!
We're proud to report that Unpersons, the fourth full length release from The Pack a.d., will be out on Mint Records this September 13th. The record was engineered by Vancouver's infamous Jesse Gander at The Hive Studios and produced by mastermind Jim Diamond (The Dirtbombs, The Paul Collins Beat, The White Stripes) and will melt your face off.
We've captured a little bit of studio footage from the making of Unpersons and you can watch that here!
END OF NEWSFLASH!
The latest issue of our fancy little fanzine, Fresh Breath of Mint is hot off the press. As you've come to expect, it’s filled with all sorts of comics, tour stories and good advice. This time, it comes with custom cover art by Jenny of The Organ as well as Nardwuar interviews and some Kellarissa shopping tips. If you haven’t picked up a copy from your local campus radio station or record shop send us a note and we'll send you a copy. Easy peasy.
Hmm.
New York City. Let's see. There's Coney Island. That house from Ghostbusters. Amazing pizza. Crazy cab drivers. Galleries. Museums. AND THE MINT RECORDS CMJ SHOWCASE! (our apologies for yelling. we're excited - please come)
The night is looking like this:
Mint CMJ Showcase
Fri Oct 23 @ Fat Baby
(112 Rivington St)
8:30pm: Immaculate Machine
9:15pm: Hot Panda
10pm: The Pack A.D.
Click on the links below to hear some music from these three kick-ass bands!
I Only Love You for Your Car (video)
Hot Panda
The Pack A.D.
Blackout (video)
Becky and Maya of The Pack a.d. are loading up their new van, named HAL, and bracing themselves for the tour of a lifetime! To commemorate the September 13th release of Unpersons, they'll be playing 40+ shows over three months. Be sure to check them out, and buy them a beer. Those girls work hard!
To satiate your appetite for Unpersons, we've posted "Sirens" from the new record here.
As gritty and intoxicating as ever, Maya Miller and Becky Black pound punk and garage rock into a fuzzy pulp.“Sirens” lures you in with that snarl and keeps you planted until the drums have burned solidly through your skull. - RCRD LBL
Sept 03 - KEXP session, Seattle, WA (will be airing at a later date)
Sept 10 - Fresh U Jamboree, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB
Sept 12 - The Alibi, Arcata, CA
Sept 13 - Streetlight Records, San Jose, CA (afternoon show, all ages)
Sept 13 - Hemlock Tavern, San Francisco, CA
Sept 14 - The Crepe Place, Santa Cruz, CA
Sept 15 - Hypnotic Lounge, Las Vegas, NV
Sept 16 - Soma, San Diego, CA
Sept 17 - Whisky a Go-Go, West Hollywood, CA (with LA Guns)
Sept 18 - TBA, Las Vegas, NV
Sept 19 - The Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
Sept 20 - The Badlander, Missoula, MT
Sept 21 - Mootsy's, Spokane, WA
Sept 23 - OLIO Music Festival - Vancouver, BC
Sept 24 - Rifflandia Music Festival, Victoria, BC
Sept 26 - Habitat, Kelowna, BC (with guests Sun Wizard)
Sept 27 - Republik, Calgary, AB (with guests Sun Wizard)
Sept 28 - The Pawn Shop, Edmonton, AB (with guests Sun Wizard)
Sept 29 - Louis' Pub, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK (with guests Sun Wizard)
Sept 30 - Lo Pub, Winnipeg, MB (with guests Sun Wizard)
Oct 01 - The Aquarium, Fargo, ND
Oct 02 - Hell's Kitchen, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 03 - Bayport BBQ, Bayport, MN
Oct 04 - Vaudeville Mews, Des Moines, IA
Oct 05 - OFF Minor, Dubuque, IA
Oct 06 - Daytrotter Session Recording - Rock Island, IL
Oct 06 - The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL
Oct 07 - Call The Office, London, ON (with Hollerado)
Oct 08 - Casbah, Hamilton, ON (with Hollerado)
Oct 09 - The Mansion, Barrie, On (with Hollerado)
Oct 10 - Mansion House, St. Catharines, ON
Oct 12 - Market Hill, Peterborough, ON (with Hollerado)
Oct 13 - The Mansion, Kingston, ON (with Hollerado)
Oct 14 - The Alexander, Brantford, ON (with Hollerado)
Oct 15 - The Opera House, Toronto, ON (with Hollerado)
Oct 16 - Cafe Dekcuf, Ottawa, ON
Oct 19 - Phog Lounge, Windsor, ON
Oct 20 - Lager House, Detroit, MI
Oct 22-28 QUEBEC Shows TBA
Oct 29 - The Vibe Lounge, Rockville Centre, NY
Oct 30 - The Charleston, Brooklyn, NY
Nov 01 - O'Brien's Pub, Allston, MA
Nov 02 - Hard Rock Cafe, Pittsburgh, PA
Nov 03 - Motr Pub, Cincinnati, OH
Have you heard of our friends Bella? Well, they're taking Vancouver by storm and just finished recording their first Mint full length album coyly titled, No One Will Know. Well, this is just in - Bella's No One Will Know shall be out on September 18th.
In other Bella news, the band's early 2007 pre-album version of Camelot is being featured by Seattle designer Lizzie Parker on her website and will be a key tune for her upcoming Spring 2008 collection, to be launched at Seattle Fashion week in October 2007!
Be sure to check out Bella's free show on Main Street on June 16th. If last week's renegade performances were any indication of what's to come; Bella will probably be performing on the back of a truck! We'll keep you updated with further details. Fun!!
Somebody let us in on the surprise. Now, everyone knows that The Choir Practice will be performing the national anthems for Monday’s Canucks game. If you were unable to score front-row tickets, the band will join you in your living room at 7:00pm on Sportsnet. So you’ve been warned; go pick up those hockey game snacks!
Our resident rocktologist/cremationist Shane Nelken is preparing to pack up the van for another tour. This time, The Awkwward Stage is heading South of the Canadian boarder to play in fine cities such as Seattle (home of the world's largest glass of orange juice), San Francisco (home of the world's largest baseball glove) and many, many more! Click here for The Awkward Stage's complete tour schedule.
Also Shane will be on MuchMusic's Going Coastal this Sunday for part II of his appearance... Stay tuned for Part III yet to come! And don't forget to check out the latest CBC Radio 3 Podcast (#108) for another dose of rock 'n' roll advice on Dear Shane.
Our latest Fresh Breath of Mint zine is here! We're pretty excited about the new Bella craft ideas, Carolyn Mark tour stories, Vancougar crossword puzzle, Nardwuar interviews and Immaculate Machine comics. If you haven't picked up one at your local record store, send us a note and we'll make you a care package!
Like Vinyl? Like Neko Case? Well, our pal Jack at Lance Rock Records in Nanaimo is releasing most of Neko's back catalogue on limited-edition, collectors LPs, and we're lucky enough to have a few to pass on to you.First up is Blacklisted, and copies are available now for pre-order at MapleMusic. It's a gorgeous album and the pristine 150 gram vinyl comes in a gorgeous gatefold package. Visit our friends at MapleMusic here for a copy of your own.
And while you're there, check out our latest 7" releases: One Woman Show from Nick Krgovich of P:ano and Volume One of our split 7" series, featuring The Awkward Stage and Young and Sexy.
On April 4th, Dave Gowans, Lasse Lutick, Morgan McDonald and Dan Gaucher will be celebrating 10 years of playing music together at Vancouver's Biltmore Cabaret (395 Kingsway). Not content to rest on their laurels, the Buttless Chaps are as sharp and spry as ever; together with Mint Records they will be releasing their first digital only release, titled, CBC Radio 3 Sessions.
The CBC Radio 3 Sessions will be available on April 1st, exclusively through iTunes and Zunior.com. It features old friends, Jesse Zubot (Fond of Tigers, Zubot and Dawson) on violin, and Peggy Lee on cello. The release includes a myriad of the Chaps' favourite songs; "Fresh Horses", "Migratory Birds" and a cover of the Echo and the Bunnymen classic, "The Killing Moon," to name a few.
Since their formation in 1998, the Chaps have toured the Canadian and US wilderness extensively and performed with artists such as The Rheostatics, The Handsome Family and The Stars. Their brooding jangly orchestral folk music will make you come to the realization that life, although pointless, is also wonderful.
So mark these dates on your calendar:
April 1st
The Buttless Chaps CBC Radio 3 Sessions
*The first digital only release on Mint Records, available exclusively through iTunes and Zunior.com
April 4th
The Buttless Chaps' 10th Anniversary Show with The Parlor Steps
The Biltmore Cabaret (395 Kingsway)
* Advance tickets available at Red Cat, Zulu and Scratch Records.
** CBC Radio shall be there to record the evening for their Concerts on Demand.
*** See you there.