After a few Top Secret meetings at the Dairy Queen (Cold War style – with our backs to each other, Oreo Blizzards in hand) the news is out, we’re piecing together a benefit compilation with our pals at CiTR 101.9 FM. It features 11 of our favourite Vancouver bands and only 300 waxy 180g LPs will be pressed, silkscreened and numbered by hand.
Larissa Loyva is a busy woman. In addition to her solo project Kellarissa (which literally translates to "in the basement"), we've heard her soaring vocals on noteworthy previous releases from P:ano, The Choir Practice and Gigi.
We at Mint are pleased to introduce a new sound and a new signing, Vancouver's Geoff Berner, whose Mint debut, Victory Party, will emerge on March 8th, 2011. His openness to experimentation, spirited Eastern European klezmer influences, punk rock attitude and work with producer/mastermind Josh Dolgin (Socalled) resulted in an innovative, engaging and lively album full of surprises that we are proud to be part of.
In less than a week, we'll be pacing up and down the streets of New York City for CMJ. If you care to join us, we'll be lurking in the background of these dramatically lit establishments. Hope to see you there!
Hot Panda
2:45pm, Oct 20th @ Fontana's (the Pirate Promotions day party)
11:00pm, Oct 20th @ Trash Bar
Carolyn Mark
1:00am, Oct 21st @ Kenny's Cataways
The Pack a.d.
12:00am, Oct 21st @ Arlene's Grocery (M For Montreal party)
We're just a few short days from the release of Hot Panda's sophomore album, How Come I'm Dead?. To celebrate, the band is inviting fans, friends, and other bands to try their hand at remixing the album's first single, "Mindlessnesslessness". To sweeten the deal, we're offering to show off the best remix creation on our next Mint sampler compilation and a Mint prize pack. We'll post the runners up on mintrecs.com too.
Yes, you read right. Not only is your illustrious Canadian indie label throwing a kick-ass pinata party, but it's free to the public! Bring your sombreros and implements of destruction (or at least your ears) to Broken City at noon on July 1st. We're supplying the nachos, papier-mache effigies stuffed with goodies & prizes, and some of the freshest Mint bands today.
The super cute Pocky has agreed to sponsor the day, so there will be chocolate (and maybe strawberry) covered cookie sticks for everyone!
Recorded by John Collins and David Carswell of JC/DC Studios (the New Pornographers, Destroyer, Tegan and Sara), the sophomore album from Edmonton's Hot Panda was captured mostly live off the floor, with few takes and overdubs.
The Pack a.d.'s new album we kill computers is out on April 27th and the band is going on the road ...again. Their van, the Falcon, doesn't like the iPod hook up though. Maybe because it's 13 years old. Or maybe because 13 year old's, who are vans, seem to really like cassette tapes. Either way though, the band needs new music to listen to when they hit the road.
That's right, Carolyn Mark and NQ Arbuckle are Juno nominees! Yes, just yesterday we learned that their October 2009 collaborative record Let's Just Stay Here might just be the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year. Nice work guys!