Mike Kinsella (born March 4, 1977) is an American musician and singer-songwriter. Having been involved in many Illinois-based bands, he is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the emo band American Football.

Mike Kinsella
close-up of Mike Kinsella wearing a light checkered shirt, playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone
Kinsella in 2007
Background information
Born (1977-03-04) March 4, 1977 (age 47)
OriginChicago, Illinois
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer-songwriter
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
  • bass guitar
  • drums
Years active1989–present
Labels
Member of
Websiteowenmusic.com

Career

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Kinsella's first musical project was serving as drummer for the band Cap'n Jazz, which he co-founded with his brother Tim.[3] Cap'n Jazz originally featured their local high school star running back on drums. When he quit to focus on football, a 12-year-old Mike Kinsella learned how to play a 16-piece drum set.[4]

With either Tim and/or cousin Nate Kinsella, he has also participated in the projects Owls and Joan of Arc.

In 2001, Kinsella began his current solo project, Owen, in which he performs vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, loops, etc.[5] Kinsella was also in a band called The Shirts and Skins, with his wife. In 2013, he released two EPs with Their / They're / There, a project featuring Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It. and Matthew Frank of Loose Lips Sink Ships.[6] He has also been part of the band The One Up Downstairs, alongside American Football drummer Steve Lamos.

Many of his albums, including Owen and No Good for No One Now, were recorded at his mother's home.[7]

Discography

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Year Title Band Label Format Additional Information
1995 Burritos...(AKA: Shmap’n Shmazz) Cap'n Jazz Man With Gun Records LP/CD Drums/vocals
1997 A Portable Model Of... Joan of Arc Jade Tree Records LP/CD Drums
1998 Analphabetapolothology Cap'n Jazz Jade Tree Records 2×CD Drums/vocals
1998 American Football American Football Polyvinyl Records EP/CD Guitar/vocals
1999 American Football American Football Polyvinyl Records LP/CD Guitar/bass/vocals
1999 Live in Chicago, 1999 Joan of Arc Jade Tree Records LP/CD Drums
2000 The Gap Joan of Arc Jade Tree Records LP/CD Drums
2001 Owls Owls Jade Tree Records LP/CD Drums
2001 Owen Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals/drums/bass
2002 No Good for No One Now Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals/drums/bass
2002 Open Ground Kyle Fischer Polyvinyl Records CD Drums
2003 Best of Altan The Songs Altan Green Linnet Records CD Harmonica
2003 In Rape Fantasy and Terror Sex We Trust Joan of Arc Perishable Records CD Bass/drums/percussion
2003 So Much Staying Alive and Lovelessness Joan of Arc Jade Tree Records CD Bass/drums
2004 Anyone in Love With You (Already Knows) Rainer Maria Polyvinyl Records CD Tambourine
2004 The Rutabega/Owen Split EP Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals/drums/bass
2004 Total Eclipse of the Heart The Love of Everything Record Label Records CD Drums
2004 (The EP) Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals/drums/bass
2004 Joan of Arc, Dick Cheney, Mark Twain Joan of Arc Polyvinyl Records CD Drums
2005 I Do Perceive Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals/drums/bass/programming
2005 Association of Utopian Hologram Swallowers Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals
2005 Presents Guitar Duets Joan of Arc Record Label Records CD Guitar
2006 At Home with Owen Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/piano/vocals
2007 Many Times I've Mistaken Joan of Arc Polyvinyl Records EP/CD Guitar
2007 Owen/The City on Film Owen Red Cars Go Faster 7-inch vinyl Guitar/piano/organ/vocals
2008 Boo! Human Joan of Arc Polyvinyl Records LP/CD Drums
2009 The Seaside EP Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals
2009 New Leaves Owen Polyvinyl Records CD Guitar/vocals
2010 Abandoned Bridges Owen Polyvinyl Records 7-inch EP Guitar/vocals
2010 Darling, Darling Crissi Cochrane Independent CD Drums/guitar
2011 Oh, Evelyn Owen Polyvinyl Records 7-inch EP Guitar/vocals/drums/bass
2011 Ghost Town Owen Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl Guitar/vocals
2013 Their / They're / There Their / They're / There Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl Drums
2013 L'Ami du Peuple Owen Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Guitar/vocals/drums/piano/bass
2013 Analog Weekend Their / They're / There Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl Drums
2014 TWO Owls Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Drums
2014 American Football (Deluxe Edition) American Football Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Guitar/bass/vocals

Deluxe edition of first LP

2014 Other People's Songs Owen Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Guitar/vocals/drums/piano/bass
2015 Owen/Into It. Over It. Split EP Owen Polyvinyl Records Vinyl Guitar/vocals/drums/piano/bass
2016 The Sleep Whose Dreams Are Life Aleph Eris HOMHOMHOM Records of the Eternal Now Vinyl Drums
2016 The King of Whys Owen Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Guitar/vocals/drums/piano/bass
2016 American Football American Football Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Guitar/vocals
2019 American Football American Football Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Guitar/vocals
2020 The Avalanche Owen Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl, cassette Guitar/vocals
2023 Lies Lies Polyvinyl Records Vinyl Guitar/vocals
2024 The Falls of Sioux Owen Polyvinyl Records CD, vinyl Guitar/vocals

References

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  1. ^ Libman, K.C. (December 10, 2013). "How Mike Kinsella's Work Defined (and Continues To Redefine) Emo". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Gormely, Ian (May 6, 2014). "Tim & Mike Kinsella – You Can't Miss What You Forget". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  3. ^ "Press". Jade Tree. September 21, 2007. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  4. ^ Cohen, Ian. "Burritos, Inspiration Point, Fork Balloon Sports, Cards in the Spokes, Automatic Biographies, Kites, Kung Fu, Trophies, Banana Peels We've Slipped on, and Egg Shells We've Tippy Toed Over". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  5. ^ "Owen". Polyvinyl Record Co. February 5, 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008.
  6. ^ "Polyvinyl Record Co. – Their/They're/There". Polyvinylrecords.com. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
  7. ^ "Polyvinyl Record Co. – Owen". Polyvinylrecords.com. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
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