MIKE KINSELLA

šŸ²Soup, ā–¶ļø Live Videos of Journey from the Early 80’s on YouTube, šŸ”ŒThis Travel Charger Brick Thing, and more.

Mike Kinsella is a Chicago-based musician best known as the frontman of American Football, as well as for his work in Cap’n Jazz and his primary solo project, Owen. American Football’s self-titled album is widely regarded as one of the most essential and influential Midwest Emo records—an album that has left a lasting impact on many, myself included. Last year, it celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special re-release and a sick accompanying covers album. In addition to that milestone, Mike also released The Falls of Sioux, the latest Owen album. This spring, American Football is heading out on tour—you can find tickets here. Lucky for us, Mike’s here to share what he’s been into.

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About a year ago I woke up slightly hungover on a beautiful Fall Saturday with *literally* nothing to do, so I zombie stumbled out for coffee around noon and, long story short…accidentally adopted a three-month old almost-pomeranian puppy on the way home. Soon it was Winter and the world was cold and dark and I (tired and probably still hungover) was like, ā€œHoly fucking shit, I’m SO sorry everyone in my life / I’ve made a terrible mistake / this dog is a fucking asshole / I’m sorry he peed on your bed and I’m sorry he ate your new shoes and I’m sorry he bites your face, Gramma.ā€ Fast-forward an indistinguishable amount of time and incalculable number of soiled beds and he’s now a perfect little angel baby bear and the coolest living thing I know.
Feb 4, 2025
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Potato? Yep.Ā Tomato basil? Yep.Ā Broccoli cheddar?! Hell yep.Ā Fucking TOM YUM? Shut the fuck up YEP.Ā Cauliflower?Ā Minestrone?Ā Lemon dill chicken and orzo?Ā Ā Lentil?Ā Ā Gazpacho?Ā Ā That one at Olive Garden with potatoes and sausage?!Ā Ā Vichyssoise???Ā Yep, please!
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Full disclosure - I don’t like Journey. Actually, I don’t even really like music. But Steve Perry in the 1980’s was a special, truly talented, beautiful somewhat-androgynous human. The voice, the hair, the jeans. UGH. I want to look like him. I want to sing like him. I think I want to fuck him?Ā  I can’t stop watching his voice come out of him.
Feb 4, 2025
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I’ve been wanting to start wearing watches again. When I started traveling / touring - way back before cell phones were ubiquitous, online shopping possible, and the über-rapid expansion of global ā€œsamenessā€ hadn’t snuck up on us yet - I looked forward to going to new cities or countries and…shopping! New (well, often vintage, actually…) unique shoes, or jackets, or bags, or watches; functional souvenirs to remember where I’ve been and what I’ve done. I miss that. Anyway, either nostalgia for a time long-gone (or maybe nostalgia for a watch-wearing dad long-gone) has made me want to start wearing watches again. Look at this killer Swatch watch I got!
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Fuck you, long cables!Ā 

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