Kevin Devine Day:

“Old Friends”

(Pinegrove Cover)

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words by tom johnson, kevin devine

photograph by sheviz lainez

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Let January 12th, from here onwards, be known as Kevin Devine Day. On this website, at least… So, today, we celebrate the most solid of songwriters; a man who, over the course of twenty-something years, has barely put a foot-wrong, who has filled so many years with fragrant indie-rock that speaks to many people, from many background, because of the sheer sense of warming energy and honesty and hopefulness it exudes, for reasons that aren’t always easy to categorise.

We have three features to bring to you today; a sprawling conversation with the many himself about the state of the world as it is today, and the beautiful art to be found within it; a conversation between Kevin and his forthcoming tour-mate, Laura Stevenson; and, firstly, a very special, home recording, of Kevin playing our anthem of 2016, Pinegrove’s “Old Friends” – check it out below:

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“When we were mixing Instigator, in January, my US booking agent Andrew Ellis called me late-ish one night and said he wanted me to hear this song. He actually said, “Listen to this like, right now.”

So once we were in a place to step away from the mix for a minute, I did, and it was “Old Friends” – I remember immediately being taken by the words, what I could make out, anyway, and even moreso by their delivery – casual, even languid, but intentional. A hard dance step to execute, and one Evan lands all over Cardinal.

It was a continual pleasure hearing these songs every night on tour this fall, and I look forward to all the great things obviously awaiting their band in the not-so-distant future.”

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Kevin Devine’s “Instigator” is out now via Procrastinate! Music Traitors / Triple Crown Records / Big Scary Monsters

Pinegrove’s “Cardinal” LP is out now via Run For Cover Records – read our extensive interview here

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Kevin Devine tours Europe from Sunday:

JAN 16 – Underground, Koln, Germany

JAN 17 – Nochtspeicher, Hamburg, Germany

JAN 18 – Kantine am Berghain, Berlin, Germany

JAN 20 – Schlachthof, Wiesbaden, Germany

JAN 21 – Manufaktur, Schorndorf, Germany

JAN 22 – Chelsea, Vienna, Austria

JAN 23 – Magnolia, Milan, Italy

JAN 24 – Eldorado, Zürich, Switzerland

JAN 26 – Trix, Antwerp, Belgium

JAN 27 – Melkweg, Amsterdam, Netherlands

JAN 29 – Thekla, Bristol

JAN 30 – Bodega, Nottingham

JAN 31 – Deaf Institute, Manchester

FEB 1 – Stereo, Glasgow

FEB 2 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds

FEB 3 – The Dome, London

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facebook.com/KevinDevineMusic