Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"Beau Kinstler
Distance (a song off 'Ocean')
A fleeting moment between two lovers on a beach, a waning belief that love conquers all and that everything is possible, and now there's just this goddamn...gulf. What's a songwriter-in-healing to do? 'Sing about the stars, sing about the stars, sing about the stars.' " - Jim Walsh (City Pages, June 8th, 2005)
"Beau Kinstler
Distance (a song off 'Ocean')
A fleeting moment between two lovers on a beach, a waning belief that love conquers all and that everything is possible, and now there's just this goddamn...gulf. What's a songwriter-in-healing to do? 'Sing about the stars, sing about the stars, sing about the stars.' " - Jim Walsh (City Pages, June 8th, 2005)
"Beau Kinstler is a folk rocker with a pop bent. His deep, slightly raspy voice is of the variety that makes women melt. . . Kinstler's second album offers and emotional journey, with lyrics rangin from youthful to quirky to romantic." - By Megan Wiley, Mpls, St.Paul Magazine (Dec 2005)
"Beau Kinstler is a folk rocker with a pop bent. His deep, slightly raspy voice is of the variety that makes women melt. . . Kinstler's second album offers and emotional journey, with lyrics rangin from youthful to quirky to romantic." - By Megan Wiley, Mpls, St.Paul Magazine (Dec 2005)
"(Beau Kinstler's) new CD, 'Ocean,' confirms that the St. Paul folk-rocker has turned into one of our town's most chaming new singer-songwriters. . . Kinstler's greatest trait is his disarminly sweet singing and lyrical style. That's especially evident int he CD opener, 'Do What You Love,' featuring bright-eyed lyrics such as, 'Don't be ashamed of what you're dreaming of.' The best cut, a Johathan Richman-style pop-rocker called 'Metaphor,' cleverly writes a love song within a songwriter's ode: 'There's something in a long night/ Like lovers in the starlight/ Like clothes all over the shore/ When love became a metaphor.'" - Chris Riemenschneider (Mpls Star Tribune, Sept. 16, 2005)
"(Beau Kinstler's) new CD, 'Ocean,' confirms that the St. Paul folk-rocker has turned into one of our town's most chaming new singer-songwriters. . . Kinstler's greatest trait is his disarminly sweet singing and lyrical style. That's especially evident int he CD opener, 'Do What You Love,' featuring bright-eyed lyrics such as, 'Don't be ashamed of what you're dreaming of.' The best cut, a Johathan Richman-style pop-rocker called 'Metaphor,' cleverly writes a love song within a songwriter's ode: 'There's something in a long night/ Like lovers in the starlight/ Like clothes all over the shore/ When love became a metaphor.'" - Chris Riemenschneider (Mpls Star Tribune, Sept. 16, 2005)
“Beau Kinstler seems to be part of a Minnesota-specific folk-rock movement that consciously pushes away from both folk and rock, or any folk rock you've heard . . . Kinstler relies mainly on his agile singing and fretwork, but his arrangements reflect a broad pop range that doesn't call attention to itself, and he always leaves you paying attention to lyrics . . ."
- Peter S. Scholtes (City Pages, Minneapolis, September 14, 2005 )
“Beau Kinstler seems to be part of a Minnesota-specific folk-rock movement that consciously pushes away from both folk and rock, or any folk rock you've heard . . . Kinstler relies mainly on his agile singing and fretwork, but his arrangements reflect a broad pop range that doesn't call attention to itself, and he always leaves you paying attention to lyrics . . ."
- Peter S. Scholtes (City Pages, Minneapolis, September 14, 2005 )
Discography
Ocean - 2005
Positive - 2002
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
What Major Publications have said:
"Up-and-coming singer/songwriter"
"One of our town's most charming new singer-songwriters . . . Kinstler's greatest trait is his disarmingly sweet singing and lyrical style."
"Kinstler relies mainly on his agile singing and fretwork, but his arrangements reflect a broad pop range that doesn't call attention to itself, and he always leaves you paying attention to lyrics. . ."
Beau Kinstler is a Midwest-born singer/songwriter. He was uprooted and replanted many times in his young life, giving him a wide range of substance to write about. Kinstler has been drawn to music since childhood. As a young piano student, he made up his own melodies, rather than play songs straight from books. Kinstler carried this creativity through his experience as an art student in California where he further developed his vivid imagination and ability to create. His songwriting stems from his skills as an artist, and his songs reflect the traditions that compelled him from an early age to write and sing. Kinstler creates stories that range from narrative to personal to social observation.
Bob Dylan, Neil Young and others stole his ear early on, but Kinstler's music has also been influenced by other heroes such as Jimi Hendrix and Ray Charles. Classic Motown, soul like Marvin Gaye and Sly and the Family Stone, Bob Marley and hip-hop grooves infuse Kinstler's rhythmic landscape. Kinstler has also learned from more recent songwriters including The Jayhawks, Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch and many more. But, Kinstler never loses sight of his connection to early folk traditions; he deepens his understanding of songwriting by turning to Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Woody Guthrie and Robert Johnson.
Kinstler's new release, Ocean, has deservedly drawn admiring critics and fans. While Ocean calls on musical and narrative traditions, it is a lyrically, rhythmically and sonically inventive traveler's tale of hope and heartbreak. It tells a story that listeners ultimately feel is their own.
Beau Kinstler has shared stages with:
Soul Asylum
Mark Olson
Spoon
Neko Case and Her Boyfriends
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Shivaree
Tim Easton
Richard Buckner
Teitur
The National
Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey
The Pines
Brent Best of Slobberbone
Two Cow Garage
Brenda Weiler
Bobby Bare, Jr.
Amy Rigby
Dan Bern
Richmond Fontaine
David Mead
Links
