NASHVILLE |FROM: LIBBY HENRY/MSO
818-380-0400 x224
MIKE PARK
PREPARES FOR THE RELEASE OF HIS NEW ALBUM
‘NORTH HANGOOK FALLING’ AUGUST 23 ON SUB CITY RECORDS
AFTER WRAPPING HIS ‘LIVING ROOM TOUR,’
MIKE PARK ANNOUNCES A FALL PLEA FOR PEACE TOUR
‘BIKE FOR PEACE’
SET TO KICK OFF SEPTEMBER 9
Singer, songwriter, musician and activist MIKE PARK will release his new album–NORTH HANGOOK FALLING–August 23rd on Sub City Records. PARK uses his music to reveal insights into his Korean heritage; the word “Hangook” means “the country of Korea” in Korean. “Making this album was a way for me to learn about my own cultural background,” PARK explains. “Whenever I tried to discuss the Korean War with my family, they refused. The only word I could get out of my father was ‘genocide,’ the same Hangook-looking faces killing each other.” PARK elaborates, “The album’s cover art depicts a drum corps of young Korean women. You’d think they’d be enjoying themselves, but their stoic expressions are an example of the constant bewilderment that is North Korea; a famine-starved society with an insane ruler, a strong military and a population with no rights. NORTH HANGOOK FALLING is my hope to unify Korea.”
The follow-up to his 2003 solo debut For The Love Of Music, NORTH HANGOOK FALLING offers the most vivid glimpse yet into PARK’s musical world. Throughout the self-produced album, PARK balances the finely etched acoustic guitar arrangements and lyrics about politics, war and race relations with a subtle melodic whimsy that lends his songs extra dimension.
Since 1989, PARK has released twelve albums, toured the world and made a permanent mark on the independent music world. In 1996, PARK started his own record label, Asian Man Records. Modeled after Ian MacKaye’s Dischord label in Washington, D.C., PARK created Asian Man Records (Alkaline Trio, Screeching Weasel, The Lawrence Arms) to reflect the spirit of punk ideas and practices–namely, motivation by activism and implementing change through the power of music vs. mere capitalistic growth. PARK still owns and operates Asian Man out of his parents’ garage, issuing 100 releases and selling over 1,000,000 albums.
A long-time advocate of community activism, PARK founded the Plea For Peace Foundation (www.pleaforpeace.com) a non-profit organization benefiting local charities in his community of San Jose, CA (outside San Francisco). Plea For Peace runs an annual package tour as well as compilation benefit CDs backed up by a strong network of bands, labels and charities. Last year’s Plea For Peace package tour was a great success, along with PARK, participating artists included Cursive, Saul Williams and Planes Mistaken for Stars.
This fall, the Plea For Peace Foundation’s goal is to raise funds for a new youth center in PARK’s hometown of San Jose, where youth of all ages can see and perform music, create art and meet other youths with similar interests. PARK, along with a group of musicians including NEIL HENNESSEY of The Lawrence Arms, DAN POTTHAST of MU330, MATT EMBREE of RX Bandits and JENNY CHOI of Sanawon and others to be announced, will trek down the West Coast via bicycle for a series of shows to raise money for the youth center. PARK just wrapped a summer “Living Room Tour” where he played 50 living rooms across 23 states in the U.S. All PARK required to throw a “Living Room Tour” show is a place to sleep, food and $50.00 for traveling and set-up expense.
Check out the current tour dates for MIKE PARK, more shows to be added.
DATE CITY VENUE
With Alkaline Trio
Fri 7/29 Boulder, CO Fox Theater
Mon 7/30 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater
Tue 7/31 St. Louis, MO Pops
Bike For Peace Tour-Plea For Peace 2005
Fri 9/9 Seattle, WA TBA
Sat 9/10 Ride day
Sun 9/11 Ride day
Mon 9/12 Ride day
Tue 9/13 Portland, OR TBA
Wed 9/14 Ride day
Thu 9/15 Ride day
Fri 9/16 Ride day
Sat 9/17 Ride day
Sun 9/18 Ride day
Mon 9/19 Ride day
Tue 9/20 Ride day
Wed 9/21 Ride day
Thu 9/22 Ride day
Fri 9/23 Ride day
Sat 9/24 San Francisco, CA TBA
Tue 9/27 Ride day
Wed 9/28 Ride day
Thu 9/29 Ride day
Fri 9/30 Ride day
Sat 10/1 Ride day
Sun 10/2 Ride day
Mon 10/3 Los Angeles, CA TBA
Tue 10/4 Ride day
Wed 10/5 Ride day
Thu 10/6 San Diego, CA TBA
UK Tour
Sun 9/13 Leeds, UK Joseph’s Well
Mon 9/14 Hull, UK Ringside
Tue 9/15 Newcastle, UK Dog & Parrot
Thu 9/17 Exeter, UK Cavern
Fri 9/18 Yeovil, UK Flicks
Sun 9/20 Norwich, UK Waterfront
For more information on MIKE PARK log onto: www.mikeparkmusic.com, www.pleaforpeace.com, www.asianmanrecords.com and www.subcity.net.
Contact MSO:
Libby Henry/MSO 818-380-0400 x224
lhenry@msopr.com
Gina Rodriguez/MSO 818-380-0400 x232
grodriguez@msopr.com
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