[Cover photo credit to Brittany Powers]

“Distance as a measure of time and place” are a big part of Kelly Finnigan’s new album A Lover Was Born, out today from Colemine Records. The latest solo release from The Monophonics frontman channels Midwest Soul labels like King, Curtom, Dakar, and the Bodie Recording Company. A Lover Was Born focuses on “longing and hope” rather than nostalgia.  

Finnigan says about his busy release schedule in recent years:

There’s nothing like making records. It feels like that’s my purpose — the reason I was put on this earth.

Written in California, Ohio, and Staten Island, for the album, Kelly Finnigan collaborated with old friends in and outside the studio.

He adds:

I enjoy working alone but it’s not how you want to make a record…almost everybody I brought in for this album I’ve worked with, toured with or spent a great deal of time with.

Max and Joe Ramey (The Ironsides), Jimmy James (Parlor Greens), Sergio Rios (Orgõne), Joey Crispiano (Dap Kings) and Jay Mumford (aka J-Zone) all contribute to the overall sound of A Lover Was Born.

KELLY FINNIGAN & THE ATONEMENTS TOUR DATES

Thu, NOV 14 – Rickshaw Stop – San Francisco, CA

Fri, NOV 15 – The Venice West – Venice, CA

Sat, NOV 16 – Lou Lou’s Jungle Room – San Diego, CA

Thu, NOV 21 – Brooklyn Made – Brooklyn, NY

Fri, NOV 22 – Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club – Portsmouth, NH

Wed, JAN 29, 2025 – Scala – London, United Kingdom

Thu, JAN 30, 2025 – Thekla – Bristol, United Kingdom

Sat, FEB 1, 2025 – Oran Mor – Glasgow, United Kingdom

Tue, FEB 4, 2025 – La Maroquinerie – Paris, France

Wed, FEB 5, 2025 – Tolhuistuin – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sat, FEB 8, 2025 – Brotfabrik – Frankfurt Am Main, Germany

Sun, FEB 9, 2025 – Fasching – Stockholm, Sweden

Fri, FEB 14, 2025 – Les Trinitaires – Metz, France

Sun, FEB 16, 2025 – Strom – Munich, Germany

Wed, FEB 19, 2025 – Dachstock – Berne, Switzerland