Heavy Metal Drummer

VALUE 10 COMICS

A live Wilco webcast, as I write this (Wednesday, Feb 20 11:12PM), has kept me in the office later that I wanted to be here tonight. They are playing the Riviera Theatre in their hometown Chicago, Illinois. After playing a bunch of cool rock songs like "Heavy Metal Drummer" and J.'s favorite song from the new LP- they are playing music, by what I can only guess, is from outerspace with violins over spooky sounds, audience cheers and a light static crackle. It has left me a little hypnotized after too much typing at the monitor....

As I was spacing myself out here, this bazooka joe comic caught my eye. It is bazooka joe and Picasso hanging out. Since I have had this little comic laying around for many, many years, is kinda worn away. Picasso is saying to bazooka joe, "I paint and paint and yet my works seems to get worse." Well.... I won't ruin the joke for ya.

I have this comic under my work desk blotter which is covered in all sorts of stuff, a collage of the brain, including:

• comics
• photos
• cards
• ads
• magazine clippings
• ticket stubs (a UB Springfest stub for $10 featuring Moxy Fruvus, Black Sheep and the Tragically Hip. Yes, this was the infamous sneaker to Gord's head show...plus a Lalapalooza no. 1 stub from the CFNY/Molson CNE, I think it was, only $33.05).
• flyers
• invites (Check Your Head Artfest party 1992)
• postcards (including the black panther party, the Slack magazine summer watermelon girl cover photo, a mermaid avenue 2 promo card, etc.)
• a Buckminster Fuller stamp
• a 2$ bill
• a stat of the Sign of The Times masthead
• stickers (aleady stuck)
• a vintage Crystal Beach ad
• a poloroid on my friend Chris with a painted-on goatee
• phone numbers
• assorted pictures of sid, hunter, elvis, hmmmmmm, I just realized they are all dead...
• hockey cards
  

... and the list goes on, but the webcast is over and this is getting a little a-retentive.....


>> click on comic for larger view, eh?

are you trying to break my heart

Meant to blog about this immediately but the trials of life interfered.

After my car accident of last week (minor) we were subjected to a random audit by the state dept. of labor (not so bad in the end) and the hard drive crash of 07 (major but recovering).

Now, I am left with a nagging sore throat and post nasal I can't get rid of.

But two things stood out in an otherwisz disappointing week...

1. Helvetica- the movie. a film by Gary Huswit, who produced the Wilco movie I so thoroughly enjoyed a few years ago (I know, it always comes back to Wilco with me- and for those not yet introduced to their work a full preview of their latest release is still online here).

A really fun film, (Fonts R Fun? Yes they R!) I enjoyed the designer interviews- hearing their own words reminded me why I got involved in the business in the first place. It should be noted that my spellcheck does not recognize the word 'helvetica'.

1. a Paper Show- scored some nice designer swag (not what you would think- pretty geeky stuff I mostly grab for inspiration) including:
-a mini book on charles and ray eames(this one is a keeper)
-a mini book of book cover photography
-another book on fonts (this piece shines)
-another photography book on 9/11
-some assorted note cards, pads and sketchbooks
-assorted samples, and collections and presentations of award winning projects

It is not just the content of the pieces, but the presentation. Of course, they not only use their top quality paper but the printing effects and processes. All I can say is, who prints this stuff? I've never seen anything printed that compares with these pieces- anywhere.

Paper shows are kind of like going to a really great food market. You walk around selecting the best ingredients and browsing cookbooks to create a stupendous meal. They even have appies and drinks.

I was happy because the last show I went to... not so much.

I am going to curl up in bed tonight- with my cold, my wilco and my books and samples to keep me inspiredhappy.

Either Way

Knowing how much I like the Wilco [album] Sky Blue Sky, M. has passed word to me from the band about the new release.
Not that we have a lot of readers, er, any readers, but those that are fans of Wilco- or just intrigued- may be interested in hearing it.

To them, I would suggest going to Wilco's site-
http://wilcoworld.net/sbs/
this Sunday night at 12:01am Central time
(or any time for the 24hours following)
for an on demand test drive.

[then you can decide whether it is worth listening to again and purchasing]

They are also releasing 'deluxe version' DVD of Sky Blue Sky and another film of rehearsals, interviews and 'behind the scenes stuff'.

On a side note, I recall a show at ArtPark M. and I attended where Wilco opened for Natalie Merchant- we enjoyed their set so much that Natalie was a let down by comparison and we left...

I'm only happy when it rains...

My musical tastes are largely driven by M., as he is the short attention span dj with a large resource of cd's, and well, driving (of which I do the most in the family). Currently, the cd's in the vehicle's system do not strike my mood (although I like the Smiths, really, I do).

I am frequently drawn to the new Wilco release, 'Blue Sky Blue' a limited download that is coming to full release next month, I believe.

And blue it is. M. quickly switched off it saying it was a bit too 'morose' for him but I keep coming back for more.

I am not afraid of the grey skies. If I were, I would not live in Buffalo, where the grey makes me enjoy the sun all the more. If I were, I would move down to Florida with the rest of the sun chasers.