Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Jay Ryan has a new book out. Go buy it.
Once upon a time Chicago had a vibrant music scene. From about 1995 to 2000 there were amazing small clubs scattered around the north and northwest sides. Places like Lounge Ax and The Fireside once played host to the best indie/punk/DIY acts. There were three ways to hear about a good show, word of mouth, The Reader music section, or posters. The posters were usually handmade and hung-up in the window at one of the independent record shops like Reckless Records. The best of these poster makers was Jay Ryan.
Ryan’s work had a way of stopping you on the street. While most posters were Xerox copies that looked like ransom notes, Ryan’s were big, bright and usually had a squirrel or bear riding a bike or building a house. The posters were silkscreened by hand in limited runs of a few hundred each. Sometimes at a show, there at the back, you’d see Ryan selling a leftover from a run for $10 or $20. That’s where I started my almost 20 years of collecting.
Ryan does more than rock show posters. He’s done record and book covers, been part of installations, and has two books out. The latest book came out this week, “animals and objects in and out of water.” If you buy the book from Ryan through his website you’ll get a signed copy with a special four-color screenprinted sleeve. For those new to his work, this is a great place to start. I’m sure, like me, once you start collecting, you won’t be able to stop.
Ryan’s work had a way of stopping you on the street. While most posters were Xerox copies that looked like ransom notes, Ryan’s were big, bright and usually had a squirrel or bear riding a bike or building a house. The posters were silkscreened by hand in limited runs of a few hundred each. Sometimes at a show, there at the back, you’d see Ryan selling a leftover from a run for $10 or $20. That’s where I started my almost 20 years of collecting.
Ryan does more than rock show posters. He’s done record and book covers, been part of installations, and has two books out. The latest book came out this week, “animals and objects in and out of water.” If you buy the book from Ryan through his website you’ll get a signed copy with a special four-color screenprinted sleeve. For those new to his work, this is a great place to start. I’m sure, like me, once you start collecting, you won’t be able to stop.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Screeching Weasel at Riot Fest
I waited about seventeen years to see them and last night I finally got my chance. I witnessed the mighty Screeching Weasel, my favorite punk band, in a powerhouse hour-long set. (Lived a hollow, boring life and don’t know about the Weasel? Poor bastard. Here’s a good place to start. Or my favorite punk record, Anthem For A New Tomorrow.) I was lucky to see Weasel on the final day of Riot Fest at the majestic Congress Theater I say I was lucky to see Weasel because they have broken up at least four times, and they play live now sporadically at best. But damn they were good! I even sang along to “Joanie Loves Johnny” and “Every Night.” Here they are doing "My Right"
It was not all great though, unfortunately the sound was a little muddy and Pegboy, who opened for Weasel, only played half their set and barely got through that. I’ve seen Pegboy before, last time was the Touch and Go Festival, and they were amazing then. Shame they were only half-assed last night. And who thought putting Alkaline Trio on after Weasel was a good idea? I left the second the lights came up at the end of Weasel’s last song, because no band on earth (with the possible exception of Shellac) could equal the power and fun Weasel gave me and that crowd last night.
It was not all great though, unfortunately the sound was a little muddy and Pegboy, who opened for Weasel, only played half their set and barely got through that. I’ve seen Pegboy before, last time was the Touch and Go Festival, and they were amazing then. Shame they were only half-assed last night. And who thought putting Alkaline Trio on after Weasel was a good idea? I left the second the lights came up at the end of Weasel’s last song, because no band on earth (with the possible exception of Shellac) could equal the power and fun Weasel gave me and that crowd last night.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)