Beard of Moss

Dead of Winter in print!

2012-02-06T12:41:00.005-06:00

Just got the word that "Dead of Winter: a Comic Anthology" is in print and on sale! The print work looks amazing, and I'm so proud to see that all the work that everyone put into the volume paid off in a truly awesome way! Thanks especially to my friend Dave Scheidt for offering me the opportunity to fulfill one of my childhood (and adult) dreams: to illustrate the cover art for a comic book! More info available here. Support support!

Here were some nice words Dave had to share with everyone involved. I couldn't agree more:

Dead of Winter began in the middle of summer.

What started off as a little simple, “Hey wouldn't it be cool..”
morphed into something incredibly awesome. I just put the word out,
asking if anyone was interested in doing a book together, I didn’t
really expect too much. First it started off asking people I already
knew, but then suddenly strangers were emailing me, asking questions
and asking if they could be a part of it. People were suggested.
People were unfortunately turned down. Tons of people wanted to do it.
Eventually, some people dropped off, some added on last minute. It was
all just a series of emails between people until I started getting
finished pages back. Then out of nowhere, It was REAL.

That's the crazy thing about comics, I guess. You put two things
together, words and pictures. Those things separate still hold their
own but the more pages I received the more and more excited I got.
Forgive me for sounding cheesy, but it was kind of magic. We all
created something, together out of nowhere, to share a story, Great
stories.

I cannot thank everyone involved enough, if not for your enthusiasm,
talent and creativity this book would not exist. I am so humbled and
blown away by what we've all put together. We didn't rely on any sort
of gimmick, we didn't have to ride any industry coattails or try and
pander. Every single one of you has done an awesome job, and I cannot
wait to see what the future holds for all of you, because there WILL
be a future if you guys keep making comics. Your hard work shows, It's
still weird holding this book in my hands, but again this wouldn't
exist if it weren't for each and every single one of you.

Now stop reading this and make more comics!

-With Love and Ink,
Dave

Emanations From Beyond the Void

2012-01-31T11:16:00.004-06:00

"I Have Seen The Dark Universe Yawning" 22"x30" graphite on watercolor paper

"Le Mystère Lycanthropique " (work in progress) 22"x30" graphite on watercolor paper

"The Mirror Gazer (10 minute sketch)" 10.75"12.75" graphite on colored printmaking paper

"The image is lured into the vortex of consciousness by a curious rite, a stratagem of tantalization, to the verge of mania. This is the Formula of the Vortex which has been used by initiates-especially by initiates of the Left Hand Path-from time immemorial."

-Kenneth Grant "Outside the Circles of Time"

I'm excited to unveil some of my recent drawings to you, O faithful readers (are you there?). Having been in the midst of chipping away at a few commissioned projects, other forces have been at work, prompting a creative detour of sorts, and a trickle of large drawings have manifested themselves. Hoping to channel these creative impulses into a productive output worthy of exhibition in my next show (tentatively scheduled for May), I've looked yet again to inspiration from occult sources.

Although seemingly worlds apart from some of my previous works, I believe the new drawings fit comfortably into the larger canon/aim of my work and my recent experiments with esoteric processes and source inspiration. In short, the new work reveals my interests in the idea of culling imagery from "beyond the void" of normal consciousness. Mirror gazing, meditation, studying the images found in flame and smoke, utilizing patience and repetition, trance states, astral projection, all these methods have been tested time and again for magicians, artists, shamans, etc. to glean knowledge that is hidden away from our normal conscious selves. If you haven't already guessed it, I've been reading a lot on English artist/mystic Austin Osman Spare.

I guess that's an ambiguous enough description of what I've been whiling away at for now, eh? Don't worry, I'll have much more to say (and show) in the future as I begin to get into the thick of this new series.

Always glad to hear your thoughts!

Bulldog Breed "Austin Osman Spare"

2012-01-15T15:20:00.001-06:00

A truly amazing story direct from the mouth of one of the musicians involved in the English freakbeat band Bulldog Breed back in the late 60's! Please read (reposted from youtube):

There are very few instances of Spare's work influencing musicians before 1970, but Bulldog Breed was one such example. Released in 1969 by Decca, the album is now a rarity. In a post on the Fulgur Yahoo Group (now closed) musician Rod Harrison described how he came to include a track on the artist:

"Well you certainly hit on a rare one there! As a matter of interest "Austin Osman Spare" was an acquaintance of my Grandmother. She had been been friendly with Austin and had been given many of his works! Before Gran came to London she had been a tutor at Bristol University (Piano and Art) My Mother also became interested in his Art as she herself was an artist. I recall that she worked just up the hill from Brixton at a place called Skolniks -- they were involved in commercial artwork somewhere around "Streatham high" as it was called then! Not too far from where Austin used to live! "My Mother and I went over to Ilford to see an Auntie of mine and as a child I was introduced to a world of Canvasses and painting -- mainly Austin's. This was shortly before my Mother had a very bad breakdown. I suppose I would have been about seven years old at the time. Everyone in my family was a bit artistic and even now I do the odd portrait or watercolour. I inherited a lot of prints and sketches of Austin's work, but with the passage of time they were lost (I think I left them in a bedsit in Ilford just round from the Bus station, 1969!) This was at a time when Bulldog were merging with T2! Keith Cross had turned up on the scene, most of my equipment had been stolen and I suffered a setback financially (as musicians do). I did a runner 'cos I couldn't pay the rent! "Austin lived in or around the Brixton area and was a good wartime painter but in later years I believe he suffered very badly with illness losing his limbs (gangrene) and dying somewhere about 1956. He had a belief that art should be within the reach of the common man. As to his involvement of the occult I really don't know too much about that- that was just how the lyric panned out. "I suppose you could say that he was a little influenced by William Blake and I am not too sure of his relationship with Crowley! "I was sharing a flat with a friend of mine just off Wanstead High Street and Bernie Jinks, Robin Hunt (whose family lived round the corner -- Nightingale lane) and numerous young ladies would come round for a bit of music practice! These two guys were always the ones with women in tow! I think that Robin, Bernie and I were sitting around on one such afternoon and since the pressure was on to write some material for the LP, for some reason Austin's name cropped up and we all worked it out from there! It was probably the introduction of the Artwork that inspired Robin to work on the Lyric! I had already got some idea of a Guitar part and with Bernie's' input the song came together in a very short time!"
Thanks to Philip Legard for this information.

Barry Adamson "The Taming of the Shrewd"

2012-01-11T17:06:00.004-06:00

A great overlooked album by ex-Bad Seed, Barry Adamson. I'd been looking for this album for ages, until my friend Frank let me borrow it from his great collection! Noise-drenched, Morricone-inspired, "let's drive through the city at night and shoot somethin' ", post punk/crime jazz from the late 80's.

I so rarely do this, but this gem is a tough one to find in mp3 format. A little treat for all my readers (if you're out there).

Betty Heredia at Ñ

2012-01-11T16:51:00.002-06:00

Forgot I had snapped these few pics on my phone while helping my friend Betty hang her show at the wonderful Ñ bar in Avondale a few weeks back. I think the show is up for a little while longer. Check it out if you can, great stuff!

Facebook event page

Betty Heredia

Ñ

Jackie Mittoo

2012-01-10T21:05:00.002-06:00

The real "Cool Ruler"!
Trying to find his album "Stepping Tiger". Drop me a line if anyone has a rip of this supposed holy grail of rootsy dub.

Newly Completed Paintings!

2011-12-30T15:07:00.001-06:00

More images of work coming soon!

Nature Unveiled

2011-12-30T14:48:00.002-06:00

Best Albums of 2011

2011-12-20T10:36:00.011-06:00

Although it was an amazing year for new music, I spent a large chunk of my time delving into the past and discovering many albums and artist that I have overlooked or have only recently become aware of.
I'm sure that there was a plethora of music that I missed while I was traveling back in time to mine for aural gems, probably many new albums that I just plain glossed over or bands that I felt fell short of the hype surrounding them. However, these 10 albums are ones that struck a particular chord with me in 2011. I've posted standout tracks that I feel represent each records' tone (and forgive me for posting a reissue in a "new" best-of the year list-"Nada!" is just that good!).

Dirty Beaches "Badlands" Zoo Music
standout track(s) "Horses", "Lord Knows Best", "Sweet 17", "True Blue"

Tom Waits "Bad As Me" Anti-
standout track(s) "Face to the Highway", "Raised Right Men", "Talking at the Same Time", "Bad As Me", "Chicago"

Grouper "A I A: Alien Observer/Dream Loss" Yellowelectric
standout track: "Alien Observer"

Death In June "NADA! Plus (30th anniversary reissue)" Pylon
standout track "The Honour of Silence", "The Calling", "C'est Un Reve"
Six Organs Of Admittance "Maria Kapel" Pavilion
standout track "Maryam"

Cult of Youth "S/T" Sacred Bones
standout track "Lace Up Your Boots"

Zola Jesus "Conatus" Sacred Bones
standout track (s) "Hikikomori", "Seekir"
Great Society Mind Destroyers "Spirit Smoke" Slow Knife
standout track "Divinorum"

K Holes "S/T" HoZac
standout track(s) "Swamp Fires", "Werewolf With a Tan"

Mick Harvey "Sketches From the Book of the Dead" Mute
standout track "October Boy"

"Duramen Series" Bonsoir Gallery Paris

2011-12-07T14:27:00.002-06:00

Amazingly beautiful hand-carved objects that are truly stunning. More info here. Props to my ma for sending the site my way!

Dead of Winter

2011-12-07T11:06:00.003-06:00

Very excited! Just finished up the cover for my friends collection of horror comics set in winter time. Hopefully, the stories will be printed into a traditional paper format some time in the coming months. In addition, they are slated to be released digitally via Graphicly.com. A launch event is in the works for sometime in January at Horrorbles in Berwyn. Cool shit! More news to come in the following weeks! Keep an eye out!

"The Great God Pan" show announcement

2011-11-23T13:16:00.003-06:00

My first solo show of new work in some time is finally scheduled! It's called "The Great God Pan" in reference to the theme of my recent series of paintings and drawings.

The show will be hung at Robert Jeffrey Salon in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago and will run from December 30th, 2011-February 24th, 2012. A reception will take place on January 6th, the first Friday for the new year! I will be printing postcards and sending them out, and making frequent Facebook and blog posts as the show draws closer.

More details to come in the next few weeks. Also, please be sure to check out my website for images of new work (although seeing them in the flesh is obviously the recommended way to experience them!).

Memento Mori

2011-11-23T12:53:00.003-06:00

This is my interpretation of the classic idea of the Memento Mori, or, a reminder of one's temporal and fleeting existence on this mortal coil. The drawings are meant to invoke feeling representative of each stage of one's earthly experience: the growth and change we assume as we move through Life; the release from the mortal husk of one's body at the point of Death; and the inevitable rotting and decay of one's body, facilitated unremittingly by Time.

Conceived as a triptych, this piece is a way of reconnecting with classical themes and values in art, concepts that I feel aren't touched upon as frequently in contemporary art.

All pieces 22"x28" chalk pastel on black paper

Portfolio Website is operational!

2011-11-09T23:03:00.003-06:00

Just wanted to let readers know that I've finished up my website, and it is now live. Still working out a few technical kinks, and I'm hoping to get a real domain name here soon, but for what it's worth, check it out: johnnydeckermiller.zxq.net

Enjoy!

Japan's Archives Mailorder

2011-10-26T10:19:00.003-05:00

Whoa! A great site to discover some seriously rare Japanese LP's and 45's from the 60's to the mid 90's. This guy has done a great job compiling all these beauties with small descriptions of each record and many photographs. I've been using it mainly for researching the artists I find interesting, but the cover art alone should be enough to keep you browsin' for a while! Wish there was a place in Chicago that had a hidden little cache of Japanese vinyl that I could stumble upon...

New Work

2011-10-20T11:29:00.003-05:00

Presently untitled work. 22"x28" chalk pastel on black paper

In anticipation of my upcoming solo show at Robert Jeffrey Salon, I'll frequently be updating the blog with images of my newest paintings and drawings. More info will follow on the show dates/duration/reception. All the pieces will be for sale at a wide range of prices and sizes (keep those holiday gifts in mind folks!).

Been listenin' to...

2011-10-06T10:31:00.006-05:00

Vangelis "Antarctica"

Depeche Mode "Some Great Reward"

Alan Vega "Jukebox Babe"

Grouper "Alien Observer"

The Azuma Kabuki Musicians "Columbia Masterworks Series"

Tangerine Dream "Force Majeure"

Tangerine Dream "Tangram"

Rolan Vega "Documentary"

Jean Michel Jarre "Oxygene"

Phurpa: A new dawn for thee olde Drone

2011-09-21T17:11:00.005-05:00

Founded and led by Alexei Tegin, Moscow based Phurpa are a five-man Tibetan monastic choir that takes Tantric rgyud-skad throat singing to the next level: down into the dark world of Russian basso profundo. (Dan Warburton)

Reblogged from: Music For the Masses

Wicked Woman

2011-09-12T20:42:00.003-05:00

Got my sleeve worked on for my birthday for the first time in many years. Hoping to complete it in a few more sessions. While I was at the shop, I saw this little beauty of a voodoo woman on the wall. I think it's an original by Ed Hardy? Thought I'd share. Images of the sleeve in process to come soon....

Dante's Pizzeria featured on Urban Daddy

2011-09-06T19:36:00.003-05:00

My chalk mural was featured in the image for a review/blurb about the new restaurant on Urban Daddy.
Follow the link for the full article.

Dante's Pizzeria Chicago

2011-08-31T21:50:00.004-05:00

Day 3

Day 4

Jen working hard on the signage above the kitchen window "omnes relinquite fames, o vos intrantes" trans. "abandon all hunger, oh you entering"

Day 4: The end of a hard days work

Day 5: Pizza by the Slice board

Day 5

Day 5 Detail

Day 5: Ta Da!

Dante's Pizzeria Chicago will be opening it's door this Monday, September 5th. Make sure to stop by and grab a slice! Aaron and Tim definitely make a killer pie!

3028 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647

773-342-0002

Gat Damn, That's Some Hot Soul!

2011-08-26T21:23:00.002-05:00

Dante's Pizzeria-Coming soon!

2011-08-25T21:09:00.004-05:00

I was fortunate enough to be asked to do a chalkboard mural for my friend's brand new Logan Square restaurant, Dante's Pizzeria. The space looks great and the food sounds amazing, can't wait to see how this place is gonna take off! It's being opened by the minds behind Rocking Horse and High Dive, and some buds from a previous job.

I jumped at the opportunity to create something massive and rife with hellish imagery. Since the main focus is the food, I'm leaving plenty of space for the delicious menu items on parchment scrolls and utilizing a cavernous hell design to border the piece. Dante and Virgil look out onto the scene as the head chef, Satan, roasts a hell of a tasty looking pie!

Take a look at the work as it progresses (a high quality pic will be taken by a professional photographer once the piece is completed). Be sure to click on the image for an enlarged view! The size is 6' x 10', chalk pastel on chalkboard wall.

Day 1

Day 1 Detail

Day 2

Day 2 Detail

Black-Hexed

2011-08-12T19:10:00.005-05:00

Black-Hexed by Johnny Miller. 19.5"x19.5" Acrylic on raw, stained canvas.

Black-Hexed by David C. Thomas. 12"x 12" acrylic on canvas

My fellow artist/musician and good friend David Thomas and I have been pushing each other to take our creative minds out of the proverbial shitter and get goin' on some new work, visual and otherwise. We've kinda been giving each other assignments to keep ourselves motivated and excited about doing our art.

A few weeks back, I went to see the exhibit entitled "Movie Mojo: Hand Painted Posters from Ghana" with David. We had been talking about utilizing the exhibit as a springboard for some new paintings, so we decided to paint our own renditions of these Hollywood-gone-voodoo spectacles of violence, monsters, transfigurations, and frenzied religious symbolism. The catch was, that instead of painting an image for a movie poster, these paintings would be specifically created to function as a 7" single record cover for my solo music project tentatively-titled Holy Ghost. The painted image would be based upon the two tracks on either face of the 45rpm single in direct reference to or in essence of the song titles or lyrical themes.

After critiquing the two paintings we were both really happy with the results. Next step is to get this damn record released and really shoot for painting a lot more in the future! Hoping to have the two tracks mixed and mastered in the next few weeks and then get the ball rolling on shopping the material around to labels that would be interested in releasing it.

Please be sure to check out the exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center as well David's amazing collage work, and the recent collection of long-forgotten material from his amazing band, DA! on Factory 25 records.

The Trilogia della vita

2011-08-12T16:54:00.003-05:00

Aziz converses with his lover in a tent before his is castrated for betraying her love. Scene from Arabian Nights

I've been recently watching Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Trilogia della vita (Trilogy of Life), and have been blown away by the beauty of his cinematic vision. Much like his most controversial work, his interpretation of the Marquis de Sade's Salo: Or the 120 Days of Sodom, the three films in the series, The Decameron, The Canterbury Tales, and Arabian Nights, all based upon the seminal works of Western literature. Each film (incredible as individual pieces as well as a whole) retains Pasolini's aesthetic edge and his immediately recognizable raw and unflinchingly erotic storytelling style. The painterly quality of the images in each scene, conjures the spirit of the best Italian masters, the screen dripping with rich color, elaborate costume, and uniquely Italian humor and introspection.

Unfortunately, Pasolini was violently assassinated at his home in 1975 for his radical role in Italy's Marxist movement as well as his (then) controversial homosexual lifestyle. We'll never known what fullness of artistic vision Pasolini may have achieved.

Movie Mojo: Hand-Painted Posters from Ghana

2011-07-10T11:47:00.003-05:00

Just went to view this amazing exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center last Thursday, and was completely blown away.

These are an outsider/folk artist enthusiasts dream come true. A rich blending of a western tradition and African folk iconography. These posters were meant to advertise screenings of vhs movies in pop-up theaters throughout Ghana and Nigeria.

Some of the imagery is horrifyingly graphic and disturbing, filtering voodoo culture through the lens of B-grade "Nollywood" horror.

Be sure to check out the posters in all their gory and bizarre glory before the show closes Sept. 4.

A Birthday Card For All Your Gloomy Friends...

2011-06-16T19:10:00.004-05:00

"Happy Birthday from Nick Cave" Pen & Ink on Bristol Board

Garden

2011-06-14T22:32:00.004-05:00

Been working with another medium recently, plants! I always enjoy the opportunity to get out in the garden during the summer and I'm always inspired to do it when I begin my seasonal job at the park district.

Recently did a complete overhaul on the front garden, and placed some beautiful new plants and moved some older perennials around. Very pleased with the results! Hope you'll enjoy!

"Nature Unveiled" Part 2

2011-06-12T19:56:00.001-05:00

Here's Your First Assignment...

2011-06-10T21:41:00.000-05:00

The Sigil-Making Process

2011-06-10T21:39:00.001-05:00

Automatic Drawings

2011-06-09T17:52:00.004-05:00

Some new automatic drawings done while en route to California via airplane a couple weeks ago. These drawings came about by utilizing some techniques gleaned from Austin Osman Spare.

Nudes With Magickal Implements

2011-06-09T15:05:00.001-05:00

Watercolor and Pencil on Paper 9" x 12"

Initiation of the Adepts

2011-05-26T13:56:00.001-05:00

A preliminary sketch for the GSMD album "Spirit Smoke". Like the way this turned out, but definitely much happier with the watercolor I did that they ended up going with.

Automatic Drawings

2011-05-26T12:59:00.001-05:00

Current Reading/Studying

2011-05-26T11:55:00.005-05:00

Been doing a lot of reading and studying this spring since beginning my seasonal work.

These books, artists, and authors definitely have a knack for instilling potency into the readers' subsequent creative output. Thanks to David Thomas for lending me some of the harder-to-find titles.*

Here are a few books I've literally been soaking up information and inspiration from:

Caspar David Friedrich by Norbert Wolf

The Collected Poems by W.B. Yeats

Supernatural Horror in Literature by H.P. Lovecraft *

Outside the Circles of Time by Kenneth Grant *

Automatic Drawing by Austin Osman Spare

Lovecraft: Disturbing the Universe by Donald Burleson *

Book 4 by Aleister Crowley

The Magicians of the Golden Dawn: A Documentary History of a Magical Order 1887-1923 by Ellic Howe *

Dream Fragments

2011-05-26T11:17:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, I began a series of drawings revolving around a set of strange dreams I had, due in part, I believe, to subconscious reactions to books I had been reading, music I was listening intensely to, inner emotional struggles dealing with artistic barrenness, and possibly some nutmeg I had been cooking with(?).

These drawings were done as conscious reactions and impulses towards drafting visually analogous manifestations of the dreams. Some were done within the hour of waking from the dream, some done in a daydream state during work breaks, and some even came to resemble and befit these dream fragments weeks after they had been drawn.

Though seemingly incongruent to one another, I believe these sketches to be a direct link to my subconscious creative mind, and an insight to the artists multifaceted musings, whatever they may mean.

Woman with Skull

Enormous Tree Stump with Bizarre Growth

The Temple on the Hill

The Coast

Shadow World

2011-05-03T18:06:00.001-05:00

Reblogged from ideologic.org:

Angus MacLise | DREAMWEAPON | Opens May 10th at Boo-Hooray Gallery

“Angus was a dream percussionist. A dream person.” — Lou Reed

DREAMWEAPON
The Art and Life of Angus MacLise (1938 – 1979)
May 10 - May 29, 2011
curated by Johan Kugelberg and Will Swofford Cameron

Opening Party, May 10th
6pm to 9pm at 521 W23rd Street

Art Exhibition - May 10 - May 29
521 W 23rd Street, New York

Sound Installation
265 Canal Street, Suite 601, New York

Film Night at the Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue, New York, May 12th at 8 PM.

Boo-Hooray Gallery Website

This is the first overview of the lifework of a major American 20th century artistic polyglot.

Angus MacLise was an American artist, poet, percussionist, and composer active in New York, San Francisco, Paris, London and Kathmandu from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. Best known as the original drummer of the Velvet Underground, MacLise’s lifework included music, calligraphy, performance art, poetry, drawings, plays, and limited edition artist’s books.

A suitcase of Angus MacLise’s artwork, publications, and manuscript as well as more than 100 hours of recorded music was left with La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela for safe-keeping thirty years ago. This extraordinary time-vault is the foundation of the exhibition, with additional materials drawn from private previously unseen collections and archives.

The 521 West 23rd Street exhibition features manuscript, calligraphy, ephemera, photography, artwork, memorabilia, posters and handbills illuminating MacLise’s multi-faceted career through a narrative of original artifacts.

The 265 Canal Street Suite 601 sound installation, the premiere exhibition at Boo-Hooray’s new Chinatown space, features previously unheard recordings from the 1960’s and 1970’s featuring Angus MacLise performing alongside notables such as: Tony Conrad, La Monte Young, John Cale, Billy Name, Terry Riley, William Breeze, Piero Heliczer, Jack Smith, Lou Reed, Sterling Morrison and Maureen Tucker among others. Each day one may experience a unique set of curated programs of MacLise’s music. Every day is different.

The exhibits are open every day from 11am - 6pm, with the curators hosting Walks and Talks at the 521 West 23rd Street location on Saturday May 14th at 3pm & Saturday May 21st at 3pm

For more information contact Michael Daley / michael@boo-hooray.com

Spirit Smoke

2011-04-21T22:03:00.004-05:00

This painting will be used as the cover image for the album "Spirit Smoke" by The Great Society Mind Destroyers.

Watercolor and some digital imaging via Photoshop.

...And by the way...

2011-04-21T17:21:00.002-05:00

Thanks again to David Thomas for this piece!

The Surrealist General Store

2011-04-21T15:30:00.004-05:00

I've finally been made privy to the website and hypnotically beautiful collage esoterica of Scott Carlton Harris aka "Mousetrap".

A founding member of Chicago experimental and punk outfits Terminal Beach, A Mason in Ur, and perhaps most notably, NGA JIWA, whose Neubauten-esque industrial/performance and ritual aspect seemed quite revolutionary in the city at the time, Harris has remained somewhat of a buried secret to many Chicago experimental music and art enthusiasts. I've never met the man, heard any of his music, or witnessed live performances, the only knowledge I have is the myth and folklore of the man passed down through a good friend, David Thomas, who along with founding art punk group DA!, performed with Harris in Terminal Beach and NGA JIWA. David has told me some amazing stories about the performances of NGA JIWA: burning bones, using giant oil drums as percussion instruments, incense, candles, Tibetan thighbone trumpets, etc. The stories David has to tell about Harris, the occult, Chicago punk, art, music, film, books, could fill a couple dozen volumes. If you ever run into David, ask him how Harris got his nickname "Mousetrap".

I've been intrigued with the persona of "Mousetrap" for some time now, and was very happy to see that his visual art finally has a web presence. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the old NGA JIWA or Mason in Ur performance recordings, photographs, or other ephemera will surface sometime soon.

More info at: Chicago Punk Database, DA!, Conjuring Mythologies

Thanks David!

Mariano Mermaid Records

2011-04-18T16:49:00.003-05:00

Wow! Just got a very nice email from long-lost psych folk minstrel/mountain man extraordinaire, Salvador Cresta, from Argentina. I was in contact with Salvador a few years back during my days recording as Cloud Temple for Little Somebody Records. We exchanged music and thoughts, and he even made me a personalized recording of his brand of lo-fi bedroom folk.

A very interesting label, primarily consisting of Salvador and his mysterious lover/partner/sister?, Pupa. The music lies somewhere in the realm of Devendra Banhart's early material, a Spanish-language Skip Spence, or Os Mutantes were they to venture into the more abstract reaches of outsider folk.

For more info on Salvador, and his label, Mariano Mermaid, please download his press kit (complete with reviews, song samples, and photographs), or email him directly: salvadorcresta@yahoo.com, I'm sure he'd love to hear from you!

Dirty Beaches & Heavy Times

2011-04-17T21:52:00.004-05:00

Another flyer design for some good friends, Dirty Beaches from Montreal and Heavy Times from Chicago. Sort of a "Kurosawa meets Russ Meyer" motorcycle madness/samurai mash-up.
Don't miss this show, it's gonna be a killer night of rock and roll!

9PM Thursday May 19th at Schuba's Tavern
3159 N. Southport Ave.

Bad Drugs "Please Curb Your Dog" shirt design

2011-04-17T21:45:00.004-05:00

A special t-shirt I designed for Chicago noise rock miscreants, Bad Drugs. Was going for that late 80's "Rude Dog & The Dweebs" cartoon show look with this one.

Coming Soon: The Great Society Mind Destroyers "Spirit Smoke" LP

2011-03-23T17:12:00.003-05:00

Here's a sneak peek of the prospective art for the insert for the LP. All the lyrics and liner notes will be on the flipside of this 11"x17" poster and will come packaged inside the LP. More news soon. For now, you can try to pick up the cassette release of "Spirit Smoke" form the band at their shows, or from Belgian label Sloow Tapes.

Paper Mice at The Hideout: April Fool's Day

2011-03-14T10:03:00.002-05:00

Party Time! Here's a new flyer I created for my friends in Paper Mice. Based it off the 80's slasher movie poster for April Fool's Day. Had a good time making this one!

Wandjina Dreamtime

2011-02-21T09:50:00.002-06:00

One of Sadhu Sadhu's earliest improvisations, Enjoy!

Chicago Thrash Ensemble Design Variations

2011-02-12T18:37:00.003-06:00

Some LP cover art design variations I've been working on for local Thrash Metal band Chicago Thrash Ensemble. The album title is "Monsters of the Midwest". Wanted to give the image of the skyline a "menacing" look per the bands request, so I added a rippin' storm complete with a tornado descending into the middle of downtown.

Pen and India ink on Bristol board/Photoshop

Endless Boogie/Arbouretum/Eternal Tapestry Tour Poster

2011-02-12T14:57:00.001-06:00

"Endless Boogie/Arbouretum/Eternal Tapestry" 11" x 14" India ink on Bristol board

Ruradelia

2011-02-08T19:03:00.003-06:00

Everyone should check out this beautiful blog. Just pure aesthetic bliss! What a great collection of wonderful images. I have no idea how this person has the time or resources to track down some of these gems! Lots of rare album cover art (mainly from the 60's & 70's), adds, graphic design, and drawings/paintings. Dig it!

The Raven's Heiress

2011-02-08T18:55:00.002-06:00

Commissioned work for my friends, John & Ari. "The Raven's Heiress" 9"x12" pen and India ink on Bristol board

Sadhu Sadhu in current issue of Time Out Chicago

2011-01-26T15:19:00.003-06:00

Finally got some great press in a major magazine, Time Out Chicago. Unfortunately, our much-anticipated/lauded return to the Psych Fest stage did not happen due to unexpected circumstances. Next year we'll be there to tear it up! Hopefully by then, we'll have a band picture with Andrew (our 2nd guitarist) in it!

"Nature Unveiled" Part 1

2011-01-26T15:13:00.002-06:00

The initial under-painting stages of my new oil painting entitled "Nature Unveiled"

Endless Boogie/Arbouretum/Eternal Tapestry Tour Poster

2011-01-20T11:56:00.000-06:00

Phase 2: Ink wash

Endless Boogie/Arbouretum/Eternal Tapestry Tour Poster

2011-01-19T13:21:00.003-06:00

The initial ink drawing for their west coast tour dates.

Pen & India Ink on Bristol Board 11"x14"

Wood Knot

2011-01-12T15:28:00.000-06:00

"Wood Knot" screen print on craft paper

Great Psychedelic Art by Italian Artists "Carnovsky"

2011-01-07T13:55:00.005-06:00

carnovsky = Francesco Rugi + Silvia Quintanilla

carnovsky.com

Bickering Bray Cassettes & CD-R's Complete Catalog

2011-01-05T14:40:00.012-06:00

I've always believed in the power of documentation and cataloging ones work. How many times have you lost valuable files, paperwork, or sold off artwork without making some kind of documentation? In an effort to put an end to lost artwork and information, I began using this blog as a place to post my art and music. I've decided to make my work available to the public in order to spread it to all who are interested.

For nearly 3 years, I ran a small independent record label that specialized in small-run, handmade, extremely limited cassette and CD-R releases. I called it Bickering Bray, after a friend described to me a bizarre Korean ghost-exorcising ritual that involved setting spirits afloat on boats and letting them howl into the night. I have nary a notion as to how the word "bickering" or "bray" got thrown in there, but it's an intriguing phrase nonetheless. The releases themselves varied in genre from psychedelic folk, ambient, experimental, noise, free improvisation, and even reggae. I had the pleasure of working with various musicians scattered across the States, releasing albums for or releasing albums in collaboration with individuals and bands from Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky & Washington state to name a few.

While I've decided that it's about time to put the ol' label to rest, I want to give everyone the opportunity to listen to the releases. I regret not documenting some of the unreleased material sooner, so unfortunately those music files and artwork are forever lost in the sands of time. The specific album I'm referring to is "Voice of the Cicada" by Cloud Temple, my psych folk solo project. I recorded 4 songs that were meant to be released in a box set containing original art prints, a 3" mini CD-R and an assortment of cicada shells. Unfortunately, the original tape was lost in a move, and after my computer and external hard drive crashed simultaneously, the unmixed files and art were lost as well. You'll find the "BB012" folder empty with the rest of the downloads simply as a placeholder.

Here are all the Bickering Bray releases in chronological order divided into folders by catalog number, each folder containing all the tracks and artwork for the individual release. I've cut the download into 4 parts. Enjoy, friends!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

Bickering Bray artists include: Black Moss (Chicago, IL), Cloud Temple (Chicago, IL), Green Room Rockers (Lafayette, IN), John(ny) Miller (Chicago, IL), Skullzone (Chicago, IL), Sports (Little Rock, AK), Teeth Collection (Columbus, OH), Justin Wilk (Muncie, IN)

Roxaboxen "Best of 2010 Poster Show"

2010-12-31T12:57:00.002-06:00

Pleased to announce a happy and very welcome end to 2010 with a great exhibition of poster art from Chicago artists. Some of my posters and flyers for local music (including my band Sadhu Sadhu) will be shown at Roxaboxen Gallery in Pilsen as part of their Best of 2010 poster show.

Other artists include some friends of mine you may know: Ryan Duggan (of Black Ladies, Loose Dudes), Kyle Reynolds (of Cacaw, Heavy Times), Josh Davis, Marion Jackson (of Sadhu Sadhu), Spudnik Press, etc. Be sure to check it out if you can make it down there, here are the details: www.roxaboxenminicastle.com

My Top Singles Picks of 2010

2010-12-31T10:45:00.009-06:00

Best Singles of 2010

1 Dirty Beaches “True Blue/Sweet 17” Zoo Music

2 Dirty Beaches “Golden Desert Sun/Night Drive” Italian Beach Babe

3 Grinderman “Heather Child/Super Heather Child” Mute

4 Sun Araw “Sun Ark/Bump Up, High Step” Not Not Fun

5 Bitchin’ Bajas/Moon Duo “Fresh Hair/Bopper’s Hat” Permanent

6 Moon Duo “Catch As Catch Can/Set It On Fire” Agitated

7 Heavy Times “No Plans/Ice Age” Hozac

8 The Great Society Mind Destroyers/Dark Fog “Divinorum/Space” Galactic Zoo Disk

9 Vermillion Sands “Mary” Rijapov

10 Vibes “Psychic” Not Not Fun

My Top Album Picks of 2010

2010-12-22T10:06:00.018-06:00

Best Albums of 2010

1 Grinderman “Grinderman 2” LP Mute

It's pure rock fury as Nick Cave again steps away from the Bad Seeds and into the trashy, no holds barred, wolfish pomp of Grinderman. Comprised of Cave and three Bad Seeds members, this second foray as a stripped down garage band takes it to new levels of noisy bombast and sleazy lyricism. Haven't been so sonically punished in years, and the live show is even more intense!

2 Magic Lantern “Platoon” LP Not Not Fun

Where Cameron Stallone's Sun Araw side project favors the thubbing, bass-heavy, dubbed out side of psychedelia, the newest (possibly final) release from Magic Lantern, brings it back around to it's Hendrix-inflected, guitar wailing, funk-blues origins. If you were lucky enough to grab the first few copies of this release that contained a bonus 7", then you know the power of Magic Lantern's funk side, displayed on their cover of Iron Knowledge's "Showstopper".

3 DA! “Exclamation Point” LP Factory 25

One of the many forgotten legends of Chicago music, DA! played a gothy, arty style of punk that should not be understated. With haunting female vocals, its not hard to imagine an influence of Siouxsie Sioux lurking behind the Joy Division-esque guitar and drum work, but there is much more here than mere post-punk artiness. This album collects many of their oft unheard songs into one convenient package, although I highly recommend trying to get your hands on their original EP "Time WIll Be Kind" and single "Dark Rooms/White Castles". Great liner notes and artwork comprised of old flyers and photos complete this essential release!

4 Group Inerane “Guitars of Agadez” LP Sublime Frequencies

Simply put, this is one of the best releases of Taureg guitar music I've yet heard. Transcendent tribal rhythms and call and response chanting meet raw, trance-inducing guitar grooves. These songs of protest against the Niger & Mali governments can strike a chord with anyone willing to listen, knocking down the barrier of language in the process.

5 Zola Jesus “Stridulum” 12" EP Sacred Bones

I was first blown away by the beauty of Nika Rosa Danilova's music when I heard her first full-length on Sacred Bones. Recently she's cut through the grit and grime of previous releases to reveal gorgeous baubles of pop-inflected synth-washed gothic anthems. Can't wait for the next full length!

6 Silver Bullets “Citta Invisibili” Cassette Stunned

These Italians should not be overlooked by anyone interested in the recent rush of tranced-out minimalist psych bands popping up all over the country (and world for that matter). Building on their stunner (no pun intended) of a debut "Free Radicals", the band has begun to let fly with a more experimental bent that sits nicely alongside their ethno-driven grooves.

7 Emeralds “Does It Look Like I’m Here?” LP Editions Mego

Moving away from their purely analog beginnings, Emeralds has transcended both past and future to usher in the purely "now" sound of the digital age. Lush ambience provides a sweeping lull that allows the scattering shards of melody to take us beyond the dense drones and noise blasts of previous releases, making this record Emeralds' most approachable and aurally attractive album to date. Fans of Nova should take note!

8 Einstürzende Neubauten “Strategies Against Architecture IV: 2002-2010” 2CD Mute

The great Neubauten return with a compendium of songs collected from releases of the past 8 years. Their sound has advanced so much since earlier classic albums like "Halber Mensch" and "Kollaps" that one might be under the impression that these pioneers of Industrial music might be losing steam. Not the case however, as their songcraft has developed to include not only elements of metallic percussion, power tools, and noise, but now contains spoken word, pop traces, digital sampling, field recordings, and laptop electronics. Simply beautiful stuff on this double album.

9 Sun Araw “Off Duty” 12” EP Woodsist

A return to form for Sun Araw! After the genre-defying juggernaut that was "Heavy Deeds", I was unfortunately less than impressed by the sprawling double album "On Patrol". On "Off Duty" Cameron Stallones brings the dub I was so desperately missing and in the process reminds us that although the heavily-reverbed lo-fi sounds of his contemporaries are fast getting played out, he can still delivery a solid dose of drugged out bliss that sounds completely his own.

10 Cave “Pure Moods” 12” EP Drag City

This EP gives just enough of a hint of what's to come from our boys in Cave. A great blend of the Krauty rhythms that have defined them since their first release and their newer synth-driven Kosmische sound.

Page One "Rock-A-Dub"

2010-12-16T16:21:00.002-06:00

Yes! Been trying to find this album by Page One forever! It’s got one of the greatest reggae album covers of all time in my opinion. The artwork is from an era in Jamaican music that has transcended time, the whole package sounds and looks as fresh today as ever. Dig the back cover too! That painting could have have only been created in 1970’s Jamaica! I’m tellin’ ya!

This Album Is Strictly
Rockers Dubbing And Rootsy Smoking
‘Cos Babylon Must Fall.

Hiromi Tanaka

2010-12-16T14:00:00.002-06:00

Great new pieces from this Chicago-based Japanese painter.

Sadhu Sadhu at The Whistler 2/22/10

2010-12-15T12:39:00.002-06:00

Welcome 2 the Void

2010-12-13T23:44:00.005-06:00

The poster for Chicago Psych Fest 2 at The Hideout, curated by The Chicago Metaphysical Circus. All art and design by yours truly.

Behold!

2010-12-06T23:57:00.001-06:00

"Welcome to the Void" - india ink on paper

R.I.P. Peter Christopherson 1955-2010

2010-11-26T18:54:00.003-06:00

A great article about this seminal figure in experimental music.

Grinderman @ The Riviera Theater 11/22/10

2010-11-23T16:51:00.007-06:00

Had the great fortune of witnessing a punishing Grinderman concert yesterday at the Riv! Unbelievable energy from the entire band, particularly Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

Ellis was absolutely on a different plane for the entire show, running wildly back and forth from his side of the stage to the drum stand, slamming into Nick, alternating between his guitar, violin, and electric bouzouki, and thrashing like a mad man possessed underneath his mic stand, violently shaking and beating two maracas against a mic'd hi hat. I think anyone in the audience on his side of the stage left feeling a little more sane and a lot more deaf...

Cave was in truly ecstatic form as well, howling to the rafters and screaming lyrics into a stunned and god-struck audience. His old Bad Seeds dance moves were there as well, gyrating and pulsing like a writhing corpse-thin version of Elvis.

Overall, a mesmerizing and intense performance!

Also had an opportunity to (very) briefly meet Mr. Cave after the show and have a copy of his first volume of lyrics and writings, "King Ink" signed. My friend Eric and I were totally in fanboy mode for this, so I didn't get to spit much out, but Nick gave me a funny kind of "Well...man." when he saw the book. Must have been a long time since he'd seen a copy of it, since it was published in 1990 on Henry Rollins' publishing company, 2.13.61, and has been out of print nearly as long. Thanks to my wife, Candace, for standing out in the cold with us to wait after the show and for taking pictures!

Totally geeked out! It's a strange experience meeting one of your idols, especially someone who's artistic output stretches through nearly 3 decades of incredible live performances, legendary albums, film appearances, and written word.

Sadhu Sadhu at Empty Bottle 12/20/10

2010-11-23T13:01:00.003-06:00

New flyer I designed for our first show since July!

Psych Fest II: Welcome II The Void

2010-11-16T21:38:00.005-06:00

I'll be working on the poster art for this years Psych Fest at the Hideout! Jan. 21st and 22nd are the confirmed dates, with a possible pending secret show. Here's a preview sketch for the poster.

Thanks be to our brethren at the Chicago Metaphysical Circus for putting on yet another kick ass event. Check the Hideout's page for all the info and updates. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that Moonstone Continuum will make it down from Minneapolis for this great series of shows!

Super Minerals

2010-11-16T21:10:00.003-06:00

Excellent side project of Magic Lantern members Phil French and William Giachhi (or is it the main project now that Magic lantern has disappointingly called it quits?). Layered and expansively unfolding drones permeated with subtle naturalistic field recordings that seem to suffuse into the blood like rays of bright California sunshine. These guys are also responsible for Stunned Records, which has been releasing hard-to-nab tapes by promising acts like Italy's magnificent Silver Bullets. Check out the album "Magnitudes" by Super Minerals on Digitalis.

Up the Yangtze

2010-11-10T13:23:00.004-06:00

Saw a great documentary yesterday, Up the Yangtze. It really made me ponder the effects of civilization and industrialization on nature. There are few films that can really hit me in such a way that I'm brought to tears and this is one of them. The film discusses China's decision to dam the Yangtze river, the pro's and con's of this decision, and the human toll that this decision has taken. Up the Yangtze really captures the loss of cultural identity that has permeated China as a result of its governments devotion to modernization, globalization, and national power.

Grinderman are back!

2010-09-26T00:40:00.003-05:00

Grinderman 2 is finally out on US shores via Anti- and it is BRILLIANT! A true reclamation and decimation of the spirit of primal rock n roll fury. The sounds on this record sit well between such punk-blues-psychedelic upstarts as John Spencer Blues Explosion and Comets on Fire and the noisier expansive explorations of the German Krautrock/Kosmische set, and it's all filtered through Nick Cave's sneering and whip-smart lyrical vision of male mid-life lust, longing, and languidity. Can't wait to catch these miscreants when they get to Chicago in a few months (it'll be my first time witnessing monsieur Cave live and in person, words cannot express my excitement!). You bet yer ass I have tickets already!

By the way, I hope you have a turntable, because the LP version of this album is killer. Comes with a 12"12" booklet with lyrics and drawings, a huge hilarious poster, CD version of the album, and the lettering on the heavy-duty sleeve is embossed with blue foil! Woooo, fancy...just get it!

On our way!

2010-09-26T00:17:00.004-05:00

A little caricature of me and the love of my life. Just a few short weeks to the wedding! Watercolor and ink superimposed on canvas.

Check out our wedding site!

Sadhu Sadhu @ Zebulon July 23rd, 2010

2010-07-28T18:31:00.003-05:00

Here's our most recent live recording from Zebulon in Williamsburg, NYC. Great venue with killer Franco-Moroccan vibes (good French sammiches too!). It's a bit of a raw recording, direct from the soundboard and I haven't tampered with the file at all (mixing, EQing). Track listing is: Vibratory Moon, The Colour Out of Space, Walkabout, Sun Bridge. Enjoy, and eternal peace, ya'll!

Grinderman 2

2010-07-28T17:37:00.001-05:00

Absolutely cannot wait for this album to drop!

Sadhu Sadhu: On Tour Again!

2010-07-20T21:10:00.002-05:00

Here's the new flyer I created for our New York show coming up in a couple days. It's freeing to use colored pencils, which have such a nice rich look about them. If you're in or around NYC, come check us out! Have some new merch available as well!

Free Monday!

2010-07-19T22:16:00.000-05:00

Be sure to check out our first free Monday show at the Empty Bottle on July 26th! Should be a great time! Andrew and I have been putting up flyers around the city and we want you to bring everyone you know to this one, folks. Wanted to go with a punk rock photocopy aesthetic, with a few psychedelic touches thrown in. The image is from my mom's Clay High School yearbook, Mishawaka, IN 1976. Enjoy the teenage 'stache.

Tribute to an American Primitive

2010-06-30T23:41:00.002-05:00

India ink on watercolor paper

Heavy Times!

2010-06-20T18:52:00.004-05:00

Congrats to the guys in Heavy Times for gettin' their new album out and playing some great shows over the past few weeks. Had the pleasure of doing the album art for 'em. Not sure, but I think the first pressing of 200 on Rotted Tooth may be sold out. Here are some images of the final product: Heavy Times "Dead" LP.

Mission Accomplished!

2010-05-15T22:04:00.004-05:00

Here's the final product! The "highly" anticipated silkscreen poster for our show with Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra at Schuba's in a few weeks. I'm happy with the finished design, but I gotta say my friend Jim and I had a hell of a time gettin' this 2-color sucker to print properly. 19"x25" metallic gold on sea green ink in an edition of 50.

We'll have the print for sale at the show and on our myspace page for around $12. The band and label will get a portion of the prints as well as some of the local stores in order to promote the show, so they will be in limited supply. Get 'em while they're hot!

Africa Unite!

2010-05-15T21:30:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was asked by my Tanzanian friend Sebastian to do a reworking of a painting motif originally created by an African artist. The plan is for the image to go onto a t-shirt that will be distributed to close friends. The image is meant to celebrate the diversity of people, culture, and flora/fauna throughout the massive continent. Be sure to check out the not-for-profit Tamiha organization that Sebastian is involved with. More on the t-shirt as news arrives!

Heavy Times

2010-04-29T17:58:00.003-05:00

It's been a busy, busy couple of weeks. Got some new job opportunities, and have also been blessed with some recent creative endeavors. I was so excited to be asked to do the album cover for one of my favorite Chicago bands, Heavy Times. It's been a little hectic gettin' the sucker laid out, but I think it looks good and I can't wait to see how my buddy Kyle does with the silk screened covers, he's a great print maker, so I'm sure this is child's play for him. Many thanks for the patience, Kyle and Bo, it's been a crazy few days!

The plan is for a folded sleeve with a 6" flap on the backside containing all the info, and allowing the vinyl to be exposed in the plastic outer sleeve. In addition, the plastic screen itself will be printed with the band name and album title text. I've posted the mock-up for interested parties!

Can't wait to see the finished project!

Silver Mt. Zion redux

2010-04-29T17:46:00.003-05:00

Tragedy in Sadhu universe! Our proposed poster for our Silver Mt. Zion poster looked great. However, in light of our imminent failure with the CMYK screen printing method, Jim and I decided to simplify things with a two color screen print. Going to print today, so we'll see where this gets us. Keep your fingers crossed!

Sadhu Sadhu @ Schuba's May 27th 2010

2010-04-20T23:03:00.003-05:00

Sadhu Sadhu will be supporting the amazing Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra Band on their summer 2010 U.S. tour. Come out and support. Hoping to have a 4 color process screen print of this done for the show. Not sure of the edition number, but I'll keep ya'll posted.

Sadhu Sadhu @ The Mopery April 14th, 2010

2010-04-08T13:47:00.003-05:00

New flyer I designed for our Mopery gig coming up next week (These are two slightly different designs). Gonna be a drone-a-thon! Come out to the show!

Sadhu Sadhu @ Rueben's Palace 3/26/10

2010-04-01T12:14:00.003-05:00

Killer live set by Sadhu Sadhu. We kicked up a pretty dense wall of sound and some furious psych shred. I felt like we were really "on" that night and I think this was a benchmark performance for us. I'm really happy with it. Thanks to Andrew from Great Society Mind Destroyers for recording the entire show that night. Sounds great! You've gotta check the Destroyers out, trance-inducing psych rhythms and esoteric lyrics, oh yeah! BTW, this download link contains performances from all the bands that played that night: Rene Hell, Wet Hair & the lovely Pocahaunted!

RUEBEN'S PALACE 3/26/10

Track list:
Vibratory Moon/The Colour Out of Space
Walkabout
Sun Bridge

Save the Date

2010-04-01T11:29:00.002-05:00

Just completed the Save The Date postcards for our wedding! They're going out to the printer today! We're keeping with a simple kinda rustic and sweet aesthetic. We're working on the rest of the art and lettering for the invitation, program, thank you cards, signs etc. Should have some more wedding related art up here soon. Check out my lovely lady's blog for more info awesomemidwestwedding.blogspot.com

Chicago Independent

2010-03-31T22:11:00.003-05:00

A T-shirt design I did a while back for Chicago Independent Distributions Pitchfork tent. Just found the shirt in my drawer and decided to post a pic of it.

Eat Skull

2010-03-28T12:54:00.000-05:00

Some twisted visions via Portland's own Dan Sloan.

Some New Flyers

2010-03-24T01:18:00.004-05:00

Got some flyers done for a few upcoming shows in the city. First up, is a 3-day mini fest at Rueben's Palace. Been doing alot of poster design work for friends and their bands in addition to my own bands' art. It works out well cause I get my work out, help friends out, and get to do art for bands I love!

Case in point is Heavy Times, fronted by my good bud, Bo Hansen. He's been at it for awhile as a solo project and recently joined up with Matt on guitar and Kyle (from Cacaw) on drums. Saw them as a fully formed band a couple weeks ago at Ottoman Empire, and they left me deaf for two days. Needless to say, they brought it. They have a new LP, "Dead", on the way via Rotted Tooth in the coming months. More on that as it comes, for now, check out their myspace page for some new jams. The flyer is inspired by some new Heavy Times song titles and lyrics. They're opening up for Olympia, WA bad-asses Broken Water at the Mopery on March 31st.

myspace.com/heavytimes
myspace.com/sadhusadhu

Dirty Beaches

2010-03-18T11:43:00.005-05:00

Through a hybridizing of Link Wray guitar wail, motorcycle gang ruggedness, Elvis cool, and 1950's asian film music, arises Alex Zhang Hungtai, aka, Dirty Beaches.

Dirty Beaches is a musical oddity, not easily described to your run-of-the-mill music listeners. At once mellow and unnerving. The name Dirty Beaches is itself a kind of paradox that melds the austere beauty of tropical locales with that harsh pang of reality one finds when a vacation paradise turns out to be just another urban garbage dump. The music sends you back to a deteriorating 1950's coastal town in Japan where people spend their nights drinking away their pain to slow-swooning & menacing jazz, and where motorcycle gangs beat around town looking for dope and pussy.

I've been fortunate enough to hang with Alex, the man behind the music, twice now as he's come through Chicago on tour. He seems to emit a vibe of coolness usually reserved for "The Wild One"-era Brando. His travels have brought him around the world and currently situated him in Montreal. His blog further compliments the aesthetic style of this contemporary amalgamation of lo-fi minimal rockabilly.

In short, you must check this stuff out!

myspace.com/dirtybeaches
dirtybeaches.blogspot.com

Work in Progress

2010-02-15T23:00:00.003-06:00

Here are a few images of my new painting (the first in a series of paintings based on the idea of decay and beauty in nature). Just a work in progress as of now, but it seems to be coming along nicely. Feedback appreciated.

Good jams:Sun Araw "Heavy Deeds"

Pita "Get Out"Z'ev "Salts of Heavy Metals"

Sun Araw

2010-02-15T01:54:00.003-06:00

Just completed a poster for an upcoming show Sadhu Sadhu is playing with Sun Araw. It's kind of a showcase for the L.A. label Not Not Fun. Great bands, come check it out next month! More poster/flyer designs on the way! Keep a look out. Peace.

The New Year

2010-01-13T15:21:00.005-06:00

"The Hollows" 8.5"x11 roughly. oil on four wood blocks (commissioned work)

"Wine Study" 22"x30". oil on canvas (commissioned work)

It's been a good long while since my last post. Alot's been happening since then (alot has changed!). Mainly, I've been back into painting mode, I've had some major inspiration in the past few weeks. I think some of it is due to the fact that I've been doing a bit more commissioned work. It's kinda got me back in the groove that I so desperately needed to be in. If you're interested in commissioning a piece please contact me via e-mail (johnnydeckermiller@gmail.com). Working on a new series of my own right now that is based around the idea of decay and beauty in nature (images to come soon).

Been listening to some great albums lately as well. Alot of great ambient electronic music from Type Records. Also going back to some post punk roots with Rowland S. Howard and his collaboration Nikki Sudden "Kiss You Kidnapped Charabanc". Howard was the eclectic and unhinged guitarist for The Birthday Party, and his inspirations were drawn from old jazz, blues, and rockabilly all processed through a jagged, dark, noisy post-punk aesthetic. Dig it!

Peter Broderick "Float" on Type Records

Nikki Sudden & Rowland S. Howard "Kiss You Kidnapped Charabanc"

Sun Bridge

2009-08-17T15:15:00.003-05:00

Finally! A new post! Sorry for the lapse, but I'm still here. Lots going on 'round here, both art and music-wise. Here, we have the poster for Sadhu Sadhu's "Sun Bridge" tour. It's being screened as we speak by local artist Josh Davis and was designed by myself. Also in the works is the Sadhu Sadhu "Live at the Hideout" LP/Cassette release, which is also on its way to press. More on all this soon. For now, enjoy the poster design and the Cassette cover! More soon!

Sadhu Sadhu Tonight at Beat Kitchen!!

2009-06-25T15:50:00.004-05:00

"The Temple of the Moon..." collage by David Thomas

After a string of great loft shows throughout the city, my band Sadhu Sadhu is proud to play our first bonafide venue! We'll be playing this evening at 9:30 at the Beat Kitchen (773- 281 - 4444

2100 W. Belmont Chicago, IL 60618) with local high energy garage lords Vee Dee. I designed a poster, and with printig help from my good buddy Meng Yang of Support Your Local Industries and Spudnik Press, I'm totally stoked to present the design here!

Lots going on in the area of music for me. We've got some great shows lined up for the future. Check out our myspace page for more info (myspace.com/sadhusadhu)!

Also, in art news, my good friend David Thomas recently had a stellar opening for his amazing collage work in Andersonville. Anyone interested (and I highly, highly recommend it) should visit his Conjuring Mythologies site: http://home.comcast.net/~conjuringmythologies/site/

Come Support!

Until the next entry...

Sadhu Sadhu Live!

2009-04-30T17:44:00.002-05:00

Just completed the poster design for my band, Sadhu Sadhu's first show! We'll be playing with ambient experimentalist Expo '70 and Bitchin' Bajas featuring members of Cave. Come check us out, we'd be happy to have you!

Saturday May, 9th at The Electric Company in French
1318 W Cermak Ave.

Arabs

2009-04-13T22:26:00.000-05:00

"Arabs" graphite on paper

Good Jams

2009-04-09T11:43:00.004-05:00

Magic Lantern "High Beams"

Lee 'Scratch' Perry "Arkology"

GHQ "Crystal Healing"

Grinderman "S/T"

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds "Tender Prey"