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Post #1062 – Put us on MTV, all we really need….

// September 22nd, 2011 // No Comments » // art, design, music, posters

Sometime this past August, I was approached by the MTV World Design Studio in Buenos Aires to create a “gig-poster style” print ad for their 2011 European Music Awards, which will feature a live performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Now, as a late 80′s skate rat, I grew up on the Chili Peppers, picking up the Uplift Mofo Party Plan on cassette after watching them live via VHS at the Vision Skate Escape, and even though I haven’t really followed the group over the past few years, I was still stoked to work on something for the band.

MTV provided a specific reference photo for the illustration, as well as the EMA logo, a style guide and three specific colors that needed to be used (the pink, purple and dark purple that you see in the poster, which, as you might imagine, proved a little difficult to work with.)  After a few rounds of back and forth, what you see to your left is what we came up with.

Internally the folks at MTV Design dug it, but higher-ups in the company decided to go a totally different direction, preferring to use a photo of the soon-to-be-announced host instead.  A bummer for sure but what can you do.

So, instead of leaving this to languish in some digital graveyard, I decided to post it here for your enjoyment.  Like Kurtis Blow said, these are the breaks.

Post #1059 – Steely Dan poster

// September 9th, 2011 // 2 Comments » // design, music, posters

I’ll be honest, I never really got into Steely Dan – I’d heard stuff over the years of course, but they never really moved me and it just wasn’t my thing, no big deal – so when I was asked to create a poster for their sold-out performance at the Tower Theater this weekend, I was a bit at a loss on how to approach it. Doing some research though, I found out they took their name from a line in William Burroughs‘ infamous novel, Naked Lunch.  Being a fan of Burroughs, I decide to take the whole thing full circle and do an illustration of the famous author.  I hope the band dig it.

These were printed by the guys at ABNRML and were presented to the band as a gift from Live Nation.  It’s a two color screen print on 130lb Black French Construction paper, size 12.5″ x 19″.  I do have a few extra prints that will be available for purchase in the new online store, once I finally get around to working out the kinks.  Stay tuned folks.

Post #1055 – Death Cab for Cutie – a tale of two posters

// August 5th, 2011 // 4 Comments » // music, posters

I was recently asked to design a limited edition poster for tonight’s Death Cab for Cutie’s show at the Mann in Philadelphia. The chosen design (pictured left) is a 2 color screen print on 100# Construction Steel Blue French paper, and was printed by ABNRML. These were limited to a run of 40 and were a gift to the band from AEG.  I have a few copies of these that will be available for purchase in the next few weeks, so stay tuned if you’re interest.

Now, originally, I had the idea of doing a Death Cab poster that was a direct parody of ACDC’s infamous Highway to Hell album cover, because when I realized the band’s initials were DC4C, it seemed like too good of an idea to pass up, and one that I thought for sure that someone else must have used (after a couple hours of solid research though, I never found anything).  And, honestly, you couldn’t get a greater contrast in sound or attitude than between these two bands, which is why  I thought it was funny.  Plus, I figured that, given the age of the Death Cab guys, they were probably into metal at some point of their pre-treen lives, so they would get the joke.  Unfortunately, AEG passed on the design, wanting to go with something much less cartoony, which is totally their perogative, no hard feelings, we’re all professionals here, etc.etc – but I was happy enough with the general idea and execution that I figured it was worth sharing here.  Consider it an unreleased B-side.  Enjoy.

Post #1022 – 30 years of being ABNRML

// January 4th, 2011 // No Comments » // design, posters

I was honored and stoked to recently be commissioned to design a limited edition screen print celebrating ABNRML’s 30th year in business. I decided to use images of a rabbit (the chinese zodiac animal for 2011) and rooster (for 1981) as a subtle way to illustrate that passing of time and included 30 stars along the edges, one for each year in business. The print measures 12.5″ x 19″, and is printed 3 color on a metallic gold patterned French paper. Plus it’s reversible, so you can rock whichever animal you’re feeling at the time (I go back and forth as to which one I like best). Unfortunately, only a handful were printed for some of ABNRML’s clients and close friends so I don’t have any extra for sale.  Them’s the breaks kids.

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Post #1021 – Deerhoof for the new year

// January 3rd, 2011 // No Comments » // design, posters

First off – Happy New Year to everyone – glad you could join us in 2011. Sorry for the lag in posts but the past few months have been insanely busy, with lots of exciting projects in the works – let’s hope  all this toil brings good fruit in the coming days.  Among other things, Justin Clowes and I are wrapping up production on a new music video for 5 o’clock Shadowboxers so stay tuned for that one.  And a new podcast should be dropping sometime this month as well.

Anyway, here’s a brand new gig poster I  designed for Deerhoof’s upcoming show at the TLA in Philadelphia, February 11, 2011.  It’s a 2 color print on 100lb Orange French paper cover stock, 19″ x 25″.  And, as always, printed by our good friend at ABNRML.  I’m not sure if these will be on sale at the gig or not, but I do have a couple of prints for sale over at ETSY – pick one up quick because once they’re gone, they’re gone.

And the actual collage that was used should be for sale at an upcoming show in February  - stay tuned for details.

And if you’re not following us on twitter or facebook, make it your first smart decision for 2011.  Updates are definitely more frequent on that side of things.

Post #1004 – Pavement

// September 17th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // posters

I was asked by AEG to design a limited edition, 2 color screen print poster for tonight’s Pavement show at the Mann Center. This one was kind of an experiment, since I’ve never used collage on a silk screen before, so I was a little nervous as to how the halftones would hold up but overall, ABNRML did a great job with the printing, as usual, and the posters look good. These were limited to a run of 40 and were given away to the band as a gift from AEG. I do have a small handful, though, that I will post on Etsy for anyone interested. But once they’re gone, they’re gone so don’t sleep on it.

Post #984 – She & Him poster

// July 2nd, 2010 // 1 Comment » // design, posters

I’m a big fan of  She & Him, so I was stoked when I got the chance to design the poster for their July 2 show at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, She & Him is a collaboration between actress Zooey Daschenel and the multi-talented musician M. Ward, who’s made a name for himself both as a successful solo artist as well as a member of the Monsters of Folk.  They recently released their excellent second album, Volume II, which is worth checking out if you’re a fan of summery 60’s style pop music with a little Patsy Cline thrown in for good measure.  A solid summer album for sure.

The print measures 19? x 25? and is a 3 color screen print on 130lb Mint Green French paper cover stock, printed by ABNRML. The prints were limited to a run of 100, and will be available for purchase tonight at  the show. If you can’t make it out, I do have a few extras that will available for purchase via etsy. Click here for more info.

Post #971 – Josh Ritter poster

// May 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // design, music, posters

I recently designed a poster for singer/songwriter Josh Ritter’s May 7th performance at the Theater of Living Arts in Philadelphia. The print measures 19″ x 25″ and is a 2 color screen print on 130lb Electric Red French paper cover stock, printed by ABNRML. It’s hard to tell in the photo, but the lettering is printed in a silver metallic ink. The prints were limited to only a run of 100, but I do have a few extras that are available for purchase via etsy.  Click here for more info.