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I posted a new design to www.designbyhumans.com. Samurais, snakes, daggers…what else could you want, right??! If you dig it, log in and vote.
Back in Black T-Shirt Exhibit – Video From the First Show
Thanks to Tony Krol of Solid Motive for hooking us up with this video from the first Back in Black T-Shirt Exhibit back in October 2008!
Back in Black T-Shirt Show from Solid Motive on Vimeo.
The Back in Black T-Shirt Exhibit will be back in May with new artists, a bigger venue and an enhanced customer experience!!!
The event will be May 16th at the Czar in Ybor City, and online orders start May 1st.
Check out www.backinblackapparel.com for more details!
Artist Series Stock Vectors and Fonts Now Available!
I’ve just launched a brand new artist series, stock vector and fonts site called ‘Golden Black‘. The site features downloadable vector artwork and fonts from artists like Godmachine, Hydro74, Jason June, Los Fokos and myself. We wanted to build a site that sells badass, stock artwork from well-known artists that we would be stoked on if we saw it. Go check it out, grab some fonts and vectors, add mix them into you next project and let me know what you think. We’ll be adding to this site regularly so check back often and sign up for the newsletter for updates and discount codes.
Brian Posehn, Red Fang, Early Man = Metal Party
Went to see Red Fang and Early Man at the Crowbar in Ybor City on Saturday and got to meet comedian Brian Posehn. He was just hangin’ out, drinkin’ and watching some thrash metal after his gig down the street. Dude loves metal. Can’t blame him. (and yes, in case your wondering, I was wearing the pinkest shirt in the club).
Early Man is really fucking cool. If you haven’t checked them out yet, you should. They also did an amazing song for the ATHF movie called “More to me than meat and eyes”
Got to hang with a bunch of good friends at the show and Thanks to Dunlap for sending the pics. Oh BTW, check out my new Japanese Hanya mask sleeve that I just started on Friday with Jeff Srsic at Red Letter One Tattoo. It’s looking rad so far.
Shawn Barber at RedLetter1
“Tattooed Portraits” comes to Tampa!
RedLetter1 presents Shawn Barber‘s critically acclaimed series of paintings, “Tattooed Portraits.” The artist reception is Saturday, March 21st from 7pm – 11pm. But the exhibit will remain on display till May 1st.
Shawn will also be giving a oil painting demo on Sunday, March 22nd. Contact redletter1@gmail.com to reserve your spot. You don’t want to miss this opportunity!
Zombies rule!
By Michelle:
Iron Fist just released the first of 3 ‘monster series’, high heel shoes by Pale Horse. These came out amazing. Check ‘em out.
In other news regarding the undead, Ann Kwilinski recently sent me an article about The Body Bakery in Ratchaburi that sells body parts. Artist Kittiwat Unarrom crafts heads, appendages and internal organs out of dough. That’s right…the images below are BREAD! Who doesn’t love bread??!!
(pictures from LifeLounge)
He should do an erotic line. It would KILL!
Can I Get More Me In The Monitors?
By Michelle
This week, we met up with Josh Smith (Hydro74) and Adrian Santos of REVOLT Marketing to hang out and discuss plans for the next Back in Black show. We are doing it bigger and badder this year, and the artist list is shaping up to be amazing. Stay tuned for more details at www.backinblackapparel.com.
We started the day meeting up with Vertical Merch and quickly transitioned to eating tacos, drinking margaritas, eating falafel, moshing and dancing the night away.
But let’s discuss the moshing part for a minute. Since we were already in Ybor, we decided to pass the time at the Valient Thorr show at Crowbar. I don’t really get funny bands (other than Flight of the Concords but that’s different). What’s so funny about rock n’ roll and what’s with all the fucking talking? They are constantly talking, spewing dummy-downed nonsense about our troops and partying. Nevertheless, they have played with several bands that I respect, so maybe I’m the only one who doesn’t get it (or want it).
This brings me to another observation, not all jean jackets/vests are created equal. I have had several punk friends try to explain to me what type of patches (generally Japanese, English and surprisingly enough Finnish punk/crust bands), metal studs, etc. are appropriate. But even without this insight, I’m pretty sure this kid fails (yes, it is a Rosie O’Donnell Show back patch).
And while this guy does not pass the punk test, in the dirt rocker test, I bet he wins. I miss Dimebag too. 
BTW…the famous tattoo artist, Joe Capobianco, recently curated the “Fist Full Of Metal” The Art of the Jean Jacket Art Show, a 52-piece collection by today’s top tattoo artists. The show opened at the Hope Gallery and moved to Canvas L.A. this weekend, where it runs through April 18th. If you are in the L.A. area, you should check it out.
At the end of the night, we repented for our sins and begged L. Ron Hubbard to allow us back on to the space ship.
Adrian, come visit us again soon!
The Sun That Never Sets
By Michelle
This weekend, Chris and I drove up to Atlanta for the Scion Rock Fest to see some of our favorite bands play (after Chris’ Photoshop aka “nerd” seminar in Tampa).
So many thoughts come to mind when I think about these bands, but I’ll just hit the highlights:
Neurosis
Good fucking god. Neurosis is probably my all-time favorite band. I first saw them play back in 1997. At the end of their set, they played 20+ minutes of feedback…but since we are all sheep, we all stayed put, scared we might miss something, hypnotized by the noise till the lights finally came on. 12 years later, Neurosis is still magical. I’m pretty sure if there is a white light that guides us to some sort of paradise, Neurosis is the elevator music.
In fact, take note…if Chris does something really important in the next forty years and they make a movie of his life, when his crazy (but smart and charming) old lady dies tragically, I would like “The Tide” to be played during my final scene (reminiscent of The People vs. Larry Flynt minus the AIDS).
(trippy)
Mastodon
The hometown heroes ended the night and as expected, they killed. I was so excited to see Neurosis that I actually forgot how much I like Mastodon. When Scott Kelly joined them on stage for the last three songs, the world had become perfect. I also have a mad crush on Mastodon’s singer/bassist. Once I told my friend Eddie and he responded, “The one with the rat on his face?!!?” Yep, that’s the one. Sigh.
Boris
I first saw Boris less than a year ago. I was so excited to see these Japanese visionaries but after 30 minutes, I became physically ill. It was so loud that my internal organs hurt (even with earplugs in). I tried to fight the nausea but after 15 more minutes and no end in sight, I had to bail. It’s embarrassing, I know. This time I made sure I was far away from the stage, so I wouldn’t miss a moment of the show. They were amazing. But now I realize what happened a year ago, it wasn’t the power of the procussions but the overwhelming amount of smoke they use.
Now you see the band:
Now you kinda see the band:
(It’s the middle of the afternoon and we’re outdoors, but we are engulfed in smoke.)
Skeletonwitch, Torche, Pig Destroyer…all retardedly good. Somehow I fucked up the schedule and we missed Converge. But luckily, “Conduit” plays in my head on a regular basis, so I’ll live to see them again.
BTW…the sun never came out while we were in Atlanta and when we woke up on Sunday it was snowing. WTF?
Sadly, we didn’t get to see our friends in Atlanta. Next time, we promise. We were in a hurry to get back home to hang with my best friend, Mary, who had just gotten in to town (and Matt). We ate so much sushi, she got sick. Way to fuck up the end of my story, Mary!
Thanks to Shane Pacillo for hooking us up with tickets! We owe you one. Look how happy you made us!
"Back in Black" Apparel Artist Exhibit Book!
Hydro74 & Pale Horse recently put on a event with 20 well known designers printing shirts for one night. This book is a collection of the work and that night. Only a handful of these will be printed since they are purely marketing books for the next Back in Black event. The book will be available March 13 and shipped shortly before hand with the pre-orders. Click here to get your hands and one of these very limed collector books. Oh yes, there is another Back in Black show on the horizon…
Tattoo-Inspired Snake Illustrations
Been collaborating with my friend and tattoo artist Jason June to draw up some really rad snake illustrations. These are the first of a series of tattoo inspired pieces that I’m currently working on. Check ‘em out and let me know if you like. Should be posting some more here in the near future.
