05.13.08
Monster food
Here’s another piece for MinnPost this week. This one is about genetically modified foods.
And last week, I got to do this piece about the way members of congress live, and balance their expenses.
04.29.08
Tangier 57 New Releases
If we can get everything printed and duped in time, we’ll be releasing 2 new CDs this weekend during the Homegrown set.
04.19.08
Tangier 57 Homegrown Show
Here’s the poster for the most fashionable Tangier 57 show to date. We’ll be teaming up with Rachel Hart of Apron Elegance at the Red Star Lounge.
03.22.08
Addy Award
My poster for Naked Abe won a Gold Addy from the Lake Superior Advertising Federation.
Credits:
Mike Scholtz: Creative Director/Wet Print Hanger-upper
Brian Barber: Illustrator/Squeegee Puller
Jake Kapsner: Suction Master
Jeff Ruprecht: Unreliable
Naked Abe was an entry in the 2007 48 Hour Film Project. I also contributed some music to the soundtrack.
03.17.08
Nice review
We got a very nice review of My Favorite Sounds from A to Z from Children’s Literature.
You need to be a subscriber to read it all, but here it is:
MY FAVORITE SOUNDS FROM A TO Z
Children’s Literaturehttp://childrenslit.com/
The letter A is not just for apple anymore, and B is no longer just for ball. Instead, try A for “acorns cracking,” and B for a “babbling brook.” Though the letters of the alphabet have been presented in an exhausting overabundance over the years, never have they been laid out in such a refreshing and unique way as this. Using each letter of the alphabet to describe specific sounds such as T for “teacups clattering” and L for “laughing children,” each sound is accompanied by a poem describing specific situations in which the sounds might occur. This book can easily engross young and old readers alike, as specific sounds can leave those with more life experiences feeling reminiscent. With fun, energetic illustrations accompanying the original text, it reads more like a piece of children¹s literature than an ancient primer of the ABC¹s. Could be used in the preschool classroom for teaching the alphabet or with units about the senses, to talk about how sounds are heard. A fantastic addition to the classroom or the home.
Reviewer: Carly Reagan
03.12.08
Last Night Never Happened
Crank the swank, Tangier 57 has just released Last Night Never Happened. Seven sultry songs, some recorded live, some done in the studio.
It’ll be available on iTunes in about 8 weeks, for now you can preview and order it here.
Oh, I played the drums and did the artwork.
02.09.08
My history (and future) with Mel Bay
When I was a kid, my dad had an electric guitar, and in the case were these 2 books. (published in 1959 and 1965, respectively). I really wanted to play the guitar, but the electric we had had REALLY bad action, the strings were waay off the fretboard, so it was pretty frustrating to try to play the chords in the book. And G7 augmented fifth? Gimme a break. Even when I did play it right, it sounded weird and REO Speedwagon never used a chord like that - what did I need it for? But the little pictures that went with each song … that was good stuff.
Move ahead 20 years or so. I illustrated the cover of a fiddle instruction book for a friend and helped with some of the instructional art on the inside.
Well it turns out this method he developed for teaching kids the fiddle has become one of the most popular and best-selling in the country, and the book has been through several editions.
Jump ahead 10 more years, Mel Bay the man may not be around any more, but the company sure is, and they have picked up the American Fiddle Method as one of their titles. I was asked to illustrate another cover, that funny little inside art, and hand-lettered titles. This will be The American Fiddle Method, Canadian Favorites. Kinda funny, huh? I’m hoping to finish everything up this weekend, and I’m sure the book will end up on the portfolio page.
