In my campaign to make 20 unique gig posters in 2012, I introduced 2 friends to one another and they set up a double bill show. The Tango Cafe is located on Gregory Street in the South Wedge of Rochester. It is what Jon Itkin of The Silver Threads calls “the best listening room in Rochester.” His band has played there a few times over the past year, including their CD release party in March. Katie Powderly has spent many of her years in the Madison area of Wisconsin. She has family here in town which brings her back every now and again. This show is part of Katie’s 50 State tour that she is funding with a successful kick-starter project. Here CD “Slips of the Tongue” is a great listen with its brilliant songwriting and intelligent production.

Check out Katie’s music on her website: http://www.katiepowderly.com
The Silver Threads have a web presence here.

The poster design is the joining of two images. One of the boots really Katie, I have never seen her in public without something similar and the trucker ball cap is something Jon Itkin would be found wearing when not working for the man. 585 is our area code. I added that to mark our spot on the map.

I love music but there are a few bands out now that I super-duper love. The David Mayfield Parade is one and they are awesome. Dave is a super sweet guy who can sure ham it up for a crowd. The song-writing is brilliant. Consisting of topics from Teenage heartache to Chocolate Easter Bunnies. I look forward to staying in touch with him and following his music. Check him out here: http://thedavidmayfieldparade.com/

In his song, Chocolate Easter Bunny, he mentions Samsonite Luggage. I combined that idea with some old ornamental work. Using the typeface Cheap Pine to give it a real Americana look.

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This is a great punk rocking band with Americana Roots. Beautiful string music with an edge. Using an existing concept of Appalachian Culture, I reflected on my time in Graduate school in North Carolina when tent revivals were a summer recreation. A little Pentecostal Preacher with Rattlesnakes.

Colonel JD Wilkes (songwriter and front man for the Legendary Shack Shakers), his wife Jessica, plus fellow Shack Shaker Mark Robertson, make up the old-time music trio THE DIRT DAUBERS! Jessica is a Rochester native!

Learn more about them at: http://thedirtdaubers.net/

In extending the new visual brand direction, we created postcards and email campaigns to promote the upcoming season. These are examples of how the print version of the brand is complimented by email design that uses the same visual design elements to pull the brand through all materials.

All the poster work is inspired by Abilene Bar and Lounge in downtown Rochester. They have been kind enough to show off my posters. I hope to match the quality of their music with great gig posters. This is a good relationship.

This poster is 4 colors with first color being a pattern of the “Deer Head” that creates a nice effect of a unique surface only achieved with this printing technique.

This is a typographic solution to experiment with a new-to-me technique of printing dark first and overprinting translucent color. It made a beautiful effect and a nice poster. Very well received by the show-goers. Ana Egge is a great songwriter form Toronto area. Lots of great songs on reflection.

The print was 3 colors: Black, translucent blue and brown. Silk-screened on 110 lbs. Neenah Classic Crest Cover. 13″ x 19″ was the final size.

This is a local Americana/Folk group. They are getting better with every performance. I took the name and found a good image to accompany it. Something old and prickly then mashed it up with some grungy visuals. The gray background is metallic silver.

The print was 4 colors: Brown, Orange, Black and Silver. Silk-screened on 110 lbs. Neenah Classic Crest Cover. 13″ x 19″ was the final size.

The Honeycutters – A really good group of Americana musicians based in Western North Carolina. I was first introduced to their music through WNCW radio program, Local Color. These folks will be around making music for a while. Make sure you pick up their recent CD, When Bitter Met Sweet!

Amanda Platt, singer/songwriter for The Honeycutters loved the image so much we traded some creative efforts and they now have a file to send around to promote their upcoming shows.

The print was 4 colors: Yellow, Yellow-orange, Black and translucent brown. Silk-screened on 110 lbs. Neenah Classic Crest Cover. 13″ x 19″ was the final size.

In my quest to do 20 gig posters, I have managed to tackle Mike Doughty who released an album, “Yes, and also, Yes” and published a book, “The Book of Drugs”. I purchased and consumed both before designing this image. Doughty, compellingly states his difference in age with his tortuous band mates, chain smoking, along with his uncontrollable tangents with drugs. The child smoking  is a popular image which I enhanced the smoke for exaggeration. The fluorescent orange chicken with a ball and chain added pretty much sums up the addiction.

The print was 5 colors: silver, blue, black, yellow and orange. Silk-screened on 110 lbs. Neenah Classic Crest Cover. 13″ x 19″ was the final size.

Over the past three years, I have created my own silk-screen studio in the basement of my home. Assembling old lumber, found objects, Craigslist purchases and custom engineered parts to make what I call “Studio-B”. “B” is for basement, of course! It is always a work in progress but allows me the freedom to make Gig Posters or just fool around with art print ideas.

Eventually, I will upgrade my equipment. Here is how you can help out! Commission me to design/print a poster.

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