I'm gonna say that mid-August started out a little strange, not crazy strange, but a little off nonetheless.
I'm gonna say that mid-August started out a little strange, not crazy strange, but a little off nonetheless. Anytime I find myself in a big dance club with smoke machines and strobe lights, I get a little discombobulated. ...Where was this you ask? Why, at the free-to-the-public SFBG B.O.B. party.

I normally avoid these kind of events, come to think of it, this was my first one. It was as I'd always imagined, all the usual B.O.B. party elements were there - music, beers, hookers from the back page, old hippys, a general array of burning man wierdos, and a wild-ass hip hop group called the Hot Tub. They were an agitated bunch and I'd say If you get a chance to see them for free, you should. Now, is that an endorsement? ...Sure, why not.

It was strange, you'd think I would of taken pictures of the other bands that played that evening, the one's that I'm actually into, like Top Ten or Sir Lord Von Raven, but no I only took photos of the Hot Tub. Yes sir, rap music.

I really couldn't help myself, they were such an entertaining mess, my finger was glued to the shutter button. In case you were wondering, I'm pretty sure that's blood on this lady's dirty white pants. Oh, and at the beginning of their set they tackled the MC of the evening, Mr. Jello Biafra (he had to be carried out). This all brings up an interesting subject - honestly, what's more important in rock'n'roll, the music or the spectacle of the stage show? ...I've gotta say the spectacle usually wins.

Speaking of spectacles, Sam McPheeters came through town and did a little reading from his new zine CLOG (see below) at N+P.

Tara Tavi accompanied Sam on the tour and did a little jamming on Chinese Hammer Dulcimer. Pretty sick. As I've mentioned before, she used to play in Amps for Christ (who are great).

Look at "The Master of Modern Word Usage" go! ...Like my Tats? I got this bar code on my elbow a few years ago. It's like 'hey I'm not a product! Or am I?'

Tara also later showed her short film, "Music Of China." It was pretty amazing. Serious PBS material.

It's funny how Sam has gone from a singer in a hardcore band (download that Wrangler Brutes song and blast it in your ear holes) to a stand-up comic. ...Maybe it's not such strange transition, I remember reading somewhere that in the early 90s one of the guys from SSD went on to be a comedian.

(...Enjoy the splendor of my brown pants)

As you can see, Sam McPheeters' CLOG #1 is the perfect zine for those with a cerebral cortex.

CLOG also includes PUNY, which is all drawings featuring such works as "Breast Exam, USA!"

Oh Yeah, Tina Turner is Back!
(it's fun to say that sentence in a "kool-aide man" voice)

It's been a while since I shared new books and zines with you folks, so I'll keep the ball rolling and tell you about some other brand-spanking new titles we just got in (and through my persuasive power of suggestion you will buy them all, thus making me an extremely wealthy man. At which point, I will be able to inflict my diabolical plot of world domination upon the people of Earth). Let's start with COMETBUS #51!

In this issue Mr. Aaron Cometbus explores the rocky and gossip laden history of the bookstores that lined the streets of his home town, Berkeley, California (...and more specifically Telegraph Avenue).

Through a sort of oral history, he compiles the story of Moes, Codys, Shakespeare & Co. and more. It's juicy stuff, and personally, as a business owner I'm pretty fascinated with how people run their shops - how they're started and especially how they self-destruct. Thumbs up.
(ps - doesn't a spread of blurry words make for a compelling photograph?)

(Note to self: God, it's nice out. ...what am I doing in here on the computer?)

Oh right, I've got to tell you about Boys Club #2 by Matt Furie.
Synopsis: It's a bizaare, ridiculous, and often hilarious, collection of one page comics that can only be described as a wild ride with a deliquent Muppet behind the wheel, that's obviously way too stoned to be driving.

Here you have Landwolf, one of the main characters of Boys Club #2. Landwolf cranks up the goodtimes to "10." He smokes bongs and surfs the swells of his friends vomit. How can you go wrong that? ...I only say this, because I think there's a little Landwolf inside all of us.
(note to self: next time you see Landwolf, say "Landwolf, I want to party with you cowboy)

What's up dog? It's hot dog head! Boys Club#2 gets a Thumbs Up, an instant classic.
(are you picking up a pattern here with the "thumbs up?")

In some dingy office in the Mission District sits the scheming Nick Neubeck of Seems books. From this unsuspecting office, he releases a relentless onslaught of beautiful art books into the world. His latest, Muddy Treads by Peter Sutherland is no exception.

36 pages of pristinely printed photographs of the unsettling Alaskan wilderness and it's inhabitants, all packaged up on matte paper and a perfect bound spine.

The full bleeds are beautiful and the imagery provoking in it's portrayal of the not always utopian side of rural natural settings. Then again, It's possible that displaying the dystopic side of the great outdoors wasn't even the photographers intent, ...which is what makes this a good release. There is no text other than the intro, so the viewer is free to project whatever meaning they want upon the photos. Thumbs up for Muddy Treads by Peter Sutherland.

This next item is not for sale, but I thought I'd share it regardless. It's the catalog for Chris Duncan's Faith/Void Split show which opens September 4th at the Jeff Bailey Gallery in NYC. The theme is based loosely around an old hardcore record from the early 80s with the same name - it's not so much about the music as it is about the contrast between positive and negative.

I think this zine is one of the best Chris has done yet. The front cover, if I'm not mistaken, is silk screened with bleach - beautiful.

Chris asked a few people to write about the Faith/Void Split. Here's Rich Jacob's piece.

The actual inserts from the original LP.

I wrote a blurb as well.

Great stuff from the one man art factory, that is, Chris Duncan.

While we're on the subject of busy artists, Oliver Halsman Rosenburg was in town for a bit (shown here in the classic "Here's-a-brain-sucker-what's-it-doing?-Starving" maneuver).

As well as, old friends Jaime and Rainy

Oliver is off to roll his bones, Paris , Berlin, India, and I'm not sure where else. He's a free man, who'se just completed an epic project. Happy trails Oliver!

---

Now onto some more self-promotion, our September show fell through @ N+P a couple months ago, so I decided to have my own godamn art show in it's place ...well, me and Geoffrey Ellis that is. Here's the postcard for the show:

September 12th, Come one, Come all!

You guys know Geoffrey Ellis, right? He's the publisher of the most amazing SAD KIDS Zine. Super rad stuff. He's going to be releasing SAD KIDS#5, Gonerfest Edition at the show too.

...See you there?! Good.
- Andrew

PS - I've been trying to update my own bloggy on the regular so check in there too, if you so desire --> amscott.org/blackhole {moscomment}

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