Beast and Blue Beauty

Big Business, Keelhaul, Tweak Bird. At the Grog. On 5/13. This is gonna be one magical show. I'm pretty pumped.

Champagne of Fests III

Champagne of Fests III, on Saturday May 9th and Sunday May 10th at Now That's Class. I'll add a list of the bands and links to them at the end of this post.

The Fest dudes are getting this poster screen printed on 17" x 22" matte black card stock. I know they'll have them for sale at the show but I'm not entirely sure on any of the final details, but it will be a signed and numbered edition of 75. I'll update later as soon as I know full details.

Zippy, one of the organizers, laid out the text and gave me a mock-up, so that made things real easy, he knew what he wanted so I was able to just focus on making that as bad ass as I could manage. Here's his text, the line up for early online promo:



He told me he wanted the piece to be along the same lines as the Cleveland Lottery League's Big Show poster I did, with instead of people playing, just a giant mess of various synths, electronics and cables and wires. I think he wanted the page to be filled with the background to create more of a texture than an actual discernible image. I liked the idea, but I came up with this other idea that could give the text more of a platform. I didn't want to obscure the text at all, and with this much information I wasn't sure how that would all play out.



Zippy wasn't into the buildings and trees, but thought smoke stacks with pollution pouring out would look better. So I made the changes and got to drawing. It took a long time to do this piece; just tedious planning and then making intricate changes as I came upon things that needed touching up. It's definitely fun to challenge yourself to reign it in and make things tight. I drew the bigger lines with a brush and ink, then attacked the details with the microns.



Because this was going to be screen printed a lighter color on black, I went and actually just turned all the white that I needed to a color and cut out all the line art, then placed that on an all black background. Here's full the image without text:



CHAMPAGNE OF FESTS III:

Krallice is probably the band I'm most looking forward to. They're headed out west to tour with Wolves in The Throne Room!
Sword Heaven from Columbus.
Telecult Powers is a band with Steve from Yeti Scalp and one awesome design maniac.
Cotton Museum, live.
Ryan Jewell, another Columbus person.
Sick Llama, another Michigan person.
Tusco Terror, from Akron I think
Clan of The Cave Bear, starring Daryl Hanna
Fluxmonkey, awesome homemade weirdness by Bbob Drake.
Tiger Hatchery, I couldn't find a link to, good for them!
Mammoth, I think is Chris Smith from Keelhaul
Fragments, is a noise duo I think... I think I saw them last December.
Fallin Rock is Michael Pultz from Radio Dystopia, Blk Tygr, Semper Fi
Andrew Krishner, AKA Tooth.

Crystal Antlers, I saw play at Now That's Class last year sometime and it was so much fun. They played in the bar and the place was pretty crowded, shit want haywire pretty thoroughly.
Emeralds, really looking forward to seeing them play. Their recordings are fucking dope.
Realicide is another band I'm really pumped to see even though I'm not nearly angry enough anymore.
Land of Buried Treasure I'm pretty sure this is the first Land of Buried Treasure show in years.
Aaron Dilloway has a wikipedia page... who knew?
Skin Graft is one of my favorite dudes to see, real good shit.
Jason Zeh, from Bowling Green
KBD, from Toledo (ouch)
The Flat Can Co. for the older folks.
Self Destruct Button I don't think has played a show this year yet, so... awesome!
Pimlo, ex-Steve Dracula
Anal Cheetahs was a Lottery League band that is keeping it real. I'm stoked they're playing.
Blisse, Roxanne from JJ Magazine = RULES
E.E, some young dude from Akron

This Fest is going to be bonkers. I can't wait to see Krallice.

THANKS, FRONT ROOM and CLEVELAND!

The opening/release party at Front Room Gallery last Friday was off the hook. Big thanks to everyone who came out! I moved a buncha zines! Vigatron tore it up half A CAPPELLA, Dan Friel was awesome, Cave Bear tore it back down.

Justin from Cleveland Bachelor has a pretty sweet write up about it, with some cellular telephone photographs. Thanks Justin!

Front Room decided to extend the show from that one night only to the rest of the month through May 9th! I'll be there on Saturdays from 1-4. Come visit and see this stuff. I have a ton of the promo posters still, forgot to give them away at the opening, so if anybody wants one, I'll have them at the gallery for free or just email me, jgritty@gmail.com and I'll send it to ya. Anywhere en los Estados Unidos.

It's this one:



I still have about a dozen or so copies of Caveman Diaries Vol. 6 Limited Front Room Edition left. Right now you can only get them at Front Room, or if you want to arrange to get one from me. They're gonna be gone though, and then that's it! I'll post more about the actual zine later.

I Live in The Doom Sounds

This is the cover art to Caveman Diaries Vol. 6 (Limited Front Room Edition). Release Party is Friday at Front Room.

I really really like this podcast, The Memory Palace. Short, well written, well spoken pieces about cool stuff you never knew or forgot about. Really good series, check it out!

Rise From Your Grave!

Beast in the Field, Ganon, local bangers The Great Flood, and Everybody Goes to Hell (Green dropped off the bill). A Doom show. I love Doom Metal.

Decided to go with some new characters. I felt like branching out again for the next few I've got that are all for heavy ass rock shows. The other night I was talking to somebody about how awesome the game Altered Beast was for Sega Genesis. I had pretty much already laid this out with a werewolf-esque dude in the foreground, but when it came time to throw down the final I opted to alter the beast into a more primitive feral big cat type buster. The Blue Big Tittie Tattooed Military Babe, or BBTTMB, was sort of inspired by watching the first half of the episodes of Generation Kill, that HBO show by the dudes that made The Wire. I wasn't sold on Generation Kill until maybe the third episode or so... it's a staggering piece of television, but possibly easy to dismiss because its both harsh and kind of got this slightly brash lackadaisical vibe that washes over the big picture. Definitely worth giving it the chance to get into it.


Man, I love drawing. This took my a lot longer to draw than it should have, but it twas worth it. The Devil's in the Details:



Seriously, look how Doomed out this is:

logotype

Caveman Diaries Vol. 6 logo, pretty fun to draw. Drawing, it's fun.

Here's a preview of some of the other texts elements from the zine:



Back to the drawing board. So much work!

Call to Arms

Can't believe I forgot to post this until just now. April 18th: 9 Volt Haunted House, Chief Bromide, Rafeeq vs De Lo Fi, Kid Tested ...Now That's Class!

CAVEMAN DIARIES VOL. 6

Caveman Diaries Vol. 6

Over 80 color pages collecting over 60 of John G's flyers and posters from over the past two years of shows in Cleveland and beyond. There's a definite arc of development from beginning to end. Movements and phases. Mathematics and magicks. Theories in practice. From early 2007 to early 2009. Challenging all villains, especially massive antagonistic nemeses. Doing integral alchemy requires intensified elemental sciences. In addition there's plenty of other non-flyer illustrations, sketches, writings, and weirdo photo-copied ephemera.

There will be a special Release Party only limited edition for the show, signed and numbered with an original drawing included in each. Musical performances by the following begin at 8PM:

Dan Friel is an analogue electronics mad scientist for the people. His soundscapes invoke atmospheric cinema while delight beams fly about among the students.
http://www.myspace.com/danfrieldanfriel

Clan of The Cave Bear is from a Nuclear Zone in 2210 A.D. where they battle for Continent Bonuses by means of Mutual Non-Agression Pacts, Land Death Traps, and Full Blown Instrumental Prog Metal.
http://www.myspace.com/clanofthecavebear

Vigatron, the Godking of EC! Rapping funny deep sharp intelligence coupled with heaping helpings of charisma and consummate professional showmanship, Vigatron kicks the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help us Godking!
http://www.myspace.com/divineinterventionvigatron

FRONT ROOM GALLERY is at 3615 Superior in Building 42. It's right on E. 36th just off Superior. Definitely come early and then stay for the music.

Nine Panel Grid

Week late and a million colors short. I knew I wanted to do at least one of these "spot color on black and white" pieces as part of the Flyer Month. Knew I wanted to do a poster for Nine Panel Grid in there along with the events and other fun goofy stuff. I just got busy doing other things before I could get to this!

Another slight mirror image move, like the Nunslaughter/Jesus Reading posters. Me sleeping, slain Devil:



So, here it is. The Flyer Month:



As proud as I am that I actually finished this, and that I didn't really phone any of them in, I still feel like I dropped the ball on a lot of this work. Firstly, it should have been called "Poster Month", people like posters way more than flyers (also, it's actually spelled "flier" not "flyer", but I care not). Some of these didn't get out there or printed until the actual DAY OF the shows that they were promoting. Some, I don't even think were ever even seen! So, there's that. Then, there was the fact that while I was doing this project I had to simply put other things on the back burner. That kinda sucks. Now I'm scrambling to catch up a little. So if and when I do this again I'm going to book the month way in advance, try out some more interactive elements, and get started way before the month starts so I can keep other things moving at the same time. On the positive side, I learned I have a capacity for work like I never even expected. I made a few artistic breakthroughs I wasn't expecting either. This project also forced me to get my ass out there, and talk to and work with people I hadn't done so with before. I got a MONTHLY POSTER gig at Melt! I took a look around the city and feel like this project cut a huge cross section of the month's activity. Even if I'm not taking part in all that activity. I'm proud of the people I do work for and stoked that I can be a part of it.

I'll announce soon where and when I'll be having a showcase and book release for the Flyer Month collection. It's in the works. Until then I've got some other stuff to announce later today too!

Thanks Everybody,
John G

Gorilla Jam

Amps for Christ (Henry Barnes from Man is The Bastard), Sikhara (some international nomadic tribal percussion project), Harms Way Fayre (Dave Cintron & Co.), Channels (Stephe DK & Co.).

Really happy with this one. While I was searching for good gorilla refs I found this happy guy:



Look how pumped he is! Made my day.

The Corny Beast!

So, hell to the yes: The Corny Beast! April is Melt-On-A-Stick Month at MELT. The Corny Beast is Melt's version of a Corn Dog. It's a Super Jumbo All Beef Fresh Made Hot Dog with Extra Melty American Cheese, Corn Bread battered and fried golden brown, served on a stick with spicy chepotle ketchup. I had one of these the other day and it rocked my world! The other specials are Grilled Cheese on a Stick, which I think is the same as The Beast minus the Dog! I think Fried Twinkies might also be on special, cause I know they're On-A-Stick!

Sup?

Daniel Higgs!! From Lungfish! Playing a show at Now That's Class with Scarcity of Tanks, Wooden Skin and Bill Nace!

Still working on the poster for the 30th. Why not? Yesterday I had to bust my ass on something more important. SO, anyway, there's that. Also: I just burned the roof of my mouth. Fuck, that sucks.

Climactic Battle Trip

Another goddamn Triptych. I love doing these, and I'm pumped about closing out the month with such a long tumultuous piece, but goddamn... I blame it on Jim Lee, for his gatefold X-Men covers. Formative years looking at that stuff probably ruined me forever. My favorite, then not so favoite:





OKAY, on to the details:



Pterodactyl from Brooklyn NY. I like this band a lot. Equally awesome Flat Can Co is the odd man out this show. I don't know anything about Houseguest or Safari.



Gunslingers from France, y'know, in Europe? Terminal Lovers has an All Star line up this tour. Gandhi SS is a Cleveland Lottery League band. Really great stuff. I think this show will kick ass.



I'm DJing the Brunch at the Beachland Tavern this Sunday. You should come and have breakfast with the hungover people you just saw wasted on Saturday night. Especially if you Like High on Fire and Dr. Dre.

So, this is almost done. ONE more poster, for next Monday, and I'll have done a month solid of flyers and posters. I have so much more work to do, it's not even funny.

Finale

Back Issue Sale at ASTOUND! in Westlake, Ohio! The conclusion to Flyer Month. I still have 4 more posters to go, but this is for the 31st so it's the last page, the end. I'll save posting my thoughts on the month until AFTER it's really over, but yeah... here's the 31st.

ASTOUND! is a great comic shop. It's small but clean and well organized. They usually have a ton of oddball weirdo small press and indy stuff, as well as the big commercial industry flag ships. In addition, and more importantly in regards to this poster: they've got this huge hallway of back issues of all kinds in the back. I was able to almost completely fill my BPRD and Hellboy back issue runs from those boxes. I'll probably be there next Tuesday digging through the Hellblazers or some shit.

ANOTHER THING: ASTOUND! carries SHINER COMICS and my other zines like Caveman Diaries and Heat Seeking Crash Lander, so if you've always wanted to check them out but kinda sorta really wanted to just pay 20% less for them... NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!

Bitchiz Git Stitchiz

What's not to love about Bela Dubby? Coffee, Beer, CAKE, WiFi... and on Tuesdays? Stichin' n' Bitchin'. I made two versions, like Hot Mess, this happens every week. So there's that:

Wizard Beard, BMX

So in my weirdo story logic, this Wizard motherfucker can turn his staff into a BMX bike so he can ride around drinking a 40 oz. of Tall Ivan.

Year of The Beard, I think I've posted about it before. It's this kid Andy growing his beard... for a year. He's blogging to raise money for the Domestic Violence Center of Greater Cleveland. I feel for him man, I've been growing mine for like, five months and as awesome as it is to have a wicked beard, it's getting completely annoying... especially now that it's getting warmer out. I think it might be time for this thing to go... here:



Took this what Photo Booth. So it's a mirror image of reality! Here's another starring my cat, Rider. He's got a white mustache:

A RIOT, INDEED

Thursday the 26th of Flyer Month. Cleveander Bobby Womack nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, housed here in Cleveland. Here's a pretty good interview from 99, from Fresh Air on NPR.

I don't know how accurate of a portrait of Womack this is. I used a lot of reference, but didn't want to just redraw a famous record cover or head shot or whatever. I knew that I wanted to feature his trademark big ass sunglasses. The reflection of the Cleveland skyline was just something I thought would be too obvious but then decided ...fuckit, why not? Here's the black and white line art:

Jesus Saves

I don't know if it can get more divergent than today's poster for Flyer Month. A Sale at a Christian book store in ALABAMA. My little sister Christine is the manager of this Life Way in Oxford, Alabama. ALABAMA. I needed to fill this day so I asked if she needed anything. I as way too late to have gotten her copies for the sale, but I couldn't pass up the idea of drawing Jesus reading. He's reading Ulysses, by the way.

Alabama.

Here's a side by side with the two dudes:

Hot Mess

Flyer Month scraping along the third week, uphill, in the dark. I've done work for One Night Stan at Lava before and loved it. So I knew I wanted to have Hot Mess be a part of this project. The catch is that Hot Mess is EVERY WEEK. So I did two versions. One specific to the date I needed it to fit my project. Then...



Another non-specific one.

I had fun drawing that logo, just kinda made it up as I was drawing. I think that kind of design might be better served by using instruments to make measurements and calculate the angles and all that shit. But I just eyeballed it. I dunno, it came out good. I may redo it using math, vectors... just so when I use that style again I'll know better what I'm doing and can get more intricate and weird. Possibly less legible.

Cicli Polito

So, I drew this giant 9 foot square backdrop for my dude The Don, Dan Polito. He hand builds custom bicycle frames here in Cleveland under the name Cicli Polito. He took this to the NAHBS 2009 show in Indianapolis on Feb 27th through March 1st. The Don wanted to base his display on this famous old photo of Fausto Coppi:



Here's a pic of the thing at the NAHBS, starring Daily Goff blogger, Laura Long:



Congrats to The Don! Cicli Polito took home the trophy for Best in Show for one of his frames:



I got this from Momentum Magazin's Flickr account. I like this photo because it's good, and I also designed the initial Sun God logo on his shirt. Not the cartoon cat part of it, but the lettering of that logo.