Tower Groove Records Singles Subscription

Tone Rodent/Kisser

During the summer of 2011, in the grueling heat, weekly meetings began happening in the backyard of Jason Hutto’s house. The meetings were eventually moved to various bars around town but the subject always remained the same, Tower Groove Records. The first order of business was how to get a double LP released and that eventually led to the Tower Groove Carnival which did indeed raise enough money to release the double album.

 Now the agenda is a 7 inch singles club subscription series which promises to be every bit as ambitious as the double album. They’re taking 12 bands and then adding 12 more bands and releasing a vinyl 7 inch record each month for the year of 2013. If you purchase a subscription to the whole series you can get a break on the price of each record. Your first chance to sign up for a subscription is coming on Saturday Oct 20. From 2pm-7pm right outside of Apop Records on Cherokee Street they’ll have bands playing, food cooking and beer drinking all for your enjoyment. While you’re there you can let your intentions be known that you plan on subscribing to the record series thus saving yourself some money at the Tower Groove Records booth.

 In addition to the 24 bands, there are 4 artists who have been slated to create artwork for 3 of the releases each. Jeff Robtoy gets first crack with Jan-Mar releases, next up will be me for Apr-Jun, then it’s handed off to Adam Watkins (artist for the double LP cover) for Jul-Sep and clean up will be Mark Stephens for Oct-Dec. All this makes the subscription series special and a one-time thing with a limited number of each record being printed. The painting above will grace the cover of the Tone Rodent/Kisser single.

 

Here’s what you get for the subscription

 

Jan: Old Lights/Demon Lover

Feb: Doom Town/Black for a Second

Mar: Bunnygrunt/Trauma Harness

Apr: Skekses/CaveofSwords

May: Tone Rodent/Kisser

Jun: Ransom Note/Nee

Jul: Maximum Effort/Shaved Women

Aug: Magic City/Jungle Fire

Sep: Peck of Dirt/Little Big Bangs

Oct: Bug Chaser/Troubador Dali

Nov: Accelerando/Humdrum

Dec: Sleepy Kitty/Middle Class Fashion

 

 

July: Maximum Effort/Shaved Women
August: Magic City/Jungle Fire
September: Peck of Dirt/Little Big Bangs
October: Bug Chaser/Troubador Dali
November: Accelerando/HumdrumThe event on Sat Oct 20 promises to be a memorable one with a great live line up. Stop by, have a beer, some food and get a subscription before they’re all sold out.

Tower Groove Records Fall Informal
Saturday October 20, 2 PM to 7 PM
Bands include: Accelerando, Bug Chaser, Jungle Fire, Kisser, Shaved Women, Skekses and Trauma Harness
Local Harvest will provide food.Tower Groove Records Fall Informal
Saturday October 20, 2 PM to 7 PM
Bands include: Accelerando, Bug Chaser, Jungle Fire, Kisser, Shaved Women, Skekses and Trauma Harness
Local Harvest will provide Tower Groove Records Fall Informal

Sat Oct 20, 2012
Apop Records (outside)
2pm-7pm
Live performances from: Accelerando, Bug Chaser, Jungle Fire, Kisser, Shaved Women, Skekses and Trauma Harness

Local Harvest will provide food and drink

 

now playing - Tone Rodent

Gringo Star Trio

In the back of their van painted 2005

at Radio Cherokee painted 2007

at CBGB painted 2012

 

I was dutifully working on large paintings of Eric Johnson and Shooter Jennings when I noticed Jaime Lees letting people know NPR was streaming the new Dinosaur Jr album so I clicked and gave a listen.  Prompted by that record, I completed a painting I had started a while back of Peter DeLorenzo playing guitar while in the band Gringo Star.  The photograph I was working from is back when the band had a gig at CBGB (STL) probably in 2005 or 06 or 07, who knows now.  After finishing it I thought back to the other paintings I had done of them and decided to post them up. 

 

now playing - Dinosaur Jr.

Eric Johnson at the Old Rock House

7/28/12

8/03/12

8/18/12

Here's a nice little progression that gives an idea of the painting process.  Started back in July with spray paint.  Just need a rough idea of where certain things are to get a strong foundation.
Then worked through the week to get a good form going with acrylic paint.  Although for the lights, gouache was used to give them a brighter look and feel.  Even in this early, undeveloped state you can still get a notion of who is being depicted.  Clear definition begins to creep in during the next two weeks and things begin to get set in stone.  Took a week off to work on something for Tower Groove Records but back at it now and making good time.

now playing - Band of Gypsys

Trio

Here's a trio of paintings from my daughter. I know, everyone thinks their kid is some kind of artist and maybe they are. Perhaps all kids are artists in the way they think. They're curious, they unknowingly take risks, they're innocent and genuinely interested in learning something. Give them art supplies and they're bound to express themselves honestly in one way or another. Another thing I like about these pieces is they were produced naturally, unprompted. She sat down, picked out the colors, got her brushes and went at it on her own.

Recently on a drive home from dinner it was requested by my daughter that this song be played over and over.

now playing - run run run

Art of PAWS

For the second year I've been invited to participate in the "Art of PAWS" event that helps raise money for Saint Louis Effort for AIDS.  PAWS provides education and services to people living with HIV/AIDS so they can keep pet companions as long as possible. 

They have a number of artists donate artwork to be auctioned off.  The painting above is my contribution.  This year's event will be on Aug 11 at The Rialto Ballroom (within the Centene Center for the Arts at 3547 Olive).  It's a great event and organization and if you can't attend and bid on a piece of work, I still strongly encourage you to donate to this cause.

Art on Beer

Back in March I mentioned I was working on a painting of Mike Doughty from an Old Rock House gig back in October. It seems I’ve hit a brick wall with this painting as I’ve started over on it three times now. Not sure what is causing the block but I sense it’s the fact that I don’t care much for his music. I read his book and quite enjoyed it but can’t listen to the his tunes. So while speculating on a new plan of attack on how to complete the piece over a beer at the Tap Room, I run into Chris King. He tells me he’s worked out a deal with El Lenador to have first Thursday art openings that will include drink specials and asks if I want to help him put some shows together. I say, “sure thing” and then he says, “OK, great, first show is Thursday, get some bands and we’ll put up some paintings”. Rolling with the punches (and the beer consumed) I agree and go my merry way.

The next day I had a vague recollection of having to book two bands for a show in 4 days. I email Chris to confirm and sure enough I had agreed to such a thing. After some discussion, we agree it’s probably best to push this project off for a month so we can properly prepare. Chris tells me I can hang whatever I want but I don’t really have anything to hang. I look over at my canvas rack and it’s filled with completed canvases that were just shown in a January show.

I noticed a number of long blank canvases sitting on the rack. These canvases measure 12 inches by 36 or 18 by 36 or 12 by 18, nice long canvases I’ve never used. I figured I could fill them up with beer El Lenador sells so when someone asks what kind of beer they have, they can just point at the walls. I could do a painting of a Corona, a PBR, a Stag, a Negra Modelo, a Modelo Especial, a Becks, a Dos Equis and finally a Schlafly Pale Ale (pictured above).

Then I decided to do all the paintings in oil. My usual medium preference is acrylic but I was still grappling with the whole Mike Doughty thing and trying to figure out a way to loosen things up a bit. I thought if I worked in an unfamiliar medium then that might keep me on my toes. I also wanted to keep these fresh and not over think them, so I started and completed each piece in one session.  Yeah there might be some mistakes here and there but too bad. Kind of like a live performance from a musician. Go with the flow and see what happens.

Over all I’m very happy with the results. I didn’t spend too much time or overwhelm myself and I got eight new canvases completed in less than a month. I started with spray paint and then filled in the blanks with oil. Oil is much different than acrylic, it’s less forgiving and requires more attention. Again, it’s like music, like playing music on an acoustic guitar vs. electric. Acoustic is very easy to control, like acrylic paint, but once you step into oil, like an electric guitar, everything gets amplified and you better be ready to make every stroke and movement count.

It was decided that the first show will be on Thu July 5 and Chris added Jay Babcock to the line-up of artists. I talked with Tim Rakel (Union Electric, May Day Orchestra) and Sherman S. Sherman (Peck of Dirt) about playing some solo tunes and now we’re set.

Art on Beer

El Lenador
3124 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118

New work by
Dana Smith
Chris King
Jay Babcock

Solo sets by
Tim Rakel
Sherman S. Sherman

Thu July 5
9 pm - midnight
Art up until Aug. 2
This also kicks off Negro Modelo Night at El Lenador
$1 off Negro Model drafts at all Thursday night art openings.
Next openings: Tim McAvin (Aug. 2), Kim Keek Richardson (Sept. 6)

now playing - Fred Friction and Bob Camp

Magic City

Where to start?  I guess with Anne Tkach who I’ve known the longest.  First met her as a fan of the late great Nadine.  She played bass in this well respected group and they got some good national and international attention during their time together.  But like all things the band eventually ended.  My first clue to this was back in 2004 when I was representing 3wk.com at SXSW and Nadine were slated to perform.  I showed up hoping to talk with Anne but was met by the guitar player, Steve and told the band would be doing an acoustic set.  He didn’t say the group had disbanded but you could tell something was up.  Disappointed, I left to catch Grand Ulena who were also playing the festival.

The next group I knew of her playing in was The Good Griefs and what a powerhouse trio that was.  This band also featured Larry Bulawsky on guitar and vocals.  But that band ended also.  I believe the next thing was Bad Folk and that was another great band Anne played drums in.  I was rather close with this band (due to Anne and Tim Rakel) and produced artwork for two of their releases.  The first was a drawing of historical people like Eisenhower, MacArthur and Harry S. Truman for a 45.  The cover turned out nice and was printed by Firecracker Press.  The second was a painting for their full-length CD.  Unfortunately the album, which is excellent, was never released.

I’m sure there are some other groups or collectives she participated in but the next things I know of is the wonderful Rough Shop, the charming Skekses and Magic City.  Magic City features Anne on bass, Larry (mentioned above) on guitar/vocals, Adam Hesed on farfisa organ , JJ Hamon as utility man and Sam Meyer on drums. 

Sam I have known of since his days with In Media Res.  I say “know of” because I didn’t actually know him.  Didn’t really meet him until later but everyone knew he was/is one of the best drummers in town.  Sam and I share a common unbreakable bond.  We were both in a band, although not at the same time, with Jason Rook.  I got to know Sam well when he started playing drums with the Wormwood Scrubs, Jason and Larissa Rook’s (she was known as Larissa Dalle at the time) band.  I had been their drummer for awhile but ended up leaving after marrying Angel.  Sam continued on with them and did some tours, including a stint in England with Gringo Star.  Eventually Jason and Larissa got married and now have a child of their own, so the Wormwood Scrubs kind of went on hiatus.  Sam started up with Magic City (whose great debut album was recorded by Jason Rook) and he also plays with the excellent Demonlover.  It’s strange, Sam and I never really hung out that much before but nowadays when we see each other out, we have a pretty good time.  He’s moving to Kentucky soon and I will surely miss him. 

I first became aware of Adam Hesed one night when I wandered into Mangia and saw an incredible 6 piece band playing some great music.  The band was called The Deserters and Adam played farfisa organ.  The band blew me away that night but like so many awesome local bands they didn’t last.  While Adam was in Bad Folk I got to know him pretty well and that’s continued on to this day.  I’ll get together with him and Anne every so often and just talk about whatever is going on. 

When I first met JJ he arrived with a  group of musicians (which included Anne and Adam) who were scheduled to perform at an art show I was putting on at Fort Gondo.  Little did I know at that time the level of musicianship JJ possessed.  He walked into the gallery and I handed him a stack of cut out imitation 20 dollar bills and asked him to spread them on the floor.  He looked at me kind of funny but went ahead and did as requested.  Of course JJ is well known for playing in the now defunct band Theodore.  Since then he’s played with just about everyone in town and continues to be an in-demand instrumentalist.  His current regular bands include Magic City and Demonlover. 

And then there’s Larry, the front man of the band.  Again I knew of Larry before I actually knew him.  I’d admire his guitar playing from afar during his Good Grief days.  I’d watch him and think why isn’t he world famous?  Larry’s genius didn’t really hit me though until a few years ago when I ran into him at a Black Diamond Heavies gig.  The show was at Tom Huck’s print studio located on Vandeventer.  Bob Reuter’s Alley Ghost was opening the show and at the end of their set I went to the bar to get a beer.  The bar was located in the next room and I saw Larry sitting at a table.  He was with Virginia Hunter so I went over to say hello.  Virginia is a film maker and I’m still in awe of a film she was involved with called “Carny”.  I started talking with Virginia and noticed Larry was just doodling away on a scrap piece of paper.  I didn’t pay much attention but then I could tell that he was so focused on what he was doing he didn’t even realize I was there.  Finally he looked up and showed me what he was drawing.  I couldn’t believe it.  He had drawn a picture of Bob singing and playing in the next room.  I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it.  I had just come from where Bob was playing and recognized it immediately.  It was amazing.  Larry had sat there and drawn all of this from memory while it was going on.

Collectively these individuals make up Magic City and it’s a pretty great band.  I’m thankful for knowing them all.

now playing - The Faces