Ailyex vs. Dogboyo

Greetings and salutations! Despite my rather circumspect expression, I have to say that I’m very much digging the month of March. So far I’ve said goodbye to a piercing, loved my new fringe, moved a little closer to a headstand, seen many lovely colours with Hanbert and splashed out on my first instrument in ten years - a ukulele. Ain’t it cute?

Despite my strat-playing Dad, bassist boyfriend, 2 choir memberships and attempts at 3 instruments, I’m no natural musician. But the total cuteness of the ukulele drew me in. Plus it avoids 2 of my major pitfalls with musical instruments: all my friends already playing said instrument, and my tiny hands (and arms, according to my Han-given moniker - T-Rex Thomasson). Thanks to Jan’s gentle urging and TheUke.com, I can butcher my way through Sam Hall, and I’m well pleased. Now I’m off to turn my painful fingertips into ukulele callouses. Live long dudes x

Ten Ton Tabby triumphant and rather tipsy at The Fiddler’s Elbow, Chalk Farm supporting a proper rock-based treat: the inimitable All Schools Are Strange.

Sweet Gibson hardcases

Conclusive evidence that Aaron is a skinjob.

Jolliness before the ‘Fro got delightfully inappropriate and shouty on the drive home. Super.

So the rock poster is an under-appreciated by mind-blowing art form, right? If you need any persuading, here’s just a fraction of what was on show at The Fighting Cocks on Saturday:

Drew Millward

Drew Millward

Drew Millward

Nick Rhodes

The first was my one, very restrained purchase. Then Bass Face got his wallet out, and we were up to our eyes in prints in need of Not Squashing Whilst Drinking. I can’t wait to get them all up and framed alongside my Dad’s vintage Hendrix:

Apologies for the pants photo - although you can click through to a larger version.

To be honest I was completely blown away, the attention to detail and variation of all the posters was top-notch, as was the un-assuming attitude of the artists that I spoke to. Drew Millward asked if I would mind terribly paying a whole £10 for The Melvins print. Ten pounds! Why, that’s extortionate for a beautifully printed, exquisitely psychedelic poster! While this was all great for my wallet, I felt rather cheeky getting taking it off him for so little. I also tried to buy this wonderfullness for its political cartoon and Alice in Wonderland allusions but it was only available on line, so I’ll keep you posted . . .

Seeing all the artwork was really humbling as I try to start my own Etsy shop, , , I think my work is saleable, but nothing in comparison. It also emphasized the importance of quality printing, as well as the artistic context in which you work - the mere idea of belonging to a recognised art scene and collaborating with other illustrators seems wonderful . . .

After all the artyness - and many bloody marys for me - Jack’s lightshow and Stubb’s set were wicked to see/hear. The Fighting Cocks’ stage was set back in a sort of zebra-striped nook, onto which Jack projected all kinds of sound-responsive visuals. BF has all the photos, but the best way I can describe it was as if the bands were playing underwater. Colour-changing, pulsing, poster-imaged water. Which made filming Stubb rather cool . . . they’ve got a video of Milk and Honey from my footage on their myspace, which is here if you fancy a gander.

Pics from TVU Contemporaries coming soon . . .

I’ll be showing a few A3 prints and A2 posters - am well excited to see my work so big! All of it’s for sale, natch, and will be through my upcoming venture in to the world of Etsy . . . but more on that later!

As well as the private view etc the space is open 7 days a week, 12 hours a day ’til August, so you’ll have no excuse not to potter down . . .

And . . . if you can’t wait until Monday for your dodgy art fix, come down to this blinder - I’ve been promised wicked poster art [and poster artists!] to view and/or buy, plus a Mindzap lightshow, lovely music from Stubb and other cool-ass bands.

Metallica. Wembley Stadium. Getting sunburnt in the queue. Luis and Khris actually getting there at 8am. Golden circle wristband - oh yes! Machinehead taking photos to prove that they got to play to so many people. Spontaneous rock caucus races. A mexican wave being more interesting than HIM. Having a sit-down. And watching fifty metal boys dance and sing YMCA and play the hokey-cokey. Before Linsey and I joined a conga line. Until said Finnish metal band walked off. And then . . . METALLICA. Tommy knowing ALL the words - and grinning like an apus. Pogoing with people you dig. Fade to Black. 60,00-strong sing-a-long. Bass Face hugging me the whole time.

And people say metal is all about killing yourself and being mean.