12 Inch 3!

So, I'm like, in an art show n' stuff!
The poster • The website • ...and one of the men behind it.
Looks like it's gonna be dope. I dropped my pieces off at Rod's place and he showed me some of the great work that will be on display.
Here are the process photos and end result of my contribution.

The Steve Earle show ruled, thanks for asking.

Yes, it was really cool. I lost count, but I do believe there were 15 songs, plus a four song encore ("Guitar Town", "Jerusalem", "Little Rock n' Roller", and "Copperhead Road", of course). I got to Burton Cummings just in time to catch most of Allison Moorer's set. Damn, what a voice. So powerful! Unfortunately, during the set, I had to find my seat, and there was some uncomfortable shifting, as I was in the wrong one, initially.

The one thing that slightly marred the experience – and that of a number of the people around me – was this woman that sat in front of me. She was either taking pictures (no photography was allowed, but that didn't stop people...including her) or talking on her fucking cell phone. She got up around the eighth or ninth song, and didn't come back. Thank God. The middle-aged guys that were on either side of her were relieved, as was I.

So yeah, the show was dope. Just Steve and his guitar, or several guitars, plus Allison signing backup ("Days Aren't Long Enough" and "City of Immigrants"), and DJ Neil on CD turntables and effects. I could totally hear the grinding teeth of the "purists" in attendance, but it really shouldn't have been that much of a surprise to anyone that's heard Washington Square Serenade. Well...it was a surprise to this one dude in Minneapolis. It's like, dude...you saw the fucking decks on the stage when you got in, right? Maybe you shoulda ran. Anyway, it really worked, in my opinion. Together, they summoned Indian rhythms and echo effects for a trippy version of "CCKMP". And you could tell that Steve was really comfortable with the whole arrangement. Hearing him say "a-ight, kick it!" to his DJ thrilled me to no end.

As a teen, I was familiar with "Copperhead Road", as was any motherfucker that listened to 92 CITI on a regular basis, but there was something about hearing the title track of I Feel Alright on Definitely Not the Opera that resonated with me, and I've been a fan ever since. It could've been the fact that he dug himself out of the gutter, or maybe it was his harmonica on that track. It was probably the harmonica. I still haven't learned how to play a harmonica...there are three to the left of me as I type this. Anyway, it took me ages to see him (I'm not the Folk Fest type, but the recent line-ups have had me reconsidering my stance), and I'm glad I did tonight.

Related links:
SteveEarle.com • Tour Dates • DJ Neil • Allison Moorer

Random Thoughts: February 28th, 2008

From the top: Me on Main, February 5th; Poster for Nestor Wynrush; Nutty Rap Night.

• Oh Yeah...My 2007 Top Ten. Hey, if Magnet can drop their list this late in the game, so can I.
  
  1. Grand Analog's Calligraffiti. Y'know, I think it's pretty much agreed upon that Mood Ruff made the album we were all waiting for them to make with I Do My Own Stunts. Although separated by two years, this joint carried that same momentum, except that this one was Odario's baby. I love this whole thing, but "Sittin' On Sunday" is probably my favorite track, followed by "Mixtapes: The Slow Ride". Love that hook on "Sittin'". Full disclosure: Garfield (Odario) is an old friend, and I got a shout out in the liner notes. No influence on how I feel about this recording...I love this album for what it is.
  2. Little Brother's Get Back. Rap music for grown-ass people, that's what this is. That don't mean it's curmudgeonly, not at all. The beats still bounce (even without 9th Wonder producing all of the tracks), Pooh and Phonte still hit really hard with their pointed lyrics for haters of all stripes, and the whole thing comes in at a tidy 11 tracks. I wish more folks would follow their lead in that regard. If there's a theme to this album, I'd have to say it's all about perseverance (Phonte pretty much says so on the final track) and that's top notch in my book. Rap music needs more albums that the over 30 set can relate to, got-dammit. Shit, rap needs good albums, period. Okay, I'm gettin' off my high horse...
  3. Athavale's Devoted. Full disclosure (again): I've known Erik for 10 or so years (ever since the Fermented Reptile Let's Just Call You Quits album release at Mondragon), and I did several posters for him, plus an illustration for his second demo. These facts have no bearing on my opinion of this full-fledged release which had me stunned for months. Favorite demo tracks like "Bounce" and "Raise Up" took a quantum leap in quality, and I got slapped upside the head – in a good way – by "Morning Groove". At 9 tracks deep, I often listened to it two and three times in a row, feeling rather uplifted every time. I can't say that about very many albums.
  4. Steve Earle's Washington Square Serenade. I've got my tickets for his March 10th show, and I'm REALLY looking forward to it. I've been a fan since I Feel Alright, so seeing him live (and solo!) is long overdue. This album is a hoot to listen to, and I'm hoping that him and producer John King (of the mighty Dust Brothers) work together again. Steve knows how to write a song that can bring a tear to my eye. Case in point: "Come Home to Me". Every time I hear it, it vividly displays what life would be like for me if I fucked up really bad, causing Sarah to leave me. Then I start tearing up. It's kinda pitiful. But damn, what a song.
  5. Talib Kweli's Eardrum. WAY fuckin' better than I thought it would be. I saw all the guests lined up for this album and got put off, initially. But really, it's pretty damn good! One of the stand-outs: "Country Cousins" with UGK. Yup. This joint surveys the geographical divisions in today's rap game with a keen eye and pretty much says "hey...it's all good". Good times. Yo, Talib's set at the MPLS stop for Rock The Bells was mad fun to watch, too.
  6. Percee P's Perseverance. Another pleasant surprise, f'real. I thought I'd tire of Perce's endless fast raps right quick, but he kept it engaging with the occasional narrative or guest spot. And we can't forget about Madlib's killer production: solid as hell, but also typically quirky. Favorite track: "2 Brothers From the Gutter" with Diamond D. What is that being sampled...Castlevania?
  7. Oh No's Dr. No's Oxperiment. Common's Finding Forever. I just looked at this list that I wrote either in early January or late December, and wondered what I was smoking. Don't get me wrong...I liked Oh No's joint, but not as much as Finding Forever. Admittedly, I find this album to be a collection of a few good joints more than a truly cohesive album. However, tracks like "The Game" and "Southside" hearken back to the Common we were always interested in, and that's enough for me.
  8. Heavy Trash's Going Way Out with Heavy Trash. Fun from the word go and enough weirdness to make rockabilly purists scratch their Brylcreemed heads. Spencer lists bands like the Oblivians and Doo Rag in "They Were Kings", an homage to rock n' roll ass-kickers. Definitely a fave, as is the sonic blast of "I Want Oblivion". Man, I'd love to see these guys again.
  9. Talib Kweli and Madlib's Liberation. Y'all forgot about this one, didn't you? Stones Throw was smart to put this out as a free download on January 1st. It made my early morning commute SO much better (Fuck, I miss my iPod.). Favorite joint: "Engine Running" with Consequence. Shit, I'm gonna listen to that right now...
  10. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' Raising Sand. If you were to tell me that this was gonna be on my list, I probably would've slapped you, because no one likes a liar. But here it is. I saw a review in Exclaim! and I was like, getthefuckouttahere. Like how good could this be? Well, really good. I popped into HMV Portage Place twice, and tracks from Raising Sand were playing each time. I took that as a sign. Well, not before borrowing a co-workers copy, which I returned to her with a shocked look on my face. "This is one of the best things I've heard all year", I stated, slack-jawed. Plant and Krauss complement each other so well, and Plant keeps the hysterics to a minimum, which is great. This recording is full of top notch players, and sound is akin to sitting next to a fireplace, wrapped in a blanket. Yeah, it's that comfy. Alison's cover of Tom Waits' "Trampled Rose" makes me tingle, but not in a naughty way.
• So...there y'go, for whatever that's worth.
• If You're Going to SXSW... I hate you. Okay, not really. I wish I was goin'. Someday. Anyway, if you're going, don't forget to peep Flatstock 16. Tell 'em El Negro set you. Also, my homies Co-op and Hunnicutt will be in the house spinning at the Silhouette Sushi Restaurant and Bar with a shitload of other dudes. Check this for info.
• Frank Chimero. This fellow gigposters.com member is so damn talented. What y'all need to do is check out his Flickr photostream, be amazed, then go cop his book: The Small Print. Go on...you'll thank me later.
• Randy and Chirpy. In addition to reading Sinfest every day, I now have to keep up with my man Lonny's Randy and Chirpy. The drunken antics of a bird and a slacker. What's not to love? Plus, he's launched a fan art blog for it. Well, I'm a fan, and I draw stuff...I guess it's in the cards.
• I'm done with Plumpers and Big Women (NSFW). The magazine, that is. I'm thankful that this mag was around in my formative years, as it helped me to see full-figured women as sexy and desirable (as did a certain student teacher). The thing is, now I care about quality, and their shitty paper, boring layout, and falsehood-filled "letters" section no longer do it for me. The final straw occurred in the latest issue where they had self-exiled former porn performer* Elizabeth Rollings in two spreads. That wouldn't be a bad thing normally, but here, they tried to portray her as two different women. Like, how fuckin' stupid do you think we are? Bitches.
• I gotta go to bed. Peace.

*Elizabeth left porn life to follow God, which I think is cool. Due to a prior agreement, her site remains operational.

Random Thoughts: January 11th, 2008...Birthday Train of Thought

Sarah n' Me, June 10th, 2006. Meeting this lady just a little over 10 years ago changed my life for the better.

• More of the same!: It's 2008, and I already feel like I'm stuck in a rut. Old habits die hard. Don't get me wrong...I'm changing shit up, but they're incremental changes. Y'know, like less caffeine intake (via Pepsi®) at work, thinking twice before stuffing my face with junk. I am, however, already beginning to backslide. Wednesday, I finished off a Coke® 2 litre, then got a bottle of Coke® with my King Pie sausage roll. Speaking of King Pie, I gotta wonder how much longer those folks will be around at Portage Place (the very first Canuck franchise) . It was pretty dead when I went there. Time will tell. Yesterday, after messing with 4 pieces from Chester Fried because I missed breakfast (naughty), I decided to take advantage of a coupon for an A & W Chicken Grill and a salad for 6 bucks. That's me doin' healthy. Not bad, I guess...Sarah approved. I'm tentatively scheduled to annihilate a Clubhouse pizza on Sunday at Boston Pizza, courtesy of my man St. Louis.
• Destination Unknown: In making yet another futile attempt to clean the apartment, I located my Sexsmith & Kerr Destination Unknown album. I forgot just how fucking good this is. For 40 minutes, I forget that life is a pile of dung. I placed the song "Listen" on a mix for Sarah, and she said "Y'know, you oughta pay close attention to that one line in the song..." I was kinda expecting that. The line goes like this:

  When I listen to that inner voice/it's telling me I have a choice/To condemn life or rejoice/I think I'll choose rejoicing...

  I'm beginning to think that I'm hard-wired to be grumpy and sardonic, whilst having a few flashes of positivity.
• Nuptials! (1): Huge internet-based props to my friends Kerry Ryan and Jeope Wolfe for tying the knot on December 31st. They had a nice, low-key affair, followed by a reception for all their family in friends in their house. Man, so many delectable treats at this fine event. My hat's off to you guys! Many thanks for inviting us.
• Nuptials! (2): The countdown is on for our ceremony. Holy fuck. My responsibilities are as follows:
  
  • 10 table makers
  • invites
  • table tent cards
  • mix cd and artwork
  • buttons
  • table setting poster
  • programs
  Whew! Oh yeah...I also have to show up. I can do this.
• In our next installment...: My middle-of-the-month-so-no-one-will-care top 10 of 2007 list!
  
  

Dream Recollection 3: January 10th, 2008

About an hour ago, I had a rather weird, but beautiful dream that involved the Arcade Fire.


Wow...that sentence just weirded me out.

Anyway, it took place on Mulvey School's field (Mulvey is my elementary alma mater), and it was full of pleasant, fresh-faced kids in school uniforms tossing around a mystical Frisbee®, which actually looked like a discarded hub cap. At one point, the Frisbee®/hub cap turned into a dove, which was then released. Suddenly, many doves followed, along with trails of ethereal light. This whole event was covered in nothing but swooping crane shots. I couldn't help but notice that the the field's grass was incredibly lush, plus there was a large, winding, knotted tree at the middle rear of the field. I thought to myself, where the fuck did that come from? Mulvey hasn't had a tree in over 20 years. At any rate, Arcade Fire's "Keep the Car Running" was in the background, so I guess it was like a video or something. They just happened to be playing on the radio that was attempting to wake me up. I'm not a fan, really. They get amazing posters made for them, though.

Dream Recollection 2: January 4th, 2008

I just dreamed that I had to visit a building in Osborne Village that was dedicated to the Klan in 1913.
As far as I know, this building doesn't have such a history, let alone a balcony with 3 "K"s
in it. Well, yeah, I'm definitely sure of that part. Dreams are weird.
Is this a premonition that I'm gonna run into some assholes today?

Random Thoughts: December 31st, 2007...The All-Encompassing Year-End Holiday Extravaganza!

Top: Grant Park, December 22nd, Middle: Polo Park, December 23rd, Bottom: Me in Memorial Park, November 25th.

Let's get the important stuff out of the way...

What I Got For Christmas 2007:

• Mark's Work Warehouse gift card
• Sam Flores Queen of Spades shirt
• Tire gauge
• Fleece neck pillow
• Wind River fleece pullover
• Grip Twist industrial strength twist tie
• In The Studio by Todd Hignite
• Starbucks gift card
• Tim Hortons hot chocolate
• A candy cane
• A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex by Chris Jericho
• A Coghlan's LED Headlight (a headlamp. Now I can draw and read in the dark!)
• Scott Pilgrim Vol. 3
• Nexxtech Cube Speaker
• Banana Creme Hot Chocolate
• An orange peeler(!)
• Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Lip Balm (!!)
• A Canadian Museum for Human Rights pin
• chocolate coins and other misc. Christmas chocolate
• C.O. Bigelow Peppermint Body Lotion (shut up...it's nice)
• Four pairs of socks
• Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Hand Butter (shut up!)
• An issue of Giant Robot
• iTunes Gift Card
• Money from Mom!

What I Bought on Boxing Day:

• A Galaxy Hurricane hard drive (a 5 AM adventure at Best Buy!)
  
• Little Brother's Get Back
• Scott Pilgrim Vol. 2 and 4
• Gunsmith Cats Vol. 4
• My Inner Bimbo #2
• The Spirit #11
• Schulz and Peanuts by David Michaelis
• The Acme Novelty Date Book Vol. 2 by Chris Ware
• Illustration #20
• The Vadeboncoeur Colletion of Images #3

And now, the self-improvement part of our program...

Al'z List of Resolutions:

1. General improvement of health/loss of weight.
   A long sought-after goal. One I know I can achieve with an ounce of discipline. I wanna look better and feel better. Part of me also wants to shove my success down the throat of a certain gigposters.com member, but that isn't my impetus.
   
2. Draw more. Like, every day.
   I'll never be satisfied with what I do creatively unless I work out all of my bad habits. That what drawing every day is: working out. An addendum to this...I will use my collection porn images as reference, just like I planned to ages ago. Seriously. Don't look at me like that! Glass houses!
   
3. Refine outlook. Things ain't that bad.
   My wife-to-be is the ultimate optimist. I'm trying to let some of her attitude brush off on me. This, however, goes against my very nature. I gotta be pissy before I can be cheery.
   
4. Go to more shows.
   I think I can do this. Work extra hours to get the time off. Yes. Steve Earle is coming.
   
5. Start illustration portfolio site/get promo hustle on.
   Self-explanatory. Time to take advantage of the little creative inroads I've been making over the past couple of years. I wanna be able to eat/travel off of this someday.
   
6. Comics.
   Gonna buy more and read more. Minis, pamphlets, graphic novels...whatever. It's all comics. Hell, I might even make one. Scott Pilgrim has been an inspiration, and I got a huge fucking stapler at the company Christmas party. Look out, world!
   
7. Improvement of personal appearance/apartment upkeep.
   It really got out of fucking control this year. Steam coming out of the crawlspace didn't help things. At least I didn't leave food lying around. That's my limit.
   
8. Curb use of internet/consumption of pornography/foul language.
   I really don't know how long this one'll hold up. I'm a creature of habit. I had nice chat with Michael Michael Motorcycle via Facebook about the internet thing, and I know he's doing really good because of it. You don't do awesome shit like he does by hanging out on gigposters.com all day. It only comes from DOING STUFF.
   
9. Try not to get worked up over someone's opinions...as much as usual.
   'Cuz like, in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter. You do you, homie, and I'll do me.
   
10. Procrastination. Stop it.
    Right now, I should be getting dressed, in addition to working on something that I've been picking at sporadically. Old habits die hard.

I've got more shit to say, but that'll have to wait for later. All the best in 2008 to everyone I love, admire, secretly lust after, am "chummy" with, sorta like, and all points in between. Peace.

R.I.P Oscar Peterson

Photo courtesy of the Monterey Jazz Festival.

I'm truly saddened by the passing of the great Oscar Peterson.
At some point in the late 80's, I somehow got my hands on a free government magazine-sized booklet of great Canadians. The bio blurb and illustration of Oscar was my intro to him. At that time, I wasn't aware of any great Canadians, let alone any great black Canadians, so I was transfixed. I signed out the Verve Walkman® Jazz (known as Compact Jazz on CD) comp from Cornish Library, and from there, my love for Oscar's flying fingers and jazz in general started.
I know it's Christmas time, but if you've got it, put Canadiana Suite on. That album is so sublime, especially "Wheatland".

Dream Recollection 1: December 23rd, 2007

I'm gonna see if I can make this a habit. Truly, this one was too real for me to not right about.

So, I'm at a party...so far, so good. Against my nature, I'm chilling in this side bedroom at the party, being all anti-social. I'm on the bed in this room, reading a magazine (I do believe it was Wax Poetics) and listening to the muffled music. On this bed, is someone else's laundry. Whether it's clean or dirty, I'm not sure. I know this part is rooted in reality, because I'm currently sleeping with my laundry. Yes, it has been established that I'm a slob, so shutthefuckup.
Two sistas suddenly appear at the head of the bed (where I'm trying to read), just chillin', discussing whom they've been fucking. I'm doing my best to avoid them...and the laundry.
Then comes one of those grand leaps of time that only makes sense in dream. I'm still in the room, but there are more people in there with me. The room has become the party's hangout spot. I'm still dedicated to my magazine. Wow, I'm such a fucking nerd.
Anyway, the sistas were replaced by two ladies I've known for a while (but don't know of each other), and they're both fine. They're talking, I'm reading.
Suddenly, one of them starts coming on to me, trying to remove my pants. It seems they're both bored, so logically, I can help them out (hey, my eyes are rolling at that...). As much as I'm digging this (big time), I start to protest, saying that "I'm practically married", and I go back to reading my magazine, even though I'm aroused and flustered. In my discombobulated state, I'm back at the head of the bed, no longer avoiding the laundry strewn about...reading. In my peripheral vision, the instigator of the aborted ménage à trois is getting dressed (she disrobed?!? ), telling the other participant that they should break out from this boring scene. I figure she should be cursing me out, but she's not. I'm probably taking control of the dream at this point. This is followed by a montage of voices and faces telling me that I should've "gone for it". I leave the party, which seems to be in some set of cookie cutter townhouses, and my dream suddenly switches to watching Howard Stern perform a set of reckless stunts on playground equipment. Yeah, I don't get that either.

I guess I'm finding the fact that I said "no" to the fucking interesting. It's somewhat out of character, I guess. Otherwise, y'all would've never heard this...I don't dream kiss and tell.

Random Thoughts: November 12th, 2007 – Fifth Anniversary Edition

Top: R.I.P. Galaxy Skateland
Bottom: TV movie magic on Higgins Ave.

• So yeah, five years for The Place Where Al Dwells...! Crazy. I'm not even sure if a five year anniversary in the "blogosphere" (ugh) is much of a milestone, but it is what it is. I started this quite clearly on a whim, which you can tell by my first month of posts. God, those are ghastly. Now, this is here blog is less of a bitchfest and more of a portfolio site/bitchfest.
  What's changed about me since the start of this motherfucker? Not a whole lot: I'm still black (whew...thank God!), fat, and a lover of fat chicks everywhere. I'm planning on working on the fat thing. I will attempt to walk to work 3 times a week. Yeah, I'm saying that NOW, of course. I guess it's in "writing" now. Fuck.
  
  Another change: I'm far more cynical about the state of the world and life in general. I really don't know what the hell happened this year, but some sort of switch turned on, and now I'm not sure if I'll ever look at things the same way again. Ignorance is bliss. Mortality, life after death, overpopulation, pollution and conservation = my constant thoughts. 32 is way too late in life to start taking drugs, but I can't say it hasn't crossed my mind to start. But then, I wouldn't be able to support my non-illicit/somewhat acceptable habits.
  
• Pip Skid's EP. My man dropped a recording – The Pip Donahue EP – last week, and it fucking rules hard. While not an official Peanuts & Corn release, diehard fans have been aching for something since Smitty's Growing Pains was put out, so this EP was more than welcome. I was honored to be asked to handle the design for this thing, while Eddie Ayoub provided the badass illustration. Grab the EP from peanutsandcorn.com and check the liner notes here. Me, Pip, Eddie, and Mark Saunders all did hand-drawn covers for the release show (photos of the show...eventually), too. Mine can be found here.
• Other stuff.
  
  • The place is a mess again. I'm workin' on that. In fact, I'm washing clothes.
  • I've bought many albums this year, but not many of them have really kicked me in the ass, I must admit.
  • Let's just add Travis Millard to my "illustrators I envy" list right now, dammit.
  • Here's a cool-ass tour of Jeremy Fish's studio.
  • I'm anxious to see this. It's causing a tiny bit of debate. What else is new?
  • I'm a little disappointed in Katja Kassin, Katsuni, Isabel Ice and Savannah Stern for getting breast augmentation surgery. Hey, what can I do? That's totally up to them. I just really thought they were dope the way they were. I'm sure if I knew any of them personally, I'd voice my concerns, but begrudgingly support their decisions in the end...because that's what friends do. To a degree. As long as ladies like Dana De Armond, Rebeca Linares, Lexi Bardot and Sunny Lane stay natural, I'll be a happy man. All those names I mentioned? Search Google. I don't feel like linking images for all of them. Just don't do it at work. Heh.
• Time to check on the clothes. Peace.