San Francisco: Alan Forbes Benefits
Something worth pulling my head out of my ass and finally returning to the, um, “blog-o-sphere”:
San Francisco-based rock ‘n’ roll poster artist Alan Forbes is in trouble. A couple weeks ago, he was attacked in the Lower Haight, and left with two skull fractures and damage to his right eye. Sadly, (and like so many incredible artists), Forbes has no health insurance to cover his medical expenses.
[Thee Oh Sees poster by Alan Forbes, 2013]
So, some folks are putting on benefits. I highly encourage you to attend one of the following events to help him out:
Saturday, December 7th, 2013
The Make Out Room
Bands:
Jello Biafra (DJ)
Harderships (members of Earthless, Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound, Zen Guerrilla)
Hot Lunch (Tee Pee Records)
The Freeks (from OC)
Ethan Miller (of Howlin Rain / Comets on Fire)
plus special guests
Saturday, January 4th, 2014
Bottom of the Hill
Bands:
Black Cobra (Southern Lord Records)
Lecherous Gaze (Tee Pee Records)
Kicker (Tank Crime Records)
Pins of Light (Alternative Tentacles Records)
plus special guests
Whether you can make it or not, let’s all take a moment to appreciate the brilliant blending of styles in this man’s work, shall we? ’60s psychedelia, Scandinavian metal, late-’90s grotesque punk… great stuff all around. Here are some of my favorite posters. Please note: Yes, I realize he is most famous for his Black Crowes and QOTSA art, and yes, I intentionally left it out because those bands suck.
[I’m sorry, the Fastbacks played BOTH and I somehow missed it? WTSF.]
[This one is probably my favorite.]
[Bender’s, ftw.]
For more updates about Alan Forbes, check here.
Ribbon Around A Bomb 
Quite a fascinating artistic vision. I’ve never indulged in altering my senses with a lsd trip, but some of these works eat away at my doors of perception to unsettling degrees. Most certainly the vibrant flier for the Nashville area Sonic Youth headliner show. It strikes me as a peek into a comic world that melds the Twilight Zone with Zap Comix. The haunting essense of a vintage American West frontier portrait seems even more foreboding when mutated into the science fiction element of the cyclopean, all seeing eye. Both moltan and electrical, the chromatic theme intensifies the physical manifestation of the word “sonic”. Much of that intensity engages my senses in their music. I’m sorry to know that such an esoteric talent was subjected to mindless brutality, but hopely this experience will make him stronger. More insightful of the darker side of human nature. performs