The Illustrations of Ed Harrington

I Like Cool just recently made a post on illustrator Ed Harrington about his amazing fake Ikea instructions for horror movie icons(like the BETEL GEUSE and BUFALOBILL here) these were so amazing I decided to look further into Harrington's art and discovered a treasure trove of pop culture/illustration mashups. Brilliantly constructed with finite detail Harrington's work can only be described as "inpiring". ENJOY!

The work is amazingly 80's-riffic and full of dark humor that only sickos like us could love. If you like what I have posted here stop by his website, linked above, and pick up a few of his designs on shirts!

all images copyright Ed Harrington

ROKU - N - ROLL!!

Over the last couple of months we have been really hard at work on the next step for Mooster which is MOOSTER TV, our very own TV station on the ROKU network. Roku is a series of digital media player set-top boxes manufactured by Roku, Inc. Roku partners provide over-the-top content in the form of channels. It's super independent and, in my opinion, the next obvious move for entertainment content!

We are very excited to present MOOSTERTV in a BETA form for readers of our blog, including videos by WOLF-FACE, THE YOUNG ROCHELLES, KURT BAKER, CITY MOUSE, INSANITY ALERT, THE PROZACS, HAMBURGLARS, POOL PARTY, FLAMINGO NOSEBLEED, THE UECKERS, DOUBTFIRE, NICK MINNOW AND MORE.

If you own a ROKU, adding the channel is super easy:

1. LOGIN TO YOUR ROKU ACCT 

2. GO TO MY ACCOUNT or "HI, (YOUR NAME)"

3. CLICK ADD CHANNEL

4. TYPE IN "mooster" AS THE CHANNEL CODE.

VOILA! WELCOME TO MOOSTER TV

TO ADD MORE AWESOME, PRIVATE AND NON PRIVATE CHANNELS VISIT OUR BUDDIES AT MKVXSTREAM Theyve got tons of listings for all diffrent platforms and tons of hacks to get really awesome free channels. You can find MOOSTERTV on the list too. I recommend some of the crazy wrestling channels!!

As with any BETA testing, there are gonna be bugs so if you see any please send us a message at moosterblog@gmail.com

Tell us if you think its awesome too though or if your band wants to be added, send us your youtube link!

Enjoy! And welcome to the next wave of Mooster, MOOSTERTV!

Johnny Ramone CBGB’s-era Rickenbacker Guitar Up For Sale

Johnny Ramone's Guitar up for auction

 

Exceptionally rare stage-used CBGB’s-era Rickenbacker guitar

Johnny Ramone’s 1966 Rickenbacker 450 ‘Fireglo’ finish guitar will be featured in an upcoming live auction event from Boston-based RR Auction.

Frequently used on stage and adjusted to his personal preferences, including a replaced higher output pickup to accommodate the Ramones’ punk rock sound.

The bridge is stamped with the serial number FA180, and secured with small brads in order to keep it in place due to Johnny’s aggressive playing style. The guitar features its original Kluson Deluxe tuners. The guitar exhibits extensive wear from use, including dings and wear to the finish, and a large area of buckle rash to the back.

"Johnny displayed this guitar on stages across the world, and rather than house it in the band's storage facility, this Rickenbacker was stored safely under both Johnny's 10th Street and then later his 22nd Street apartment beds when the band was in between tours and after the guitar's retirement," said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

Additionally, its retirement before a major 1983 tour theft affirms that this guitar was used throughout the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, and is a CBGB’s -era piece of Ramones gear viewable during performances on the DVD, ‘Ramones It's Alive 1974-1996.’ This guitar is the second-oldest documented guitar of Johnny’s, all earlier guitars having been stolen in 1977 (aside from Johnny’s famous white Mosrite, which was purchased in 1977 as was this guitar).

In accordance with Rickenbacker factory logs, only sixty-four of these model-450 guitars were produced in this finish, making the instrument collectible in its own right. While not original to the Rickenbacker guitar, the accompanying tour-used carrying case prominently stenciled on the front and back by the Ramones’ trusted art director Arturo Vega is indicative of the earliest era of Ramones gear, as the band soon acquired rolling cases for gear protection. The Chris Lamy Collection.

Includes Ramone’s original hard case for the guitar, stenciled “Ramones” on both sides by famous Ramones art director Arturo Vega.

Accompanied by letters of provenance from longtime Ramones tour manager Monte A. Melnick, Johnny Ramone’s guitar technician Matt Loyla, Ramones crew member and tour assistant Warren Cohen, Ramones photographer and gear expert Ian Harper and Chris Lamy, close friend of The Ramones and guitarist of The Jabbers, formerly GG Allin & The Jabbers.

Highlights from additional featured lots:

Jimi Hendrix signed note during the summer of 1967.

Jerry Seinfeld’s hand-corrected biography from 1989—the year Seinfeld’s sitcom debuted.

Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller signed photograph of the honeymooners from 1957. 

James Dean original oil painting from 1954. 

Bidding on the Remarkable Rarities Auction from RR Auction begins September 17-27, followed by a live auction event on September 28 that will take place at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge, MA. More details can be found online at www.rrauction.com    

The Ramones - Needles and Pins - 12/28/1978 - Winterland San Francisco, CA that features Johnny Ramone playing the Rickenbacker guitar.

Headquarters Beercade's 1YR Anniversary Lot Party With Capital Cities!

My favorite local BARCADE, Headquarters Beercade is celebrating their one-year anniversary in the most epic way possible! What debauchery can Chicago expect on the weekend that Headquarters Lakeview turns one year old? A day of live pro wrestling, the Chicago Bears game blasted on a jumbo screen, an industry Twinkie eating contest and live performances by LIGHT.EM.UP and Capital Cities! Here is how it’s all going down.

What: 

                        

Headquarters Beercade in River North's 1-Year Anniversary Lot Party

will be held on Sunday, September 20th from 11am-9pm.  In full

Chicago Bears tailgate fashion, the event will be held in the parking

lot behind Headquarters Beercade in River North.

Starting at 11:00am, guests will enjoy a craft beer tent with drafts of

Allagash, Surly, Lagunitas, 3 Floyds, Left Hand and Great Lakes, and

cans of 21st Amendment Hell or High Watermellon, Oscar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Avery White Rascal, Vandermill Hard Apple

and Two Brothers Outlaw. There will also be an HQ food tent serving 

up some of Headquarter’s signature dishes including Buffalo Cauliflower, Mozzarella In Crispy Filo, Their Signature Burger, and the Italian Beef. 

Starting at noon, the Bears VS. Cardinals game will be projected on a jumbo video wall for all to see. Wondering what halftime will bring? An industry Twinkie eating contest of course! Any industry member who is interested in entering, please email brandon@capacitybars.com.  Think you can handle even more excitement?  The game will be followed by two hours of live action pro wrestling. 

You are probably thinking, there is no way this day could get any better, but you would be wrong! The party will continue into the night with a DJ set by local favorite, Light.Em.Up and a live performance by Capitol Cities.

WHEN:

Sunday, September 20th

     11:00am-9:00pm

WHERE

220 W. Chicago Avenue

Parking Lot Behind

Headquarters River North

Moral Crux's "Revolution" 7" Pre-order up Today!

Moral Crux preorders for their new 7" "Revolution" are now live! 2 options (purple vinyl and black vinyl). First 100 preorders come with an exclusive poster! Grab em while you can!

Pick up a copy here: http://moosterrecords.storenvy.com/products/14408166-moral-crux-revolution-ep-7-preorder

Stream the title track: "Revolution(Shouldnt Be So Hard)" below

FUNNY PITCH FRIDAY!

This is a new segment I would like to start on the MOOSTERBLOG. I receive pitches everyday, sometime mannnnnnnnny pitches and I wanted to take the time and show funny ones that are either kind of interesting, total WTF moments or just weird. So here is my first installment of FUNNY PITCH FRIDAY! called "NHL Superstar THEO FLEURY launches country music career" (pitch below) WTF????!!! :) :) :) (ive of course left off the names of agencies to protect the innocent)

If I set up an interview with former Calgary Flame THEO FLEURY what should I ask him? Send me our questions to moosterblog@gmail.com
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NHL Superstar THEO FLEURY launches country music career

“My Life’s Been A Country Song” single out now; “I Am Who I Am” album streets October 23

“My life is a country song.” When Theo Fleury says that, it’s hard to argue. From his small-town upbringing to the heights of hockey glory, from the depths of sexual abuse and alcoholism to his current health and happiness, the Canadian icon’s 47 years come packed with enough triumph and tragedy to inspire not just a single song but an entire album.

And now, Theo is launching his country music career with his debut album, I Am Who I Am (out October 23) and lead single My Life’s Been A Country Song. Let me know if you’re interested in having a interview with him! You can stream/share the single here, download some incredible photos here .

I Am Who I Am, out October 23 on Entertainment One, finds the NHL superstar, Olympic gold medal winner, best-selling author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur tackling a new game: Country singer-songwriter. And it’s a more natural fit than you might expect.

“I know that when people hear that Theo Fleury made a country album, they’ll go, ‘Well … OK,’ ” he laughs. “And I wouldn’t say I’m the greatest singer in the world, but I’m a real singer. But I have a decent voice. I grew up around music. I’m a Metis person and music is really part of our DNA. Some of my fondest memories as a kid were listening to my grandfather play the fiddle. My dad sang and played guitar, my uncle sang and played the guitar. Music was always a huge part of any gathering we had as a family. And it was all country stuff, you know — Charley Pride, Buck Owens, Hank Snow, all those old guys. So that became my favourite genre of music. And making music was always in the back of my mind.”

But it wasn’t until 2009 — the same year he published his unflinching memoir Playing With Fire — that Fleury moved music to the forefront. Wanting to cross an item off his bucket list, he teamed with Winnipeg musician Phil Deschambault to write a song about his life. Once they heard the results, they decided to keep going. Over the next few years, the duo — who discovered their fathers had made music together in Russell, Man., before either of them were born — penned more than a dozen songs, each stronger and more personal than the last. Fleury also began collaborating with fellow Calgarian Paddy McCallion, a longtime drinking buddy who turned out to be a talented musician and composer. He assembled Fleury’s backing band The Death Valley Rebels for his future live shows, and produced the autobiographical I Am Who I Am, which merges the hockey star’s Cash-deep vocals with the classic country twang he grew up hearing in his father’s car.

“We wanted this to be a real grassroots album — ‘Let’s get back to fiddles and steel guitars and accordions and honky-tonk pianos, but put our own stamp on it,’ ” he says. “We’re a bunch of guys who love that old-school country sound.”

It’s about more than just entertainment or nostalgia, however. For Fleury, it’s also about helping others by sharing his story.

“The album is definitely dark,” he admits. “The songs are all about my life, my experience, my struggle. But they’re also about coming through that struggle. At the end of every song, there’s hope. That’s what the lyrics and music reflect: Hope and healing. If people listen to this and there’s a line or a word or a phrase that helps them get out of the situation they’re in or how they’re feeling, that’s really why we’re doing this. The message is that no matter how far we may fall, we can make it back.”

And turn it into a great country song.

Let me know what you think!

Best, (name witheld)

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If I set up an interview with former Calgary Flame THEO FLEURY what should I ask him? Send me our questions to moosterblog@gmail.com

No Friends Maga(zine)

This month sees the release of Issue #1 of a brand new zine based right here in Chicago, IL called NO FRIENDS. No Friends is described by themselves as "a DIY (maga)zine from Chicago focusing on underground music, art, film, comedy, politics, and their surrounding communities and cultures."

In May 2015 Issue 0 was released as a, sort of, digital preview and can be downloaded for free right here. Issue #1 is in print and features interviews with Host of "The Best Show" TOM SCHARPLING, Australian punks, AUSMUTEANTS, Austin, TX punks CAPITALIST KIDS, Singer, photographer, film director MARTIN SORRONDEGUY, Editor of Pork Magazine and artist SEAN AABERG, Mallorca, Spain punks TRANCE and much much more.

I would be remiss to not mention that it is also the debut of my column "LET'S START A FIRE" in which I examine little known facets of the punk world or to state more clearly people, places and things that you wouldn't necessary consider being punk but, definately are. Column NO.1 is called "Carl Sagan Was a Punk"

If this at all sounds interesting to you, head on over to their site a pick up a subscription or just a single issue. But subscriptions are SUPER CHEAP and each issue comes with a bad ass flexi disc! Yes you read that right! A fucking flexi disc!!!!

Here is NO FRIENDS mission statement, i found it appropriate to include to further state their goals!

What No Friends is trying to do is add another voice to the conversation of DIY/independent music and art. We want to not only cover bands and musicians, but artists, comedians, podcasters, small indie businesses, and folks just generally trying to do their own thing. DIY/indie culture is huge and vast, incredibly nuanced, and ever growing and changing – we want to help document this and the people involved.

Everyone said zines have pretty much died, but we think that's bullshit. Yet we do understand that it's 2015, so we're trying to find a balance between the perfect zine to leave next to the toilet and the perfect digital read for your phone or device. So what we're doing is this, printing a tangible zine, but also making it available immediately as a downloadable pdf file to read. Now, why the hell would anyone buy a Maga(zine) when they could just download it? Good question. Because it comes with a record. The plan is to have every physical issue of No Friends to come with a flexi record that is a split between two bands we at the zine think are pretty fucking awesome. The music won't come with the download, so the only way to get it is to buy the zine/record. Yeah, it'll end up on the internet eventually – but so will all of us once the singularity comes. Til then, the real music fiends and collectors will have to buy an issue of No Friends to get these crucial tunes in their home.

What we're also trying to do here is to expand the way we use DIY/independent networks – and really show that we can get things out their ourselves. By having records with the zines, we will have bands selling zines on the road – exposing who knows who, in who knows where to our take on the world. At the same time, we're gonna have readers checking out brand new musicians and artists that they may not take the time to learn about otherwise. To some people this will be a zine that comes with a record. To others this will be a record series that comes with a zine. We couldn't care less which side you're on – as long as you're on our side. In a crass, business sense, it'll help us expand our distribution to places that only a zine, or only a record, wouldn't be able to reach. In a real, awesome sense we can get our stuff out there even more because of this.

We are a quarterly publication, based out of Chicago, IL. We are staffed entirely by volunteers who are in it for the sole purpose of supporting DIY/independent arts. We are contributor based and community oriented. Our outlook is that most of us have more in common than not. If you're reading this you probably have some kind of connection to the underground arts scene – and that alone puts us on the same side. We want to have a diverse groups of voices, with different opinions, all working together to make something that represents more than just a little corner of the independent underground.

"Just Some Punk Songs" Blog Shows Mooster Love!

Over the weekend the amazing just some punk songs blog covered a WHOLE LOT of Mooster! Thanks to Mick for the great coverage, on Friday he posted my Top Ten Songs on Mutant Pop list, Saturday he posted a Mooster exclusive release of THE AUTOMATICS track "Hangin Out at EJs" remastered by Mass Giorgini from the upcoming 2016 release on vinyl, and on Sunday he posted a track from our latest release THE HOMEWRECKERS "I,Statements". I have reposted the links  below as well as the individual tunes, check everything out!

http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2015/09/top-10-songs-chosen-by-brandon-harrod.html

http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-automatics-hangin-out-at-ejs.html

http://justsomepunksongs.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-homewreckers-nervous-rex.html

DOUBTFIRE - Video for "California" Featuring Bil McRackin & J Prozac

Bil McRackin and J Prozac, of their respective long running pop punk bands the McRackins (Vancouver, Canada) and The Prozacs (Massachusetts, USA) came up with the idea of collaborating on a couple songs....which turned into writing and recording a full length album together. Across 3000 miles and International borders, both Bil and J contributed with the writing of music and lyrics on 10 original new songs and 2 cover tracks, as well as playing the instruments and singing lead and backing vocals together in true collaborative form. J flew to Vancouver and spent a week in the studio with Bil, laying down the tracks that would eventually become Doubtfire! German artist Ole O'Brian of The Evil O'Brians came up with the album concept and illustrations, rounding out the international theme of the project. The album is being released by Jerkoff/Ratgirl Records in September of 2015. Enjoy.


The 8 Bit music video for "Doubtfire - California" from the self titled debut album by DOUBTFIRE was created by Aaron Romero, based on the superhero concepts of J Prozac and Bil McRackin, originally illustrated by German artist Ole O'Brian.

https://doubtfire1.bandcamp.com/album...
https://www.facebook.com/doubtfirepun...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBSk...
http://www.jerkoffrecords.com
https://www.facebook.com/ratgirlrecords
https://www.facebook.com/mcrackins
https://www.facebook.com/TheProzacs
https://www.facebook.com/JProzac

Brooklyn Queer-Core band, the Homewreckers, release LP on Chicago’s Mooster Records & Nashville’s Nervous Nelly Records

Mooster Records & Nervous Nelly are excited to announce the release of “I, Statements” the first full-length LP by queer-core / pop-punkers the Homewreckers, fronted by artist, activist, and writer, Cristy C. Road. 500 copies pressed on aqua sea foam colored vinyl, the 13 tracks take the listener on a journey through depression and heartbreak,colonialism and gentrification, latina identity, and queer autonomy from the state.

The long awaited album was recorded in two days by Pennsylvania-based Michael Kerchner and mastered by Jade Payne of Aye Nako. While the album features instrumentation by past band members, new bandmates, Anameili and Jamie Nieves, have breathed new life into the band. Both new members are super stoked to be a part of this “band/legacy/sitcom”. Road says, “Our story has a happy culmination, despite the bittersweet journey it’s been, but that’s what pop-punk is for!!!”

With a firm belief that their everyday lives should reinforce the subjects of their songs, each member of the Homewreckers is active in their community. Their volunteerism includes Girls Rock Camp, Queer Rock Camp, and Brooklyn Transcore Collective, a punk collective in Brooklyn that focuses on highlighting transgender artists in counter culture. The band has even contributed income from shows to organizations like the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project, Support NY, Ali Forney Center, Audre Lorde Project, Ferguson Legal Defense Fund, Girls Rock Camp, Queer Rock Camp, Fierce!, and the Black N Brown Punk Show Collective in Chicago.

The band plans to promote the album with a mini tour of New York City, Philadelphia, and New Brunswick this fall. Dates to be announced.

Pre-order for the September 4th release begins Wednesday, August 26th, 2015 and can be ordered at www.moosterrecords.com.

Interviews and download codes for review available upon request.

About The Homewreckers

The Homewreckers are a queer-core / pop-punk outfit from the salty depths of Brooklyn, NY. They were founded in 2008 when illustrator, Cristy Road, and her friend J got together to write emotionally-distraught pop-punk songs about crush problems and manic depression. Given the sexist and racist agenda that sadly informs the history of punk, navigating their way out of the dark clouds of Cristy Road's self-esteem took a minute... Eventually, they found their power after completing a couple of songs and forged through those invisible walls of self-hate with their first 7" in 2009 on Kissed Of Death Records with Crystal on drums and Frank on Guitar. With time, The Homewreckers grew, Cristy found her diaphragm, and the band transformed between several lineup changes and dark episodes. They released a split 7” with California punk City Mouse on Mooster Records in 2013. The

BACK IN TIME: The Back To The Future Documentary

Gravitas Ventures has announced the release of  BACK IN TIME, directed by Jason Aron, featuring interviews with Michael J. Fox, Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, Bob Gale, Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd. ‘Back in Time’ looks at both the making of the original film and the fan culture that has developed over the years. It will be available on VOD, DVD/Blu-ray and select theaters on the very day Marty McFly (Fox) arrived in ‘Back to the Future 2’ – on “Future Day,” October 21, 2015.

In ‘Back in Time,’ cast, crew, and fans explore the classic time-travel trilogy's resonance throughout pop culture. As the project evolved it took them from the joyous nostalgia at a massive London fan event to the living rooms of Michael J. Fox, Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, Bob Gale, Lea Thompson and Christopher Lloyd as well as Huey Lewis, James Tolkan (“Mr. Strickland”) Claudia Wells (“Jennifer Parker”) and more. Nothing is overlooked as they explore everything from Eric Stoltz’s casting to the invention of the hoverboard. Travelling throughout the world and leaving no stone unturned brings unparalleled behind-the-scenes access to the “BTTF” lexicon.

“Iconic documentaries, like a bolt of lightning, only come around so often,” said Nolan Gallagher, Founder and CEO of Gravitas Ventures, “we are honored to be a part of the ‘Back to the Future’ mythology and bring this must-have film to the millions of fans who have loved the trilogy all these years.”

Filmmakers Jason Aron and Lee Leshen add, “As both fans of the trilogy and filmmakers, it was extremely important for us to have this documentary seen by as many people as possible. We knew within minutes of meeting Nolan that the team at Gravitas would make that dream a possibility."

In addition to original cast and crew support, ‘Back in Time’ was directed by Jason Aron, who also served as Executive Producer with Louis Krubich, Akrum Sheikh and Ronald Ferguson. Adam F. Goldberg (“The Goldberg’s”) served as Co-Executive Producer. Lee Leshen produced.