Some of the best artwork that’s been done in the music industry over the years is not always found on album covers. It’s on gig posters! I am in love with this website, simply titled GIG POSTERS, which archives posters and flyers for live shows by band and venue (and city, etc). Really cool. And they’ve got a ton of posters on there, from well known artists and bands you’ve never heard of. I can spend hours on this site just looking at posters. It’s like one big college dorm wall. Here’s some of my favorites. I started above with an oldie from Jimi Hendrix, just to pay homage to the Bay Area hippie era my parents lived through (they do have a bunch of older posters on the site if you dig a little). But I’m gonna focus mostly on the 21st Century. And this is just part one. I’m gonna need another post to post all these dope posters!
One more oldie. Well, not that old I guess. This shit is hot. Always loved the cover of Check Your Head. I still have a t-shirt with the same image of them sitting on the curb. Beastie Boys were one of the first groups I ever saw live, at Lollapalooza on Randall’s Island. Now to the newer stuff.
Still haven’t seen the Arctic Monkeys live yet. Really hoping I catch them soon. I missed them when they were in New York this past December. Great poster.
I saw The Shins at the MSG Theater back in 2007. My favorite band ever. I actually just did a post related to the Greek Theatre, scroll down or click here to see it. What the hell is going on in this poster? Who cares, it’s The Shins! I never know what they’re singing about anyway!
This treehouse thingy is recockulous. Check the venue. The Royal Oak Music Theatre. Cooooool. Never seen these guys live either. Fleet Foxes are right at the top of my list, with the Arctic Monkeys, of bands I want to see live asap.
Band of Horses. Love these dudes bro. Saw them at fucking CARNEGIE HALL bro. ACOUSTIC show. June ’09. Fucking sick BRO. This poster is crack. My G showed up at her crib with his dog holding a rose. This poster sums up the band’s music perfectly.
Damnit man! I missed Stevie when he was on tour recently. He was right at Jones Beach too in the summer of 2008. Fudgesicles! That’s the effing man. I’m sorry Taylor Swift, but Stevie Wonder is the greatest musician and songwriter OF ALL TIME! Gotta see this dude soon, no pun intended. Watch this video clip of him performing in London as part of the same 2008 tour. He goes in with the talkbox and covers some Beatles and Rolling Stones and other UK classics (“london bridge is falling down” haha). This clip is off his recently released DVD Live At Last, which I just watched, and I highly recommend you do the same…
Well, that’s it for part one of my feature on GIG POSTERS. Check the site out for more. And I’ll be back sooner or later with part two, featuring some more of my favorites. Peace out…
Westcheddar 