10 Bands 10 Minutes at the Movies

Lights, camera, action - 10 Bands 10 Minutes hit back again with a tinseltown spectacular.

Once more 10 bands took to the Kazimier stage to deliver 10 breakneck sets, each featuring at least one movie banger. 10 sound bands, 10 soundtracks - one massive movie party.

AND THE NOMINEES ARE:

* Married to the Sea
* Avenging Force
* Double Double Plus Good
* Silent Sleep
* Big Safari
* White Blacula
* Man in the Dark
* Faded Gold
* The Swapsies
* A Lovely War

Truly an unforgettable night of movie magic - Say hello to my little gun! Life is like a chocolate box! We're gonna need a smaller shark! etc

10 Bands 10 Minutes Holiday Banger: Madonna

Here's some late posts for the last couple of 10 Bands nights - first up was this scrappy summer special: 10 bands cranked out 10 breakneck party sets, and each one featured at least one Madonna belter.

 

featuring:
Married To The Sea
Pete Bentham and the Dinner Ladies
Natalie McCool
Puzzle
Spanish Announce Team
Big Safari
Organ Freeman
Freda and the High Tides
Rachael Wright & The Good Sons
Strange Collective

Here's some footage too, get a load of that choir at the back!

10 Bands 10 Minutes: A Michael Jackson Tribute

Ten Bands XII was the most Bad, Dangerous, Invincible Thriller yet - fastest ever sell out show at the Kazimier, and a boss way to start the year.

I did a couple of posters for this one: one massive black and white one to go outside the venue, and an A3 colour print for the bands to take home. Can you feel it? Can you feel it? CAN YOU FEEL IT?

I love you but your feet's too big

Earlier in the year I did some work for Lucid games on the first episode of Jacob Jones & the Bigfoot Mystery - if you've got an iPhone or an iPad, you should check it out. It's a puzzle game and it's loads of fun.

Here's some screenshots - get ready for some bonce-scratchers, and keep your eyes peeled for the next episode!

Ten Bands Ten Minutes 10 - A David Bowie tribute

Last month was the tenth 10 Bands 10 Minutes gig at the Kazimier, and it was yet another smasher - the last few have provided the best nights out I've had in ages, and the bands keep cranking out boss sets. One question: how to top this one??

(I've got my heart set on a nu-metal halloween apocalypse - you can file that under 'so crazy it just might work' *)

* if there's no room there, file it under 'terrible terrible ideas'.

Four Weddings IV: Bon voyage, Tom and Sarah

Finally, I just picked these up from the printers for my friend Tom and his fiancee Sarah - they're getting married in Italy and were keen on having bespoke invites folded into a paper boat shape, similar to some they found online. I offered to fold them too, only to find it mega stressful - free tip: don't try and fold nice paper and eat a peanut butter brownie at the same time.

Brian Blessed's Blueprint Bundle

A while ago I did some work on an app for Brian Blessed that has yet to surface - until then, here's some bits I did for his website/twitter profile.

I'd love to say these blueprints were self-explanatory, but only so I wouldn't have to hazard at an explanation myself.

Four Weddings III: A toast to Heidi and Ben

Next year, my friend Heidi is marrying her corazón de melón, Ben, in Puerto Rico. They are both lots of fun, and they commissioned me to do a really fun illustration for a save the date magnet. I'm planning on going and also on drinking a pina colada as big as this one. They have a terrific dog called Monster (also pictured) who is an absolute terror, and boss.

Side note: their initial idea was a Game of Thrones themed illustration of them as Daenerys and Khal Drogo, but that might work better as a massive oil painting above their fireplace.

Four Weddings II: Congratulations Mel and Holly

My friend Niki commissioned me again to do another gift illustration for a friends wedding. This time, their interests included karaoke and their cats. In hindsight I realised this would have been a perfect opportunity to draw some cats doing karaoke and get paid to do it! Totally missed the boat there.

Four Weddings I: Party on, Alayna and Rich

I've had a run of commissions from friends recently, and they all relate to weddings in some way. I need to find a way of getting unlimited buffet access into my fee - that's where I truly shine!

First off: my good friends Alayna and Rich. This invite is for the party event of the year, and I can't wait - I included some nods to Mad Men and Stanley Kubrick, and managed to throw in a couple of cats and some ice cream to make sure all their interests were included.

Found Footage Fest UK Tour

One of the best comedy shows I saw last year was the Found Footage Festival at the Kazimier - there might have been about 15 people in the audience, but I've never seen anyone lose their shit to the extent that I did at that show. This is probably the closest I've ever come to typing 'major lols' so that should  be some indication of the ho ho factor.

I knocked out this poster for their current tour, and if you can make it to any of the shows you won't regret it. Check out this trailer and their website for details!

10 Bands 10 Minutes: Believe the Rumours!

Wow. I'm still processing how great this gig was.

10 Bands Fleetwood Mac was a total barnstormer, surpassing every one we've done so far.

The Kazimier sold out by the time the second band were on, everyone playing brought their A-game, and there was a queue round the block all night. I can't wait for the tenth 10 Bands 10 Minutes - it's David Bowie themed and it's totally going to topple Liverpool into the sea.

Photos here!

Married to the Sea: Die Gruselige Tour

Last Halloween, Married to the Sea decided to return to Germany for the first time in two long years - and like a tsunami of virgins blood, we engulfed the Fatherland with our terrifying brand of indie pop once more.

Despite being constantly bloodcurdling and relentlessly hell bent, we had the greatest time.

Plus, I made these posters!!!

10 Bands, 10 Minutes, 10 One Hit Wonders

Back in September we hosted another 10 Bands gig at the Kazimier, and managed to once again get more people than ever to come, and to somehow perform whilst being 100% leathered.

It was amazing, and the poster was suitably loud and stupid.

OAB Olivia continued: Comic strips

Initially it was intended that we would develop the Olivia character for a number of comic strips, and that these would subsequently be used as storyboards for an short animated film. Unfortunately the project got pulled before we could begin any animation but I was still able to put together a few of the comic strips in preparation.

Todd Barry at the Deaf Institute

Todd Barry is really, really funny. You might recognise him from playing jerks in The Wrestler and Flight of the Conchords, or possibly from his appearances in Louie alongside Louis CK. He's also got a few albums on Spotify so if you're not familiar with him, you should investigate further - he's a hoot.

Anyway, I did a limited run of prints for his show in Manchester, and they turned out really well - I still have some left over, so get in touch if you want to order one.

OAB Olivia - character design

I recently did some work developing concepts for a mascot/character to be used to promote awareness of a medical condition known as OAB syndrome. As this stands for over active bladder, they had to handle things in a delicate manner... and so out of these three ideas, the client settled on the more straightforward human character (developed further at the bottom). Whilst I really like the tap concept, I can see how it could be seen as insensitive. I still like the various handles as hats though!

Loads o' Logos

I sometimes get called upon to design logos and icons for corporate use - websites, newsletters, letterheads etc. It can be pretty limiting in terms of being creative, but I do get to try things out on some occasions. Here's a selection of work done for various clients:

Winter Word-erland

I just remembered this e-card job I did last year that I never posted anything about. It was for a christmas mail out and had some blurb about how snowflakes are formed and what makes them unique - I figure the middle of June is as good a time as any to share some frosty illustrations.

(apart from winter, that would clearly be a much better time)

Pack Xerxes

Last month my band Married to the Sea unleashed a new cd titled 'Pack Xerxes', featuring four of our latest belters. I cooked up this artwork for the sleeve and the disc design too - my only requirements being that it looks fun when it's spinning. You can buy it here at our website, you lucky sods.