Renowned stencil artist Logan Hicks, who has been busy stenciling his way around the world for the past 10 years, will be teaming up with the two-man painting team known as Broken Crow for the Broken Horse exhibit running May 1 – 3 at the former Hamilton Savings and Loan Bank in Brooklyn, NY (498 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231).

Known for his meticulous, multi-layered stencils, Hicks’ work captures the sensory overload with which a city can inundate a person. His art captures the sprawling urban inhabitants and juxtaposes them against the stark, grey environment they dwell in.

Also known as Workhorse, Logan Hicks has a work ethic second-to-none. “My tip is to stay awake 24 hours a day and work like a crackhead. That’s what I do, and it has seemed to do the trick,” Hicks told Behance Magazine last year.

Hicks’ art has been shown in nearly 30 countries in cities as far away as Cape Town, South Africa and Shanghai, China. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Hicks currently calls New York City home. Citing NYC as the ‘city of all cities,’ he can often be found wandering the subway system at 4AM taking pictures for his artwork or simply observing the army of people coursing through the tunnels like blood through a body’s veins and arteries.

A leader in an incredible art movement that features artists such as Shepard Fairey, Blek Le Rat, and Banksy, Hicks had his first solo show last July at the prestigious Black Rat Press Gallery in London where he sold more than 115 paintings to collectors on opening night.

Hicks was also one of the main painters featured when graffiti artist Banksy turned a half-mile of disused road tunnel in South London and created Cans Festival, a collection of works by the world’s most esteemed street/stencil artists. According to the reclusive organizer, the exhibit was to “transform a dark forgotten filth pit” into “an oasis of beautiful art.” Over 120,000 fans showed up on the first day alone to view the show.

Logan Hicks’ art has been featured in a series of cutting-edge Nike commercials staring Le Bron James. The artist also had his own apparel line in partnership with Japanese company Medicom, in addition to having his own Logan Hicks signature K-Swiss sneaker backed by a massive MTV ad campaign in Asia.

2009 will be a breakthrough year for Logan Hicks who will have his first-ever solo show in America to be held in Los Angeles this October.

Logan Hicks on amazon.com

Logan Hicks on amazon.co.uk

For more information, go to:

Logan Hicks Official Website

Kanye West boasts, “If Yoda was an artist he’d be Simon Henwood.” Mario Testino exclaims, “Simon’s characters are ordinary people, yet presented on canvas through paintings – a formal medium – these people in painting appear elevated to a permanent document of their character.”

With responses like this about artist Simon Henwood it’s no wonder Henwood is being honored with such acclaim. Critics choice in the pages of Vogue to the cover of Design week. Henwood’s work features as part of the Voo-Doo exhibition, which has been honored with “Exhibition of the Week” and “Critics Choice” – The Times, and “Featured Exhibiton” in Dazed & Confused, Art World and Saatchi Online.

Simon Henwood will be celebrating the launch of his new book of artwork, HENWOOD, which covers 20 years of his work of multi-disciplinary works.

The book includes collaborations with many musicians including Kanye West, Kylie Minogue, Roisin Murphy, Imogen Heap, Badly Drawn Boy and Devendra Banhart. Henwood is also known as a director and many of his film and animation stills are shown in the book along with several essays, a new interview and commentary from fellow artists and critics including Mario Testino and Walt Disney biographer, John Canemaker.

Henwood has had the unique career of always maintaining an independent direction while working between multiple media platforms. Henwood has had world-wide attention for his paintings for the last 12 years which included a touring show with MOMA, NYC. In contrast he recently directed TIME MAGAZINE’s VIDEO OF THE YEAR with “Love Lockdown” for Kanye West. He also designed the set, costumes, and visuals for Kayne’s acclaimed “GLOW IN THE DARK” tour. This work is the subject of a new book published by Rizzoli later this year.

Henwood will be celebrating the launch of his book on March 31, 2009 at VANILLA in Central London.

Pop stars, artist’s and even a member of the magic circle will be there to entertain.

The venue will be curated for one night only with some of Henwood’s more unusual work from over the years.

Some other examples of his more controversial work are the RED RIDING HOOD paintings which are on show at the moment for the first time in 10 years as a part of the Voo-Doo exhibition at the Riflemaker Gallery. Also included is his topical work of the infamous portrait of Kylie Minogue as a young naked boy.

Roisin Murphy will also be on site to DJ for the evening. The singer has also been captured in Henwood’s paintings for her first solo record, ‘Ruby Blue’.

Simon Henwood on amazon.com

Simon Henwood on amazon.co.uk

Simon Henwood Official Website

Joseph Arthur and his label Lonely Astronaut Records have unveiled ‘Vagabond Skies’, the third EP in the four-EP prelude to his September 16 full-length, ‘Temporary People’.

“It’s almost like the ’50s again when it was all about singles,” says Joseph. “I’ve always liked the EP because it has a looseness to it. I think songs work best off of each other.”

Download “Pretty Good Company” MP3

‘Vagabond Skies’ is the most ethereal of the EP series thus far. Opening with the transcendental pop of “Slow Me Down” and ending with the gorgeously delicate “It’s Too Late,” the album plays like an otherworldly suite with one song bleeding to the next. Among the songscapes is a haunting studio version of “She Paints Me Gold,” one of Joseph’s most requested and never-before-released songs.

An acclaimed painter and Grammy-nominated visual artist, Joseph often paints while writing and recording. He has written, performed and produced nearly all of the music released this year, most of which was recorded at his Brooklyn art gallery, the Museum of Modern Arthur.

Vagabond Skies Tracklisting:

1 Slow Me Down
2 Even When Yer Blue
3 Pretty Good Company
4 She Paints Me Gold
5 Second Sight
6 It’s Too Late

::Joseph Arthur 2008 tour dates::

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Joseph Arthur’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

June 15 Manchester, UK – Night & Day
June 16 Glasgow, UK – King Tuts
June 17 Birmingham, UK – Glee Club
June 18 London, UK – Union Chapel
July 4 Montreal, QC – Club Soda
July 9 Boston, MA – Paradise
July 10 Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
July 11 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom (JA & the Lonely Astronauts)
July 12 Hoboken, NJ – Maxwell’s (solo)
July 15 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
July 18 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
July 21 Portland, OR – Doug Fir
July 22 Seattle, WA – Triple Door
July 24 Vancouver, BC – The Media Club
July 26 Guelph, ON – Hillside Festival

Check out Joseph’s on-going living album, Bag is Hot, updated constantly with new songs and artwork.

Myspace
Joseph Arthur Official Website

Nicole Atkins is one to watch – and I’ve found out why first hand.

The singer/songwriter New Jersey native has been on tour in Europe with her band, the Sea, and I was lucky enough to catch her show while she was in London.

First of all the venue, the Soho Review Bar (formerly the Raymond Review Bar), a place that some might consider seedy due to it’s erotic nature, was a brilliant room to watch a live performance. Just what I like – intimate, dark, the red interior was a plus and the sound was exceptional.

By the time Nicole started her set, the room was full with an expectant audience. She looked a million dollars, wearing a short white and black dress, she sounded great and her banter in between songs was friendly and humorous. At one point she invited people to go up toward the stage to watch – and a few did get up from their seats to sway along to songs that she played from her album, ‘Neptune City’.

The band was tight, and members on stage were Gillian Rivers (violin), Daniel “Cashmere” Chen (keyboard), Derek Layes (bass), Dan Mintzer (drums) and Dave Hollinghurst (guitar). Special guest Russell Simins from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion sat in on tambourine at one point.

Stand out songs of the night were “Brooklyn’s On Fire”, “The Way It Is”, “Party’s Over”, “Maybe Tonight” and their outstanding cover of the Doors’ “Crystal Ship”.

While in England, Nicole was able to squeeze in a phone interview with me for Band Weblogs the day before her show in Soho.

Jenny May: Do you have a favorite place to write music?

Nicole Atkins: I do. When the melodies of my songs come to me it’s usually when I’m sitting, but moving, so usually in the car or in a train is when they happen. But I really like to finish my songs in my parents’ living room at home. At least when they’re upstairs – but as long as they’re not in the room!

Are your parents musicians?

No. They like rock music, but none of them are musicians. We grew up with like, Frank Zappa as our ‘children’s music’.

Do you tend to write on guitar?

I write everything based on the vocal melody, and then I just put chords to that. It’s more fun and easier for me because instruments are limited, but on vocals, it’s not limited at all so I just layer everything through vocal melodies for every part.

What was the first guitar that you bought, do you remember?

I never bought one. My mom’s little brother, he passed away when he was thirteen and when I was thirteen I found his Yamaha Acoustic learners guitar in the attic. It was kind of a big deal. My mom was kind of reluctant for me to play it because she thought that I would break it, you know, because she got kind of sad when she would see it. Then I just kept going into the attic, I got this Grateful Dead guitar book, and taught myself how to play a bunch of Dead songs. So then after awhile they got really okay with it.

Do you still play it?

No. It’s a learner so it’s very short, and it’s actually harder to play than my guitar now!

And what are you playing now?

Now acoustic, I’m playing a Martin, and electric, I’m playing a Hagstrom Viking. It’s great.

I saw a video of you on YouTube singing “Be My Baby” – that was really good. It’s funny because that was the first song that I ever sang on stage with a band.

Nice. I love that song and I love singing that when my parents’ friends come to our shows ’cause you know, they have no idea what the hell I’m singing about, but when I start singing that, it’s just like, yeah!

I know what you mean. Ha ha.

Ha ha.

What are some of your favorite cover songs to play?

Three that we’re liking right now is “Crystal Ship” by the Doors, “Pissing In a River” from Patti Smith and “Under The Milky Way” by The Church.

I’m not sure if I’m familiar with The Church.

It’s a really pretty song.

I’ll have to look it up. I’m going to your show tomorrow night in Soho, London. Are you going to play that one?

Good. No we’re not…we’re still choosing, so maybe we will.

I was reading through your Myspace messages and noticed that your fan base is missing you in the States.

Yeah. Ha ha.

How do you stay in touch with them while you’re on tour?

Well, I always put out bulletins and I put up blogs of what’s going on out here, and little videos and stuff. So, I keep them fully abreast on the happenings.

I’m sure they appreciate that.

They do, and it’s always weird for me because I’m like, oh, they care!

I saw that video of you performing in Norway.

That was really fun. That was like, the funnest press thing that I’ve ever had to do.

It sounded great.

Yeah we met a bunch of people afterwards that were like super stoked on it. Like all these older people were like, “you have a very nice voice”. I was like, yeah!

How do you prepare for a show each night?

I don’t really do anything, I just kind of do brief vocal warm ups and just hang out with my band or my friends and then just go up and do it. I don’t really get into the mode until maybe 15 seconds before I sing the first note.

I would imagine that makes life easier for you.

It does. If you ever think it, you know, it will be weird and unnatural.

Some singers have all these rituals where they don’t talk or they don’t do certain things…

Yeah, I mean, unless I’m sick, you know, then I won’t talk. I always get on stage and I pick out the eight people that seem kind of skeptical or uneasy or unhappy in a crowd and kind of focus on them, kind of change their mood. I make them my personal mission.

Nice. I did read that you were sick on the road. Did you drink tea, or…

I’m always sick on the road. I just realized I’ve got the weakest immune system in the world. I do everything. I’m like a walking science project.

Ha ha. Is there any one thing that’s tended to work better for you?

Yeah…eight hours of sleep.

How did the David Letterman performance go (”The Way It Is”)? How was that for you?

That was the best day of my life. That was the day my record came out and it had been pushed back so much, I mean, it was, ahhh, finally we did it. It came off really, really well.

It was funny, the way he kept holding your hand at the end.

Yeah, he wouldn’t let go of my hand. It was cool, though, he liked us.

You could tell he liked you.

It was cool.

With your “Neptune City” single, it gives me the chills when I listen to it. What was the recording environment like in the studio?

We were in a barn in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere in Sweden and it was during the middle of winter. I recorded that song almost a year before I recorded it for the album and it’s one of those songs, that every time I sing it, I get the same feeling as I did when I first heard it. It was one of those things that…it was so much bigger than me.

What brought you to Sweden to record?

The producer lived there so it was much easier for me to go there alone then for him to come to New Jersey.

Did you enjoy it?

I didn’t. At all. I love making my records, and I love the music part of it, but it was the middle of winter so it got dark out at like 2 o’clock everyday. And I was in the middle of nowhere and I didn’t know anybody so it was very isolating…which might have been good because I was able to really focus on the music, but at the same time it probably didn’t do too well for my mental stability. I was very happy when I got home.

How long were you out there for?

A month and a half. Not too bad, but very, very isolating.

What normally is a good recording setting for you?

My idea of a good recording setting is very off the cuff, and very intimate, but it never really gets to work out that way now a days.

Is there a certain studio that you would like to work in that you haven’t yet?

Abbey Road. Who wouldn’t?

With your upcoming release, “Maybe Tonight”, I love it, the video is fun…

Thanks!

Do you have any input with the making of your videos?

Yes, I have full input. The video director (Josh Forbes) said let’s do this like you’re walking on your way to get ready for a late night TV show. I was like, oh, let’s get some circus freaks, you know, because I grew up on the boardwalk. There was a very big carnival culture. So he ended up getting us Vaudeville Cirque, which was way past my expectations, and we improvised everything and did it as we were, and it was just so much fun.

It looks really fun, and it definitely comes across.

It was. I choreographed it too.

That’s really good to know. Had you had experience with choreographing before?

No, I just did a lot of theatre.

Do you want to do more videos, directing, that sort of thing?

Oh yeah, I have tons of video ideas. It’s kind of a passion of mine to make up stories for a film.

Do you have a favorite festival that you like to play?

I’ve never really played any except for Austin City Limits. The one I’m looking forward to the most is All Points West. It’s in Jersey City and it’s with Radiohead. It’s an hour from my house too, so it’s really nice.

You’re playing Bonnaroo as well?

I’m really looking forward to that too, cause we get to play that with our good friends The Avett Brothers, that I went to college with.

Not only are you a singer and musician, but you’re an artist as well. Did you do the cover art for your album, ‘Neptune City’?

No I got my friend Nick to do it. He basically draws how I would draw if I wasn’t lazy and if I had the time!

Are you going to continue doing your art along with your music?

Yes, I always do. Comics and stuff. I put together a zine that goes to our fans so that we can actually mail them the comics and stuff like that. The comics will probably be ready in the fall.

Nicole Atkins Official Website
Nicole Atkins Myspace

Two years after the death of iconic poet and musician Ivor Cutler, his family have announced a new release of ‘A Flat Man’, Ivor’s final album.

Originally released on Creation Records in 1998, this much-sought-after album has been unavailable since 1999. The release also marks the launch of Hoorgi House Records, a new company set up by Ivor’s family, which is destined to become the major label for Ivor Cutler material.

Jeremy Cutler, Ivor’s son, says: “Ivor was a prolific artist but his work can be hard to locate. We not only aim to bring back into circulation some on the material which is currently unavailable, but also look to release new material which has never been publicly available before. Ivor has fans all over the world and Hoorgi House will help to ensure that they can continue to enjoy his work.”

Ivor Cutler, recently revealed as the inspiration behind Franz Ferdinand’s song “Jacqueline”, counted John Lennon, Bertrand Russell and Billy Connolly amongst his fans.

He recorded 21 live sessions for John Peel, appeared in the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour film, and published over 30 books and 10 albums. Often called Scotland’s alternative poet laureate, Ivor died on 3 March 2006, aged 83.

‘A Flat Man’ is released on 17 March 2008, with a new sleeve featuring Ivor’s artwork, and notes by his son Jeremy:

“This is possibly Ivor’s darkest collection of songs, stories and poems. The macabre is permeated, however, with veins of nostalgic sweetness. Ivor’s humorous mastery of the inappropriate is also here, together with his granite acuity.” – Jeremy Cutler

Title: A Flat Man
Artist: Ivor Cutler
Label: Hoorgi House Records
Release Date: 17 March 2008
Catalogue number: HHCD01
Format: Mid-price CD
Playing time: 50mins 50secs
Distribution: Proper Music
Digital Distribution: Kudos
48 Tracks including: “A Bubble or Two”, “I Ate a Lady’s Bun”, “Living Donkey”, “My Next Album”, “I Built a House”, “Knocking at My Door”.

Ivor Cutler on amazon.co.uk

About Hoorgi House Records

The label was established by Ivor’s family in 2007 to ensure the continuing availability of Ivor Cutler material for new and existing fans, and to extend the range of material available. ‘A Flat Man’ is the label’s first release; further releases are in the pipeline. The name Hoorgi House is taken from a story of that title in Gruts, Ivor’s first published work. Ivor Cutler’s own illustration of the story is the logo of the new company – an appropriate flag to hoist over the extraordinary realm of the creative and productive Cutler.

Hoorgi House Records Official Website

About Ivor Cutler

Ivor Cutler, loved by generations of fans for his unique brand of music and poetic humour, published 30 books, produced 10 record albums, and was a phenomenal stage presence for 50 years. He is also famous for his radio work – especially his 21 sessions for the legendary John Peel.

For more information, go to:

Ivor Cutler Official Website

TalentDatase.com was founded by Jimi Beach, an entrepreneurial artist from Orlando, Florida and also a fellow musician, who played in the surf rock band Lo Presher.

At first, there’s a lot to take in on TalentDatabase.com – there’s so much information available on the site. The good thing, though, is that it’s set up nicely and navigation is clear and to the point. I’m actually quite surprised with the number of talent “Channels” (categories) that are available for people to create profiles in.

At the time of this writing, the Channels are:

Art, Body, Comedy, Communication, Computer, Crafts, Dance, Design, DJ, Fashion, Film, Food, Gaming, Magic, Modeling, Music, Photography, Sports, Theater, Unique and Writing.

From what I’ve checked out in the Art, Fashion and Music Channels, there are indeed profiles created by some very talented individuals. It’s funny to see Magic listed, only because I’m not familiar with seeing Magic included on other social networking sites, but for any magicians out there, this would be the place for you!

TalentDatabase.com also includes directories, featured listings, most popular within Channels, the ability to add links to users websites in profiles and to get contacted directly. Musicians can add music, artists can add art etc. There are newsfeeds by genre and relevance which allows users to stay on top of breaking news and ahead of the trends affecting their industry. I’m a news junkie, so this is a handy feature.

The search options are great. Talent can be searched for by location, interests, specialties, tags and popularity. A person’s popularity or “POPfactor” is determined by how active they are on the site. The more you network, the higher your ranking. By connecting with other members, adding portfolios, being acknowledged, bookmarked or viewed by other members, among other things, improves a person’s POPfactor. The benefit to being more popular is that you end up with a higher position in the search rankings, which helps to increase exposure by user profiles getting found easier.

This isn’t “just another social networking site”. The free opportunities available to musicians, artists and more, along with the look and feel of the database, and the art that’s prominent throughout, helps for it to stand out as a quality website with a positive community environment.

For more information and to sign up, go to TalentDatabase.com

By: Jenny May – Band Weblogs