diy art and music

Friday, January 22, 2010

Algernon Cadwallader-Motivational Song

I have alot to share in this post, my band went on a small tour and I have a ton of photos to post.
We werent planning on hitting the road, but we had a show offer in Ky with some awesome bands, so I decided to book a couple shows before and after the date. In oh, mo, etc. Well, we were not prepared at all. Our vans engine exploded in Il, so we had to resort to buying a new van, so we could make it to Missouri, and then home. On top of that, so much crazy shit happened, it felt like a dream. i dont know how im alive. I hope every tour isnt like that. haha.

We played in Lansing, Mi on sunday the 17th W/ Homelife and Balance and Composure, B&C has been a band i have been wanting to see for awhile, and i was super stoked to be able to get a few photos, and play with them the following day in Cleveland, Oh.
Here are a couple of my favorites, and of course the rest are on my Flickr account.
Check these dudes out at myspace.com/balanceandcomposure
if your down with very emo influenced grooves. you will dig this band.

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Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Our show in Bowling Green, Ky was more than amazing. We befriended some of the nicest people, and watched some amazing bands. im going to post a few of my favorites from this show aswell.

These first two are from a band called Pianos become the teeth from Baltimore, Md. If your into extremly Melodic Screamo in the midst of Portraits of Past and Lion of the North i definitely recomend giving this band a listen at http://www.myspace.com/pianosbecometheteeth

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Image and video hosting by TinyPic


Another great band that played, is from Bg, Ky. Called Make History, another great screamo/metalcore band. Very similar to early converge, heavy and melodic a new band. but this band has so much potential, there vocalist has an amazing stage presence and does not stop moving. i was stoked to get photos of these dudes. Hopefully they will be doing the tour we have set up in March with us. check this band out at myspace.com/makehistoryband

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Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Once again, all my photos are on flickr.com/nathandell
and
we have a ton of tour dates in March that we need help getting filled. If you have the means to help us out with a show somewhere. A basement, Living Room, kitchen, anywhere would be awesome. All our dates are up on our myspace.com/downtimemi

thanks for reading, please take a second to check out these bands!

until next time

-Nathan

Monday, January 11, 2010

I Create-Onset

I started this blog to share with people everything that influences me, aswell as projects that im working on, and because I have too much going on so I thought this would help me spread things out. Well, it seems sometimes im too busy to do just that. But im going to try and post more, I promise.

As I said in my previous post, we've been painting our basement, and we have been doing shows. They have been going well, I just wanted to share a couple photos of the last two shows aswell as a flier for the show coming up this weekend.

Our friends in Karloff from Ft. Wayne, Indiana will be here, aswell as Controversy from Buffalo, Ny. My band has also released our Ep, on cassette, and will be available this saturday at the show. We also have shirts, buttons and stickers. Will be available at shows. Im going to be making a big cartel account soon, so shit will be available online aswell.
You cancheck out a few tracks off our demo at http://www.myspace.com/downtimemi


Be sure to check out my buddys Grey and Dan have started a record label. They have two releases coming up in the next couple months. Those dudes are doing so much for hardcore, and there music scene in general. Please support Diy music.
http://midwesterndecline.blogspot.com

These were two of my favorite photos that I got from Daylight from Pa
I Have been anticipating seeing this band for so long. Definitely one of my favorite bands that are doing things right now. There music is very emotional, I would definitely consider them an emo band, aswell as a hardcore band. This band is not one to be missed. Take a second to listen, you wont be dissapointed.
http://www.myspace.com/daylightpa




I also got a few photos of Brink! from right here in Flint, Fast, Moshy Straight edge hardcore. Solid dudes, and solid music, this band is all about having fun and they sound like they have been on Lockinout records for years. Check this band out please http://www.myspace.com/teambrink





Just Like all of our shows, this one is Donation Based, and we will always try to have a small potluck, and we always try to keep it vegan so everybody can enjoy!




Yo, Thanks for reading, it really does mean alot. Please support these bands.
especially mine ;)

-Nathan

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Football, etc. - Mouthgaurd

Wowie, it sure has been a long time since I have posted here. So much has happened, so much has changed. Ive since moved back home to Michigan, and in the mean time 3 friends and myself have been working on cleaning out our entire basement, repainting all white, and doing a black and white type collaborative instalation on not only the walls, but the ceiling and the floor aswell.

This is my first large style collaboration, but it will most definitely not be my last, by any means.

I have been taking much inspiration from the works of David Ellis aswell as the whole Nyc Barnstormer Crew over the past few months, and i was stoked to see almost a full issue of Juxtapoz dedicated to the Barnstormers movement. Very inspiring dudes, theyve done alot of collab pieces that have had my mind racing. They have just been raising the bar, and taking art to new places, its definitely amazing stuff. Be sure to check out Issue # 107 of Juxtapoz you can also find quite a few videos on youtube, Aswell as there website www.b-stormers.com


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ALSO! Since I mentioned the collab of our basement, it is far from finished, but here is a photo of what I've been focusing on over the past few months. This was the first show we had in the basement, Bike tuff, and The Bravest Kids from south Michigan, aswell as Man Overboard from New Jersey. Bike Tuff, is an 90's Emo influenced pop punk band, Definate Latterman Influence, They did a Jawbreaker cover, if that tells you anything, The Bravest Kids, Definitely newer pop punk influenced such as Four Year Strong, or even Set Your Goals. Not exactly my cup of tea, but a solid band live nonetheless, Not to mention, some nice dudes that just love to hang out and make laughs. On that Note, Man Overboard, just previously released a split 7" with Transit, who I am also stoked to see in early January. But anyways, this band has an obvious post pop punk influence, If Taking back Sunday would have become more of an upbeat hardcore influenced band. This would be that band. Definitely a solid band to check out.

http://www.myspace.com/manoverboardnj
http://www.myspace.com/biketuff
http://www.myspace.com/thebravestkids

On that Note, I scored a couple photos of Man Overboard night of, and this may give a little sneak peak to how the basement is coming together.

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Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Ok.... Well, these dont really give a good idea of what the basement is looking like, but these were a couple of my favorite photos regardless.


Thanks for reading, again, i encourage anyone to check out any artist, or musician included in this post, or any, for that matter. Aswell as Football, etc. from the title, out of Texas, another great Emo band, you cant afford to pass up. Support Independent artists, and diy music. Keep the free mind free!

-Nathan Dell

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Well, it has been quite a while since i've been at a computer long enough to get any posting done. But i have a quick half an hour at the library today to get a little surfing done. Bri and I have been working on a hardcore zine lately, and its been really hard to actually put pen to paper and get something done. But i am really motivated lately, and i really want to get it done. So hopefully before too long we will have it finished.

i got a new library card today, so I will be here trying to post as much as possible.

Keep in touch


-Nathan

Monday, September 28, 2009

The Swellers-Fire Away

Well, this is most likely going to be my last post for a little while. I'm moving to Ohio tomorrow morning, and I have been using my uncle in-law's computer. So until I get a new computer, I dont think many posts are going to be happening. With that being said, I would like to leave you with an amazing video from a band from Flint, Michigan called The Swellers. Off their new record Ups and Downsizing on Fueled by Ramen Records, Check it out.


Thanks for reading, until next time

-Nathan

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Placebo-The Bitter End

"Everywhere I turn people seem to be ceaselessly at odds- tearing each other down and devaluing the ideas, efforts, and lifestyles of others. Regardless of whether its music, art, style, ideas, beliefs, or lifestyle choices, it appears that there's no shortage of people read to give a cutting remark towards someone who differs from them or stands out from the crowd. This criticism is something that so many of us take part in and also fall victim to and whether its words spoken, or written on a page or a screen, there's little question of the hurt that can be caused and I have to ask- What is gained by it? Is it a feeling of superiority for knowing more or having the "right" ideas about something? Is it a feeling of validity for having "better" taste or being "real"? Or is it something more? The times we live are marked with social, political and economic turmoil and perhaps we've become so filled with fear that we've learned to tear others down just so we can build up our own self image. Maybe the degradation of others has become just another means of protecting ourselves from a world that seems so hostile. Are we really that vulnerable? Do we really want to live that way?

So how can we escape this trap of criticism where its always us versus them, and me against you? Praise- offering genuine appreciation and encouragement to others simply for the people that they are and the efforts that they make. This goes beyond just casting off the urge to tear others down- it means honoring the people we meet, celebrating the differances that help define us as individuals while striving to find the things which bind us together, and most importantly taking the time each day to let others know the things that you value in them. Its not an easy thing to do- in fact opening ourselves up to people in this manner may be truly against the grain. But, if we atleast attempt to bring the praise of others into our daily lives just think of the difference it could make! I know all of this sounds too hopeful but in a world that seems so cynical don't you think it's time we try to offer some
support and encouragement to each other? I believe that the power to offer people that kind of comfort lies within the hands of each of us, and I feel that only when we learn to praise others can we start to find any real peace within ourselves and in the world around us. Our world needs praise."
-Aram Arslanian

The man who wrote this, Aram, just happens to be in 3 of the most inspirational bands of this generation of hardcore (to me atleast). The First Step, Champion and Betrayed. All of these bands have played a very pivatal role in my introduction to hardcore as a kid, and have helped me make many positive decisions to get me where I am today.
I picked up a record from the band Right Idea called Our World not too long ago, which is on React Records (also owned by Aram) and lately I have been feeling down and not so positive on the things I have to look forward to in my life, And I havent been too sure why. Anyways, listening to this record today and reading that qoute have really helped me get my mind on the right track. Thanks Aram, Thanks Right Idea.

Take a second to check out Betrayed, Champion or The First Step.
Promise you wont be disappointed.

Heres a download of Right Idea-Our World
if you like it, be sure and support them, by going to a show, or buying the record!

Track List

1 Alert!
2 That's Not You
3 Clear Your Head
4 Clean Break
5 Our World
6 You Sink
7 Searching For Meaning
8 On Edge

DOWNLOAD!


Thanks for checking in, until next time.

-Nathan

Thursday, September 24, 2009

The Contortionist-Oscillator



I spent the last 2 hours or so, sketching up differant cartoon characters, and coming up with a couple differant ideas for some new stickers. Last year I picked up a Juxtapoz mag, and inside is featured an artist that goes by the name of Ghost, out of Queens, New York. He has been into the street art culture for over 20 years, and he does alot of work with cartoon characters and bright colors. I definatly have been getting alot of inspiration and ideas from him. You can get more info on him at CousinFrank.com



I also wanted to note, that my first 2 official post's happen to be related to "ghost" in some way. Funny how the world works eh?

PS-I have been naming the title of the posts by what I am currently listening to, I definatly encourage anyone to check out any band, or any artist posted, I'm sure they wouldn't mind? Maybe I'll get a cut from the record company for promotion one day?

Thanks for checkin in today,
until next time!

-Nathan