I Wish I Had A River

It's been a rough past couple days. Maybe the roughest. 


Me and my friends always joke around about how applicable the movie You've Got Mail is to everyday life and how quotable. 

"Do you know that Joni Mitchell song? "I wish I had a river I could skate away on?" It's such a sad song, and not really about Christmas at all, but I was thinking about it tonight.." 

Yet again You've Got Mail imitates life as I sit here and listen to "River." Maybe I'm not Meg Ryan and maybe the lyrics to this song don't fully apply or make sense to me, but it's a beautifully sad song and sometimes I do wish I had a river I could skate away on. Sometimes you just feel helpless. But life isn't easy, and at least I know I can count on God for a merciful hand and to help give me some clarity when the going gets tough. Here's the rest of my playlist for the night. More thinking, writing, praying, hoping...


- Amy

Another Playlist for You: Featuring Ryan Bingham, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians, The Clash & Oh So Much More

Another Playlist: featuring Morrissey, Dead Man's Bones, Black Sabbath & more...

Another playlist to tickle your ears. Some good ole' rock n' roll to get through this CRAZY busy day of designing, phone calls and illustrating. Maybe one of these days I'll actually post some art again. Someday... (Cue the playlist.)

 -Amy

Design Playlist for The Day, Nick 13, & Joining A Rockabilly Band

Random, but oh-so good. Also, presale for the new Nick 13 [see Fig. 1] album starts today and I am SO excited! His solo music was so good live. You can get a free download of "Carry My Body Down" here. Trust me - you want it.

[ Nick 13 in all his countrified glory. ]

I can't help it, I love rockabilly and bluegrass. Which reminds me that my oldest and dearest friend Liz Logsdon recently pitched the idea of us starting a chick bluegrass/rockabilly band - me on fiddle, Jen on keys and Liz on guitar, all of us sharing vocals in a lovely (but badass) three part harmony. Watch out music world - we're comin' for ya. The fact that she lives in Michigan and we live in sunny Southern California might pose a slight problem - but distance can't break this dream!  Currently at the top of our list of band name ideas is "Mama Liz and The Hoodlums," which is fairly close to the name of the band we always planned on starting in highschool - "Champion Liz and The Twin Posse". Even if we just play a seedy dive every time we reunite for a visit, that would be ok by me.


Enjoy!
- Amy

Rad Illustrations from Mapache Salado, My Current Playlist, & The Mysterious Origin of Nicknames

INSPIRATION OF THE DAY: Mapache Salado, Spanish Illustrator/Artist


Mapache Salado (which translates in Spanish as Salted Racoon) is the stage name for Spanish artist Alvaro Lope Morales Quevedo. I wonder how he got that nickname. Nicknames can be funny like that. Even with the basic uninspired nickname. Like, how do you get Bill from William or Dick from Richard? I digress. He has great line work and I love how he uses geometric shapes in his art. It's almost like Native American war paint or something. I also love the theme of diamonds throughout his work. Makes me want to break into Pink Floyd's "Shine On...". Short post. Tons of work, not enough time, and feeling pretty lousy today. Here's my playlist to get psyched for working on freelance design work!


Velvet Underground - Rock N' Roll

Elvis Costello - I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea

Social Distortion - Sometimes I Do

The Jam - Down in the Tube At Midnight

The Smiths - There is A Light That Never Goes Out

Johnny Cash - God's Gonna Cut You Down

The Strokes - Someday

The Clash - Know Your Rights

Elvis Costello - This Year's Girl

The Smiths - The More you Ignore Me, The Closer I Get

The Clash - Train in Vain

Brian Jonestown Massacre - Nevertheless

Social Distortion - Don't Take Me For Granted

Richard Hawley - Tonight The Streets Are Ours

David Bowie - Let me Sleep Beside You

Amazing Baby - Headdress

The Replacements - If Only You Were Lonely

Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - One Track Mind

Elvis Costello - Peace In Our Times
The Libertines - Don't Look Back Into The Sun

Cheers

- Amy

Listening to: The Jam, "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight"