Reasons you may know Todd Slater:

• He has designed limited edition tour posters for artists such as; Morrissey, The Strokes, Muse, Mars Volta, The Beastie Boys, Modest Mouse and Radiohead.
• If you have been to a Dead Weather or Ween show in the last few years, you have probably seen his posters for sale.

Why might someone think they know Todd Slater? “People know me from my concert posters. That sort defines who I am. ”

What was the first concert you remember going to? “It was in Austin, I was 12 or 13 years old and it was NOFX at Liberty Lunch, a venue that is no longer around. I remember being excited to see people with green and purple mo-hawks. I am 31 now. Clubs seemed to be really relaxed with ages at that time.”

What was your favorite concert your saw this year? “It would probably have to be – Ween at Stubbs in Austin, TX. I also liked Meat Puppets at Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle. I was there for a poster convention. Almost all the shows I ever see are in Texas, so it was nice to see one outside of Texas.”

What is your favorite thing on the menu at Stubbs Bbq in Austin? “I like their brisket. I like their sauce. They sell it at the grocery store.”

What was the most intimidating artist you designed a poster for? “It was the White Stripes. Rob Jones does pretty much all their stuff. It was about 2004, I graduated from college about 2 years before. I was working in a t-shirt shop in Nacogdoches. I was learning screenprinting and was doing these unsolicited White Stripes posters. I would make an unsolicited poster, with no approval,  would print it out Kinkos, I would mail it to the tour mgr to the next date on the tour, didn’t even know the tour manager’s name. Then he called me and said he didn’t like it. (Todd starts laughing.) The tour manager was nice, said he already had someone doing work, but that he would give me a shot. It was really exciting to even get the phone call. Then in the coming years, I met Rob Jones in Austin and he sort of became a mentor. I started to build a relationship with Jack White related projects. But, still that talent is intimidating.”

(pictured above is the unsolicited print that got Todd essentially on Jack White’s radar)

Have you ever branched into album art? “I did 6 vinyl singles for the Dead Weather in 2009, they printed about 100 of each of them. I would like to do album art, but it really isn’t something I have pursued or that has pursued me.”

What day or situation would you say to yourself “I have made it”? “Oh okay. I really still don’t feel like I have made it. Because I feel like, I almost laugh when I say this, but I feel like art careers are so finicky, that I will never feel my safety zone and I can say that I have made it. I think consistently getting work with bands you like (Ween, White Stripes) that is rewarding, I feel lucky. I never really felt like I have made it.”

What are a few of your favorite books as a child? “My parents made me read a lot. My dad writes for a newspaper in Texas. My mother is an English teacher. So as a result I had to read a lot. I hated most books back then, but looking back some of them had an impact on me. Like Atlas Shrugged, Trouble In Bugland. I would say Hunter Thompson had an impact on me in my early 20′s, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, a lot of my imagery is guided by that now.”

Were you the kid in class that sketched all over your notebooks? (Todd laughs, so I take it he knows what I am talking about.) “Yes, I sketched all over my notebooks. All the way through college, through Art History. I keep sketchbooks now, I am insecure about showing them to people. I never post anything online from a sketchbook.”

What is your process for choosing colors? “If you listen long enough to a band’s music you get a gut instinct or a vibe or a feeling that is like, oh I think I am going to use blues and silvers. Kind of like listening to the music, is what pieces together scraps and parts of the poster.”

Do you collect posters and if so what do you look for? “I trade a lot of posters with other artists. I would say just someone that has the craftsmanship and takes care in their work. Someone that has a good sense of design. Good draftsman. Showing me something I haven’t seen before. Layered colors in an interesting way or split fountains in print.”

What is something you geek out over? “Well, umm lots of things. Star Wars miniatures. There is basically game like Dungeons And Dragons but with Star Wars characters, my friends and I played that for many years. There is that. I also collect vintage basketball cards from the 70′s. I have a lot of e-bay alerts for stuff. You told me to geek out.”

(Todd’s collection of Star Wars minis pictured above)

How do you celebrate when you finish a poster design? “Oh my god. I go to sleep. All the posters I have done, I don’t really have a formula for making for them. I approach of them pretty differently. I am trying to make new ways to make new posters. I am concerned with not doing one the same way. Which leads to taking a bit longer for things. If I have a deadline of 9 am I pretty much go straight to the deadline. My printer in Seattle hates it, he has so many quick turn around for me.”

Do you have a specific place you go to when you want to be inspired? “That is a good question. I mean I don’t go a certain place. My office is where I work, its a converted garage int he suburbs. There is just piles around my desk of stuff I like, magazine clippings, books, just anything that I think might be inspirational. I sort of live around these piles, if I need to be inspired.”

What is the closest thing to you now? “Well lets see, there are couple of art books. There is a book by a Chicago painter named Ed Paschke. There is a book on retrospective by William T. Wiley. There is a book by Westermann another Chicago artist.”

If you could pick the brain of any artist whose would you choose? “I mean, I would say that Picasso is probably the most important artist in what I do, because at the time he was so inventive and radical. He stylized things in a way no one was seen. If I could talk to him, I would try to tap into that. I would want to see how I could see things in a new way.”

What music have you had on constant rotation? “I had ‘Congratulations’ on running, cause I just did a new MGMT poster. It was for a single date at the Borgata in Atlantic City on August 21st. I have had some older Mogwai playing. I was just listening to Yo La Tengo’s Summer Sun, I really like that album.”

MGMT – ‘Congratulations’ mp3

If you could travel to any 3 places in the world where would you want to go?
“NYC would be my number one. I want to live there one day. I have been there twice for vacation. I would say New Zealand, along the trails of Mordor. I would say doing some kind of visit to Japan, if I had to choose a city I would say Tokyo.”

Where is one place you recommend someone go eat in your hometown?
“Oh okay. I am in a suburb 10 minutes or so outside of Austin. Round Rock. There is a little town called Driftwood that has a place called Salt Lick BBQ. In Round Rock there is a well known bakery called Lonestar Donuts, grew up eating their stuff. Gotta get a Mexican food place too. Umm. Okay, in Austin Juan In A Million for breakfast tacos. The owner greets you with a hardy handshake and the food.”

Lastly, what print do you get the most people contacting you about? “Neil Young print.”

:::::::: So, You Think You Know Todd Slater? :::::::::::

Familiarize yourself with more of Todd’s amazing work on his website.

Check back each week for a new So, You Think You Know Me interview. In case you missed last weeks you can click here to get to know Rusko.

MGMT – Flash Delierium

I have a mix I made it back in September to share. It has a lot of my fave tunes from 2008 in it and some sneaky older ones.

Hunk The Drunk – Music To Ride Your Bike To

50min

tracklist:

Johnny Cash – Port Of Lonely Hearts (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)
The Glimmers – Physical
Vampire Weekend – Walcott (Insane Mix)
Yacht ft Claire L. Evans- Summer Song
Lykke Li – Little Bit (Mattas Berlin Remix)
Crystal Castles – Courtship Dating
MGMT – Electric Feel (Jutice Remix)
Donald Byrd – Love Has Come Around
South Rakkas Crew – Hotter Than Them
Inner City – Big Fun
A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray
Moby – I like To Move In Here (Crookers Remix)
Chromeo – Fancy Footwork (Crookers Remix)
The Gaylettes – Son Of A Preacher Man
PRGz – Bama Gettin Money (Diplo Remix)
Metronomy – Heartbreaker
Esau Mwamwaya – Chalo
Township Funk – Mujava
MGMT – Kids (Soulwax Nit Version)

In 2008 I hit an all time high caught in a whirlwind of quality people, copious amount of “must go to” gigs and moments on the dance floor where I just wanted to stop time. I’m so thankful and fortunate to have experienced over 160 performances this year.

I’ve seen a considerable change in stage presence for artists I’ve seen several times. 2008 was a big year for letting loose, here’s my choice for Most Improved live acts of 2008

-Mmmm

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Chromeo
from Oct 4, 07 @ Fabric
to Oct 12, 08 @ the Commodore

Surkin – Chrome Knight feat. Chromeo

They have always been two true friends out to have a good time and share the electrofunk that they’ve been brewing up in their basement. Add a splash of Red Bull production to The Big Bang @ the Commodore, there was no choice for the overflowing abundance of Chromeo lovers to break out the fancy footwork and cheer them back onto the stage several times for an encore galore.

MGMT
from Feb. 1 08 @ The Bourbon
to April 6 08 @ Coachella

MGMT – Of Moons Birds and Monsters (Holy Ghost! Remix)

I was surprised to hear that MGMT was opening for Yeasayer @ the Bourbon in Feb. It was hands down a sold out double bill, but it was obvious by their performance that they were like a deer caught in a head-on collision of success from their debut album Oracular Spectacular. From the Bourbon to the Coachella performance it appeared that they got a lil’ grip on their success. The trio song encore at Coachella, Electric Feel, Time to Pretend, and Kids made me jump to my feet to shake what little I had being sun drunk and immobilized by fun cookies. I truly wonder who they will pass on the torch to in 2009. Who will have the same caliber of music?

Justice
from Oct 13, 07 @ the Commodore
to March 25, 08 @ the Commodore

Birdy Nam Nam – The Parachute Ending (Prod. by JUSTICE)

Their religious obsession with towering stacks of speakers and synths spilling with wires made me think, what are they really doing up there? on the internet? In any case, besides the slap-ass bass & synths it was great to witness how personable they can be. For the first time ever ½ of Justice, Xavier de Rosnay, walked out onto the crowd like we were water, and was held up high.  Not only that, he exited the front doors with the sheep like fans in tow and the strict Commodore security wouldn’t let him back in.

WE ARE ENDING THE YEAR OFF WITH A BUNCH OF BEST OF LISTZ!


To get things started we have Hunk’s picks for the best albums of 2008.

10. Cut Copy [In Ghost Colours]

2008 was a big year for Australian music. In Ghost Colours was the highly anticipated, follow up to the groups 2003 debut which rescued electronic music from the death grips of the sub-genred, drugged-out route it was going in.  The album proved the wait was worthwhile, it’s a pleasurable listen from beginning to end.  The album also added fuel to the disco resurgence as well as keeping the retro 80′s vibe alive.

Cut Copy – Feel The Love


9. MGMT [Oracular Spectacular]

MGMT were easily one, if not the most remixed group of 2008.  This album really grew on me and i think others as well as its now, as of recent being played on mainstream radio.  The band was easily one of the most up hyped groups and deservingly so, although id say they are bordering on overplay and in definite need of some new tracks to add to the fire.

MGMT – Kids

8. Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit [The Very Best]

Diplo & Santogold [Top Ranking] &

Girl Talk [Feed The Animals]

3-Way Tie

disclaimer: I couldn’t decide between these and decided that they’re all similar being “mixes”, made up of bits of already composed music.

2008 was the year of the promotional, internet distributed mix tape.  Diplo followed up his 2005 MIA mix tape effort, Piracy Funds Terrorism and reminded everyone that he’s still a major player in the game with this 35 track 80 minute journey through reggae, electro, hip hop and the kitchen sink.  Top Ranking is truly an enjoyable listen, featuring the ebs and flow, peaks and valley missing from lesser mixes.  Alongwith showcasing Santogold work, the remix work takes this album beyond a simple collection of songs into something worthy of a top spot amongst albums of original content.

Diplo vs Santogold – Top Ranking – I’m a Lady (Diplo Mix ft Amanda Blank)

2008 introduced Esau Mwamwaya and his take on African music to the mainstream music world.   Teaming up with Radioclit, the pair have created something completely unique by adding an African element to more traditional sampling . There upcoming debut release is high up on the albums to look forward to in 2009 list. Oh and did I mention, this and the above we’re released for free via the net. (search the archives for them)

The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) – Hide & Seek

Dj’s of the world take note, nobody rocked a party quite as hard as Greg Gillis did in 2008.  Laptop djing once looked down upon is looking to be the future.  Nobody has ever mixed as many genres as successfully as “Feed The Animals” does and everyone from frat boys to discerning music snobs have seemed to take notice to the mass appeal of it all.   My only complaint is that the album is so ADD and party that you really have to be ready to go if your putting this album on, but is that really a bad thing?

Girl Talk – Still Here


7. The Dodos [Visiteur]

Slightly lesser knowns, The Dodos have put together an excellent solid debut showcasing their art folk sound.  The drumming on the album alone is worthy of a spot on my list.  Pitchfork drew warranted comparison to Led Zepplin – III.  All they need to do now is come back and play Vancouver again.  Please…

The Dodos – Jodi


6. Chad VanGaalen [Soft Airplane]

This album has replaced the spot once held by VanGaalen’s 2004 debut “Infiniheart” as one of my all time favorite albums.  CVG is often compared to Neil Young with his peicingly soft falsetto voice, with this album I think he has surpassed those comparisons by making this remarkable piece of art.  His home-made basement aesthetic provides an unmatched intimacy.  My only complaint is that he always pushes the experimental envelope a little too far on one or two songs, without those tracks the album would play out better, and would be number one on my list.  However, there’s no way CVG could of ever gotten to the place he is now without constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to his unique sound.

Chad VanGaalen – Molten Light


5. Fleet Foxes [self titled]

I don’t think there was a single person in the room that didn’t feel a shiver pass through them, with the opening notes of their live show here in Vancouver, this album is like that.  Their musicianship is excellent, their debut self titled album is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes stale indie rock sound where a lot of bands end up sounding the same.  Almost a re visitation to the folk sound of the 60’s but with a unique twist on things as if the group has existed in a void, isolated from everything else going on in music.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal


4.Born Ruffians – [Red, Yellow & Blue]

People are still sleeping on this little Toronto band. Their live act will blow you away.  Their album Red, Yellow and Blue is stocked full of indie barn funk jams and their call and answer style is dancey as fuck, what ever that means?  Go and listen to them for yourself and then we can discuss this in further detail.

Born Ruffians – Foxes Mate For Life


3. Bon Iver [For Emma, Forever Ago]

The internet is finally going nuts on Bon Iver (pronounced EEVUR) as they are currently at the top of the Hype Machines most blogged artists.  This album fills the void when it’s been a long day and you need something soothing to get you back home.  For Emma, Forever might be my most listened to album as well (blogging is really hard on the soul).  

Bon Iver – For Emma


2.Crystal Castles [Self Titled]

Easily the best thing to happen to electronic music as of recent saw it being fused with elements of hardcore and, dare I say, goth-rave meets the video arcade on acid.  The group’s minimalist sound with the cut up vocals of lead Alice Glass charted new territory sampling everything from what sounds like he-man cartoons to the 8 bit sounds of a nintendo gameboy, the album found a perfect fit with me in 2008.  While the biggest hit of the album, Crimewave got a lot of people’s attention, the other album tracks provide greater depth into all that is CC and are just as good, if not better.  The enigmatic group’s explosive live performances led by vocalist Alice Glass (Maybe the hottest “indie Cindy” of 2008) also helped.

Crystal Castles – Vanished


1.Vampire Weekend [Self Titled]

Definitely one of the most loved and hated groups of 2008, it’s almost as if some people hold having an ivy league education and their listenability against them??  Their influences are diverse, a little bit of Africa, a lot of New York and something that’s reminiscent of a feel good 80′s movie about girls.  I think they made a lot of new fans with their their live act as they are truly talented musicians both when playing live and in the orchestration on the album.  Their self titled debut took top spot for me as there isn’t a bad song on it, their sound is distinct, enjoyable and survivable of intense multiple listenings.  If I could time travel to the future and bring back any album it would be their next output. 

Vampire Weekend – I Stand Corrected


Honorable mentions to:

Yo! Majesty – Futuristically Speaking: Never Be Afraid for helping to usher out the 50 cent era, bringing life back to hip hop and showing that they’re here to stay. Radiohead – In Rainbows, definately could of been on my list but they’re Radiohead everything they do is great, you don’t need me to tell you that.  The Ting Tings -We Started Nothing, because there is nothing like getting slapped around a bit by a rocker chick even if they do get a little too poppy.  Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell for being Canadian, Lykke Li – Youth Novels if only for her unique voice and lyrics. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III for making me actually like something Lil and for his improvisational rapping style n lyrics.  Hot Chip – Made In The Dark for continuing to be Hot Chip and making me wish I needed glasses so that i could wear some like, Alexis Taylor’s. I must say also Tv on the Radio’s Dear Science and Portishead’s Third as I have to admit that I still havn’t listened to them but have heard they probably could of made the list as well as a few others i might of missed but there’s only so many hours in a day and far too much good music to listen to.

Nice shades!

This is terrible, I know… but I still like it.

Katy Perry (feat Yelle) – Hot n Cold

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT cover)

I found this over a BFF, Sheena Beaston‘s site.  It’s from MGMT’s first album back when they were known as “The Management”.  

The Management (MGMT) - Honey Bunny

Belgium’s Soulwax have been setting the internet ablaze as of recent.  

They’ve done a stelar remix for the launch of the Chemical Brothers best of disc, revisiting their 1999 track “Hey Boy Hey Girl” which they have released for free at the Chems’ myspace.  

The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy, Hey Girl (Soulwax Remix)

Next up for the guys, youtube clips from Soulwax and Erol Alkan dj sets have been making the rounds with particular attention being paid to a yet unreleased Soulwax MGMT “Kids” remix.  

Im the last person to ask for yet another MGMT remix, but my gosh this one is a banger.  Definitely the best MGMT remix so far.  Check out a set rip of the track below and join the hype bandwagon eagerly awaiting it’s release.

MGMT – Kids (Soulwax Nite version)

In other Soulwax news…. The Soulwax documentary, “Part Of The Weekend Never Dies” is being released on dvd September 8th.  The doc was shot with one camera over 120 shows following the band through Europe, Japan, the US, Latin America and Australia. See trailers below.

They will also be coming to Vancouver, October 29th @ The Plaza !!! (tickets on sale soon)

[youtube width="425" height="355"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tk4f3I8cnA[/youtube]

[youtube width="425" height="355"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3tTGb-PiCw[/youtube]