Design Freaks

Bob Bert is a New Jersey based drummer, writer, and punk rock veteran whose resume includes Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, Knoxville Girls and Lydia Lunch. His debut solo record Beach Bongo Bloodbath is due out June 12th via Bar None Records. Bob shares the process and inspiration behind the new record, which is largely made up of an eclectic collection of covers. We learn how a specific percussion setup shaped the record, how he chose the songs to record and why Beach Bongo Bloodbath is a guitar-free recording.The two discuss Bob’s recording process, Bob shares the details for the jam-packed record release event and we hear some new tunes. Bob BertBar None RecordsTour Stories would like to welcome our newest sponsor Kuma Coffee. Kuma Coffee is a 100% Independently owned roasting company right here in Seattle since 2008. Kuma is a 5-person team, roasting over 100,000lbs of exclusively high scoring coffee each year. They source their coffees direct from origin and pay well over fair trade pricing to farmers. This guarantees the highest quality, while supporting rural farming communities throughout the Global SouthThey also just launched an instant coffee… (Joe’s favorite instant)Find everything Kuma at Kumacoffee.comEpisode supported by our friends Izotope This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 and RX 12 and master with the best and solve the unsolvable 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout.Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now offers Bandzoogle where you can build your bands website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokidEp supported by Heil Sound. For 60 years, Heil Sound has provided innovative, professional quality sound for stage, studio, broadcast, and podcast. Grammy-winning artists and sound engineers worldwide trust Heil microphones for their legendary sound. To find out more about the full line of Heil microphones and products, visit heilsound.com.Mentioned in this episode:DistrokidKuma CoffeeHeil sound"For 60 years, Heil Sound has provided innovative, professional quality sound for stage, studio, broadcast, and podcast. Grammy-winning artists and sound engineers worldwide trust Heil microphones for their legendary sound. To find out more about the full line of Heil microphones and products, visit heilsound.com.Izotope

For episode 80 I spoke with SFI Recordings label owner, musician, art director, printer, and designer Andrew Crawshaw!Andrew and I talk about his creative origins, Broken Press printing, screen printing ALL their amazing record sleeves and cassette packaging, designers for SFI, his passion for tactile pieces, a harrowing health ordeal, the new SOMAFREE INSTITUTE release, and what else is coming up next! Thanks for tuning in!Design Freaks on YouTube and wherever you get podcasts. This episode is sponsored by @distrokid 🎵➡️ distrokid.com/vip/designfreaks for a 30% discount!Follow SFI and Broken Press:https://sfirecordings.bandcamp.com/https://www.instagram.com/brokenpressdesign/https://www.discogs.com/label/1646380-SFI-Recordshttps://brokenpressdesignandprint.com/Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTubelinktr.ee/DesignFreaksdesignfreakspodcast.comRuinousmedia.comDonate to help with recording costs Thank you!Videos:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj4kCD4rTGd6k3TcrLRWWWA

Design Freaks 79 is a remix of episode 30 (published March 2021) on British graphic designer and musician, Julian House. I’m revisiting this and remixing with visuals because 1. JH is one of my favorite designers of all time 2. Warp Records has announced a pair of Broadcast demo collections, saying they will be the final releases from the duo (May and September, 2024).I also focus on his work with INTRO (London-based design studio) for CAN, Ghost Box Records, and independent work for Broadcast and Stereolab. PLUS the origin story of "Cliff", Stereolab's cartoon mascot! This episode is sponsored by @distrokid 🎵➡️ distrokid.com/vip/designfreaks for a 30% discount!Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTubelinktr.ee/DesignFreaksdesignfreakspodcast.comRuinousmedia.comDonate to help with recording costs Thank you!Theme music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged Bug, courtesy of John DwyerSources:https://broadcast.warp.net/https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Arits/the_cover_art_of_julian_house/https://www.fiveriserecords.co.uk/product/stereolab-margerine-eclipse/https://dangerousminds.net/comments/the_intriguing_origins_of_cliff_the_cartoon_characterintro-uk.com/category/creative/julian-house/ https://youtu.be/2qHfoj6xTng?si=toaps-i-__WIRrechttps://youtu.be/SKOPh5ZEciQhttps://pitchfork.com/news/broadcast-demos-collected-on-two-new-albums-listen-to-follow-the-light/https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5GIk9buiQu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

CAN = "LIFE". In this mini DFCAC episode, I investigated the cover for CAN's 1972 release, Ege Bamyasi. Designed by the dynamic duo, Ingo Trauer and Richard J. Rudow, this is one of my favorite CAN records – it features Damo Suzuki and some of their most memorable songs. I go over two separate stories about the name Ege Bamyasi (Turkish for Aegean Okra), the recent Damo documentary, and what I was able to find out about Ingo.Check out the youtube for companion visuals or listen wherever you get podcasts. Thank you for tuning in! Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTubeSubscribe wherever you get podcasts! linktr.ee/DesignFreaksThis episode is sponsored by @distrokid 🎵➡️ distrokid.com/vip/designfreaks for a 30% discount!~~Donate to help with recording costs Thank you!~~Theme music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged Bug, courtesy of John Dwyer~~SOURCEShttps://www.discogs.com/release/12469110-Can-Ege-Bamyasihttps://www.discogs.com/style/krautrockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ege_Bamyasihttps://www.weser-kurier.de/bremen/wie-ein-bremer-das-woodstock-festival-erlebte-doc7e4cstuxe2u4xjpm5bqhttps://www.weser-kurier.de/ratgeber/ein-pures-vergnuegen-doc7e40b22xh8510jctg5nihttps://monolithcocktail.com/a-z/archive/can-ege-bamyasi/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat-Clubhttps://youtu.be/tKL_jZkJopA?si=Kpw0PIh_3rayeue5LEARN MORE ABOUT CAN AND DAMO SUZUKIhttps://youtu.be/B30OnElAv5o?si=MsZttXzxH3gR0gaXENERGY: DAMO SUZUKI DOCUMENTARY BY Michelle HeighwayNow available to watch on Vimeo – https://vimeo.com/ondemand/energythefilm•Energy: A Documentary About Damo Suzuki - is now available as a limited DVD run of 500.•Energy is a testament to an eternally inspiring and empathic artistic spirit.https://linktr.ee/energythefilmLIGHT A CANDLE FOR INGO TRAUERhttps://trauer.weser-kurier.de/traueranzeige/ingo-trauer/gedenkkerzen

For episode 77 I spoke with poster artist and designer Federico “Fez” Moreno!Fez and I talk about his creative origins, visual inspiration beyond the 60s, design process, passion for analogue pen and ink, his days in the Electric Church, light shows, Austin woes, and of course psychedelia. Thanks for tuning in!Follow Fez @fezmorenofogwoodsounds.bandcamp.comSpacemachine.bandcamp.comIntensivecareunit.bandcamp.comchromaticcurrents.bandcamp.comThis episode is sponsored by @distrokid 🎵➡️ distrokid.com/vip/designfreaks for a 30% discount!Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTubelinktr.ee/DesignFreaks~~Designfreakspodcast.comRuinousmedia.com~~Donate to help with recording costs Thank you!~~Theme music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged Bug, courtesy of John Dwyer“Cosmic Mystery” by Space Machine, courtesy of Fez Moreno

In this mini DFCAC episode, I dive into the cover for Janelle Monae’s ambitious 2010 concept album, The ArchAndroid. I discuss the story of her alter ego–time traveling android Cindi Mayweather, the art deco glory of her crown, references to Metropolis, the Matrix, Sun Ra, Afrofuturism, magick, creative talents Nate “Rocket” Wonder and Chuck Lightning! Check out the youtube for companion visuals or listen wherever you get podcasts. Thank you for tuning in! Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTubeSubscribe wherever you get podcasts! linktr.ee/DesignFreaks~~Donate to help with recording costs Thank you!~~Theme music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged Bug, courtesy of John Dwyer~~SOURCEShttps://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/features/66012/https://www.thenation.com/article/society/metropolis-workers-class-uprising/https://www.eruditorumpress.com/blog/a-short-guide-to-janelle-mone-and-the-metropolis-sagahttps://www.grammy.com/news/2023-in-review-5-rb-trends-sza-summer-walkerhttps://www.mixonline.com/recording/wonder-lightning-meet-duo-behind-janelle-monae-and-deep-cotton-366458

It's my first show of 2024! For episode 75 I chatted with Jeff Kleinsmith, Adem Tepedelen, James Halada, and Shane Bastian – members of 90's Seattle band Stymie. Jeff is VP of Creative at Sub Pop Records and he was also my guest for episode 46. This time we talk Toil & Folly, Stymie's new release on their label New Rage Records.Hear about Jeff’s design process for this record, their other bands, New Rage, epic shows, and days at the Rocket Magazine–four of the six members of Stymie worked at the Rocket at one point!From the band:We raided the New Rage Records vaults to bring you Stymie’s first full-length effort, Toil & Folly. This is an unearthed Seattle gem from the early 90s, a perfect document of a band equally influenced by grunge, noisy indie rock and other heavy sounds of the era. Toil & Folly is a collection of (mostly) previously unreleased material recorded in Seattle between 1992-1995. The majority of the songs were recorded and mixed by noted indie rock producer/engineer Phil Ek (Built to Spill, Earth, Truly, Big Business) and all tracks were freshly remastered in 2021 by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering.Take a trip into Seattle's underground past and learn about how this record came to be. Design Freaks on Youtube and wherever you get podcasts. Thanks for tuning in!This episode is sponsored by Distrokid.Check out distrokid.com/vip/designfreaks for a 30% discount! Follow Stymie: https://stymie-band.bandcamp.com/album/toil-folly@stymie_bandFollow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTube~~Designfreakspodcast.comRuinousmedia.com~~Donate to help with recording costs Thank you!~~Theme music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged BugAll other music by Stymie

I spoke with Seattle record shop owner Brad Tilbe of Nellis Records! He shared some stories from his time running the Light in the Attic record shop in Seattle Center, and transitioning into a record shop owner. We talk about his store moving into the building that formerly housed the Lo-Fi Performance Gallery (and the other new tenants in the space), aligning goals with the Vera Project and the Black Lodge, his ethos and commitment to community building, his beloved Nick Drake box set design, Ian and Baxter Dury covers, and lots more….thanks for tuning in!   “He’s got a very cool and weird taste in music that doesn’t necessarily fit in a conventional space…and so do we. So it made perfect sense.” – Ricky Graboski, Executive Director at The Vera ProjectThe Vera Project is an all-ages nonprofit space dedicated to fostering personal and community transformation through collaborative, youth-driven engagement in music and art. A music venue, screen print shop, recording studio, art gallery, and safe space for radical self-expression, VERA is a home to Seattle’s creative community.Thanks for tuning in! This episode is sponsored by Distrokid.Check out distrokid.com/vip/designfreaks for a 30% discount! Follow Brad @nellisrecordsNellis Records on Facebookhttps://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/diy-music-venue-black-lodge-reopens-in-seattles-south-lake-union/Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTubeSubscribe wherever you get podcasts! linktr.ee/DesignFreaks~~Donate to help with recording costs Thank you!~~Theme music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged Bug, courtesy of John Dwyer

In this mini DFCAC episode, I dive into the lore and people behind Lou Reed's second solo studio album, Transformer. The photography of Mick Rock and Karl Stoecker, graphic designer and model Ernie Thormahlen, glam and drag: the people who inspired Lou’s lyrics, reasoning behind the font choice Electus as: ‘Transformer’ – high voltage – the electrical connotation of a transformer, and also the blurred lines concerning Lou’s career and even his sexuality….and as usual, I explore connections to so many other great covers.I could have gone on for hours about each one of those subjects so consider this episode a loving introduction to this cover and its many fascinating components. Check out the youtube for companion visuals or listen wherever you get podcasts. Thank you for tuning in! Follow the show: @_designfreakspodcast_Design Freaks on YouTubeSubscribe wherever you get podcasts! linktr.ee/DesignFreaksCheck out episode 53 WITH MASAKI KOIKE, DESIGNER OF LOU REED WORDS & MUSIC 1965 to learn more about the design and packaging nominated for Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package, Grammy Awards 2024.  ~~Donate to help with recording costs Thank you!~~Theme music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged Bug, courtesy of John Dwyer~~SOURCES:https://classicalbumsundays.com/album-of-the-month-lou-reed-transformer/https://madelinex.com/2018/05/16/lou-reed-transformed/https://fontsinuse.com/uses/5054/lou-reed-transformer-album-arthttps://www.moma.org/collection/works/156019https://fontsinuse.com/uses/6663/the-electric-circus-posters-flyers-adsSupport the show

CONGRATS TO PERRY SHALL AND EL OMS FOR THEIR 2024 GRAMMY NOMINATION (BEST RECORDING PACKAGING)!!In episode 72, I let you in on this eye-popping, black light inspired design for The Arcs’ “Electrophonic Cronic” album and all the extras. Then I take a look back at my chat with Perry from May, 2020:Album designer for Easy Eye Sound and T Shirt King Perry Shall talks Philadelphia, working for Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), his Covid cartoon series, his t-shirt show, Questlove, Harry Nillson, 90's bar mitzvah holodeck, and becoming friends with Gilbert Gottfried!Thanks for tuning in! FOLLOW PERRY:@perryshall@t_time_shirtshowwww.perryshall.comhttps://wildflowersofamerica.bandcamp.com/VIDEOS!EL OMS:@el_oms_artFOLLOW DESIGN FREAKS:@_designfreakspodcast_  @ruinousmediaRuinousmedia.comdesignfreakspodcast.comDESIGN FREAKS EPISODE #37: “BLACKLIGHT POSTER POWER”Want to help support my podcast? Donate any amount here:) Thank you!Theme Music: "Jet in Jungle" by Damaged BugOutro: “Cold Blooded” by HoundSupport the show