cool things

My roommate Elliot told me to check this out. Its kind of sad but as I grow older and get more jaded its much harder for a work of art to really strike me. Or maybe that's just a refinement of taste... anyways this is one of the COOLEST things I have seen in a while. I guess that's what this blog is all about, cool things.
Dig it:

The Shrine / An Argument from Sean Pecknold on Vimeo.

Michelle MacNaught 9.22.1990 -11.20.11

Last sunday, I was hit with the horrible news that my good friend Michelle MacNaught had left us. She had been fighting stage four ovarian cancer for over a year. It is hard for me to believe that she is gone. I can still hear the echos of her laugh. It's unreal.
She was such a beautiful,down to Earth person with a love for life. She never sweated the small stuff and was always out to have a good time. I'll never forget the first night I met her, we bonded over our love for rock n' roll music and the great Irish metal band Thin Lizzy.
Not only was she a beautiful person but she was a talented artist. She created gorgeous brightly colored mono prints and etchings inspired by her love and appreciation for nature. Her woodcut prints were so graphic and powerful. She used her art as a means to cope with her sickness. Even when faced with a life threatening illness she continued to build a large body of work. On Tuesday November 15th through Thursday 17th 2011 she had an exhibition at the Leo Koenig Gallery in Chelsea. It was one of the most powerful things I have ever seen. She offered us a glimpse into her world, her struggles as she fought against her sickness. Every work was so heart felt and real, I can't remember the last time I saw a work of art nonetheless an art show that brought me to tears. It was heartbreaking. Michelle was a fighter, an inspiration to anyone graced by her presence. On this thanksgiving I am thankful to have known such an amazing person. She may have lost the battle to cancer but she won our hearts.
Michelle, you will not be forgotten.
I will forever think of you anytime I hear this song.


Here is a beautiful interview with her:

Michelle - Art. from Erica Hill Studio on Vimeo.

Dick Dale

"Misirlou" what an awesome tune by Dick Dale the king of surf guitar. Love how his backing band is gently swaying back and forth together.

A few weeks ago on a trip back to my birthplace of Torrington, Connecticut I stopped by my local Goodwill store. I am an avid thrift store shopper and can spend hours there. Anytime any of my friends accompany me they always end up having to drag me out of the store. I've visited a good amount of thrift stores in my 22 years on this Earth, and between the Salvation Army and Goodwill, Torrington always takes the cake. It never fails. Anyways, I was browsing around this Goodwill, with a shopping cart full of clothes, a record player, and a bunch of records, about to call it a day, when all of a sudden I glanced up on to a top shelf, and saw the holy grail of all thrift store finds.
Behold!

Its a lamp with a base made out of what appears to be 4 goat legs. So crazy. I keep looking at it on my desk and expect it to scurry off! It kind of creeps me out, but I love it.

I was staring at it tonight, and decided to do a sketch of it. I think it'd be cool to do weekly posts from my sketch book, even though I hate showing people my sketches, I suppose it'd be interesting to see the bare bones and beginnings to my work.

Lately my time has been dedicated to working on the art for the new Wyldlife album, which should be dropping quite soon... As soon as we get the art straightened out...
Here's a fresh new track that will be featured on the full length entitled "City of Inbreds":

In other Wyldlife news, last weekend we played a show at Webster Hall with CJ Ramone. That was pretty surreal, to share the stage with one of my heroes. My first Ramones album was Mondo Bizzaro on cassette, which I purchased from the Music Town down the street from my house. (I realize this is kind of backwards in terms of owning Ramones records, but I loved it regardless and still do.) I'd like to thank everyone who came out for the event, and for those who didn't here's a peek at the mayhem you missed:

(If you look closely you can see me and the wyldlife boys, going crazy in the front!)
RAMONES FOREVER!

The other night I went out skateboarding and decided to bring my camera along. I realized that when you set the shutter speed to a really slow setting and are skating really fast in the middle of the street you can get some cool photos.









I'll leave you with some Hound Dog Taylor featuring Little Walter:


Thanks for stopping by,

-Spencer

This looks so awesome.

Happy 4th of July!

Eat some hot dogs!

Two of the coolest cats to ever walk the face of the Earth.

We've been working hard for the past few months on our next full length album! It should be dropping mid-July!
Also, our show at Webster Hall with none other than CJ Ramone (who is playing an all Ramones set, with legendary producer Daniel Rey), is coming up on July 9th! Get your tickets here

LED ZEPPELIN RULZZZZ

Been workin, workin, workin. It never stops... ever. I've been occupied with some poster work for the band He is We, as well as album artwork for the next full length Wyldlife album. Its gonna be huge! Should be out by mid July if we get our shit together!
Anyways heres an awesome Zep vid.

What an awesome band, don't know why people are sitting down though, so lame.

-Spencer

NEW FAVORITE BAND AT THE MOMENT AWARD...

The new favorite band at the moment award goes to Jeff the Brotherhood. They are a drum and guitar duo from Nashville Tennessee. The singer plays a three stringed guitar through an Ampeg bass amp, and gets the heaviest of sounds! Apparently these S.O.B.'s played at my school and I missed it. What a bummer. Dig it.

Smith Westerns

Link Wray

Look at the swagger on this guy. Damn.

This is what I'm talking about. What a band.

Download it

Can't wait to play with these fellas on the 26th!

Hope to see you there!

New Painting!

How to make a painting of Dee Dee Ramone in less than two minutes.

T-shirts, Shows, Ramones, etc.

I've got a few Charlie Sheen "Dying is for Fools" shirts if anyone wants one get at me. Only $10, proceeds go to the "keep my ass from being broke fund."



New Wyldlife shirts! Killer Wyldlife, the Champagne of bands! Only $10 as well. Proceeds go to help support the World Wyldlife Foundation, better known as 4 hungry dudes on tour.

In other Wyldlife news... We've got two totally radical shows coming up!
The first is on May 26th at the legendary club Maxwell's in Hoboken, with the Biters, and the Booze. Two of THE BEST ROCK N ROLL BANDS I HAVE EVER SEEN/ HEARD. I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

The second is with CJ Ramone who is playing an all Ramones set at the Webster Hall studio on July 9th! Thats right folks we're opening up for a Ramone! He may not be the most well known Ramone, but he is a Ramone nonetheless. As Tommy Ramone said, C.J. kept the band young as he joined the band in the late 80's and continued with them till they disbanded in the 90's. I can remember playing bass along with CJ's basslines on the album "Mondo Bizzaro." I had the cassette! I can't begin to tell you how stoked I am for this show. I was planning on buying a ticket myself, but now I get to share the stage with the dude!!!
If anyone is interested we're pre-selling tickets for only $15.

love,
-Spencer

ITS COMING

Thats right folks! Its coming! My very own senior art show in the Purchase college Stood. There will be art by your's truly and other talented senior art & design majors. Theres going to be a ton of free food. There will be live music brought to you by The Radio Exiles, Space Ghost Cowboys, and of course Wyldlife.
It sure to be a night of rock n' roll debauchery.
The coolest cinco de mayo party you have ever been to.



Stay posted for more info.
love,
-Spencer

I was lucky enough to catch the Strokes at Madison Square Garden last week. They put on an amazing show and it was good to see them together again. One of the high points was when Elvis Costello came out and played on the new song "Taken for a Fool." Apparently he played three sets in New York City that night! So crazy!

My only faith's in the broken bones and bruises I display

Man, what a beautiful song. Thank you Bruce.


Shout out to my friend Michelle MacNaught who has been beating cancer, and is now chemo free. What a fighter.

"I am holding a wolf by the ears"

Sooo cool.

No sleep till... Cinco de Mayo!

At the moment I'm on spring break. While most college students are getting wasted in some sunny paradise, I'm still at school working tirelessly on my senior project. No work, no classes, no homework, I finally have a chance to put all my focus into this.


What is my senior project you may be asking? I'm making 2foot by 4foot woodcut portraits of all my heroes. Heres a sneak peek at some of the woodblocks I've been working on:


Beginning May 5th I'll be showing these works in the SUNY Purchase stood art gallery. Its going to be a night full of rock n' roll. Great art, free food, and I've got some great bands providing live entertainment all night long. Its going to be the cinco de mayo party of the century as far as I'm concerned. I'll give away more info about this as it develops, but for now... MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!! Speaking of calendars...Isn't the world supposed to be ending soon according to that damn Mayan calendar? You gotta live it up while you still can my friends!!!

In Wyldlife news... WE WON THE GOLDENFORK AWARD FOR BEST EMERGING ARTIST OF 2010!!! Thanks to all our fans who voted for us. The only reason this happened is because of you, and it means the world to me that you took some time out of your day to show us some love!
Check out the appetizer blog to read more about the Golden Fork awards, and hear some other cool new artists:
Golden Fork Awards

We played a benefit show the other night at this place called Barrow Mansion in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was pretty weird playing in an ancient mansion, they even had a two lane bowling alley in the basement! It was just like the last scene inThere will be blood:
This isn't it, but I thought it was pretty funny









We went off! and so did the crowd which always makes for a great show and a great time!
(Photos by Mike McNamara)
Our buddy Jim Testa wrote a nice little article about the event:
Here






Keep on winning,
-Spencer

This guy really is the best drummer ever.

Best Drummer Ever - watch more funny videos

The Strokes

So the Strokes are back together with their new album "Angles" coming out March 22nd.
Alot of people seem to be up in arms about this album, saying they're back together for all the wrong reasons. But its good to seem them again, it takes me back to seventh grade, I remember my first band jamming "Last Night" in my friend Kyle's basement. Love them or hate them here's the new single "Under Cover of Darkness."

Oh la la

So into this song right now.

My work recently has become about the things that I personally think are cool and badass, and I compiled a list of everything thats cool to me, and made this gouache painting on a big ol' 22in x30in sheet of paper!









I was commissioned to do a poster for Fluxus Friday, an art event at Purchase. I thought I'd tie it in to Valentine's day with a Giraffe and an Anteater french kissing. 2 color screenprint, edition of 40. Cool.

CSI:Miami

My roomie Al the Viper just showed me this, I've never really watched CSI Miami, but I think I might start.

Just got back from a road trip to South Carolina yesterday. I'll have some photos of that up soon. Until then check out this totally rad Social D acoustic set:


-Spencer

www.spencil1.com

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that I have gotten my butt in line, and created a website. It is currently under construction, but you can get a sneak peek here

Get ya bookmarks ready!

Ricky Powell

Check out this interview with legendary New York City photographer Ricky Powell:

My buddy Asian Jay showed me this, so good:



I finally made my first appearance on Rollingstone.com, its about time:

Can't take it with you

I've been on winter break since God knows how long. Aside from a few excursions to New Jersey, and New York for some shows, I've been at home in Connecticut. I don't have a job or any responsibilities really, its pretty funny. I get to stay up till 4 in the morning and sleep till 1 in the afternoon. It seems like I'm living the ultimate bum life, but let it be known I have been anything but a bum. I've tried to take all this free time and use it for creative things. I should never be bored.


I had an old Fender precision bass sitting in my room that needed some love, so I gave it a makeover. I coated it with some Maui Blue auto body paint (just like Leo Fender used to do), and painted a heart on the back, and a sugar skull on the front.








Mom:"What are you drawing, some fruits and vegetables?"
Me:"Uh yeah, and some skulls."
18x24 Pastel on paper

My brother let me into his netflix account so I've been watching a ton of movies and I recently came across a show called "Thumbs Up" featuring the totally badass artist David Choe. On the show he and his nephew hitchhike across the country, bumming rides, and hopping onto freight trains. It reminds me alot of Jack Kerouac's On the Road (probably my favorite book.)
Check it out:


More importantly if you haven't heard of David Choe before, you gotta check him out. The guy paints on everything from canvas's, to walls. He just doesn't give a shit, and just needs to create. This is visual rock n roll.
Heres the trailer to a doc made about him called Dirty Hands:







Check out his website: David Choe

My brother just showed me this ridiculous music video:



until next time,
love,
-Spencer

Sean

Pretty much everyday I check out the San Francisco art blog Fecal Face, and today they posted this adorable video about a 4 year old Kid named Sean who lived in the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco during the late sixties. Must've been a crazy place to grow up in.

Check it out:

California (Hustle and Flow)

The LA times just premiered a new track entitled "California (Hustle and Flow)" off Social D's new album "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes." I had heard Mike Ness say in some recent interviews that the new album is going to have a "Exile on Main street" era Stones sound, and that is quite obvious listening to this new track. Listen for yourself:

California (Hustle and Flow)

This might as well be the Social Distortion fan club blog. Damn.

-Spencer

My best of 2010

Happy new year! I hope your holidays and new years were swell. I spent my new year at the 58 Gallery in Jersey City where Wyldlife headlined the show and rocked into the new year. The place was packed full of awesome people who were dancing and singing along. Check it out for yourself:

What a crazy night...If this was how the year began, I can't wait to see what other craziness its going to bring.

Well...I'm sure you've seen a million lists by critics proclaiming what they thought was the best of 2010, but I've decided that since I have my very own blog, I might as well give you my opinion. Heres the best albums of 2010 for me:

10. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

I basically spend every moment of my life with my three roommates Ephraim, Alex, and Manuel, and as soon as this album came out they were playing it NON-STOP, which I am totally thankful for.

9. Turbo Fruits- Get Up Get Down

I saw these cats play at Purchase two semesters ago, and they killed it! They are without a doubt a band to look out for.

8. Vampire Weekend- Contra

Theres definitely a formula these guys have, but its a great one at that.

7. Titus Andronicus- the Monitor

I've always been a fan of underdog stories, and that seems to be all these guys sing about. For me they're a modern day E Street band. They're even from Jersey!

6.The Black Keys- Brothers

Over the summer these guys played two dates at the Central Park Summer stage. I didn't have any tickets but I sat outside and listened. On the second night I managed to sneak in for the end of their set, and I have to say these guys sound as good live as they do on the record.

(I don't watch much TV, but this has to be one of the best music videos of the year too.)

5. Arcade Fire- The Suburbs

"Business men drink my blood, like the kids in art school said they would." So good!

4.the Gaslight Anthem- American Slang

They're just a great blue collar rock n roll band who blew up this year. And they deserve every bit of it.

3.the Biters- Biters, and, Its ok to like Biters

Rock n Roll is my life. Its what I live for. I've played tons of shows, and seen tons of bands, and no band blew me away more in 2010 than the Biters. I've seen these guys twice, and was lucky enough to share the stage with them the second time around. They look like a power pop band that time warped straight out of New York in the 70's. And they've got a real raw rock sound, that clearly pays homage to rock music at its best. I could sit and write all day about how damn awesome these guys are, if you ever get a chance to see them do it, or in the very least grab their albums.

2. Tokyo Police Club- Champ

If there was one album that defined my summer it was this one. It was the soundtrack to my life. It seemed that everything that was happening in my life was said on this record. Funny how music can do that.

1. Social Distortion - Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes

I cheated on this one because the album's not out yet (1/18/11 to be exact) but the single "Machine Gun Blues" was out in November. If you know me, or have read my blog before, you know that these guys are my favorite band, and I'll rave about them till theres no tomorrow, and I couldn't be happier that Mike Ness and the gang are still going strong after 30 years.

Cheers to them!

So thats my list of music. I'm not even going to try ranking movies or books, because I'm too cheap to ever go to the movies, and sadly I don't usually have alot of time to sit down and read a book.

But I must say Inception was quite a thrill ride.

And Black Swan had me on the edge of my seat. It was honestly one of the craziest movies I've ever seen.

The one book I could not put down was Keith Richards memoirs "Life." This man has led a crazy life indeed, and if you've ever wondered what its like to live in excess, the fame, the drugs, the women, the rock n roll, this book will tell you.

Heres some of my favorite excerpts:

As he describes some english hecklers at a show: "And suddenly while I'm playing, this little redhead fucker flobs on me. So I move aside, and he follows me and flobs on me again and hits me in the face. So I stand in front of him again and he spits at me again and, with the stage, his head was just about near my shoe, like a penalty shot in football. I just went bang and knocked his fucking head off, with the grace of Beckham."

On partying, "The ultimate party, if its any good, you can't remember it."

On knife fighting, "The way it was explained to me, if you're going to use a blade, the winner is the one who can make a quick horizontal cut across the other's forehead. The blood will fall like a curtain, but you don't really hurt the cat that much, you just put an end to the fight because he can't see... The big rules in knife fighting are (a) do not try it at home, and (b) the whole point is never, ever use the blade. Its there to distract your opponent.While he stares at the gleaming steel, you kick his balls to kingdom come- he's all your. Just a tip!"

He is without a doubt one the coolest people to ever grace the face of this earth.

In Wyldlife news, we have been nominated by the public radio station in Abilene, Texas for

the Golden Fork Awards of 2010. Were up for best short album of 2010. It would mean the

world to us if you could take a second and send in the ballot below:

Golden Fork Awards 2010

Thank you for those who voted!

We have also made it to round two of the Deli Magazine's best of 2010 list, so keep your fingers crossed for us!

2010 was a great year. I got to play a lot of cool shows, meet some great people, and travel to some interesting places. If I had to chose one thing that was my favorite part of the year, I'd have to say it was hearing Wyldlife being played on the radio. It was like that scene from "That thing you do" I was jumping up and down on my couch. Thanks Rich Russo!

Whats my new years resolution? Its simple: Have more fun.

love,

-Spencer