I've finally gotten my act together and made myself a website! Check it out HERE There you will be able to check out my prints, drawings and paintings, designs and illustrations, and some photographs as well! Help spread the good word!

R.I.P. blogspot

It's been a while since I've updated this blog, and that is mainly because I always get so damn frustrated with blogspot. It takes me forever to upload images, and half the time it doesn't even work. So I've decided to make the jump over to Tumblr. Click HERE to check out the new blog! spencilspencil.tumblr.com Bummed that you won't be able to see my old posts? Have no fear! I found some handy gadget online that copies all blogger posts onto tumblr so you can still stalk me, and see how I've grown over the past few years! Get your bookmarks ready! I've had a lot of good times documenting my life on this blog, but its time to move on. Catch you on the flip side! -Spencer

Joe Strummer

In celebration of Joe Strummer's birthday I made a little 9in by 12in ink portrait last night. Joe was one of the coolest cats to ever walk the face of the Earth, he left us too soon. I can remember dancing around my house with my mom as a young kid, listening to "Rock the Casbah." It wasn't until I was in my teens that I actually started listening to the lyrics and realized that this dude really had something to say. He took the aggression and fury of punk and politicized it. He told people to speak up, to know you rights, and fight for what you believe in. But the one thing I really love about Joe and the Clash was that they weren't just a punk band. They weren't afraid to mess around with other styles of music, be it reggae, funk, rockabilly, soul, or even some rap. Joe changed the face of music, and for that I am eternally grateful. R.I.P.

Since I last updated this blog we were in route to Baltimore. We had our tires replaced by the kind gents over at Pep Boys and we were on our way again. We spent our 4th of July eating crabs and shooting off bottle rockets and pellet guns at our buddy Alex's Uncle's house. We were definitely a bunch of tattooed oddities but the family was really sweet and welcoming. Uncle Tom had his IPod blasting lots of limp Bizkit and Korn which I haven't heard since the sixth grade. We played a free show later that night at the Ottobar with our friends Thee Lexington Arrows. It was a really nice venue and it sounded good. It was a free show but still managed to bring in 100+ bucks from the bar and merch.
The next morning we were on the road back to New York to play the CBGB fest at Fontana's in Chinatown. I wasn't sure what to expect with the festival. It seems like there are a million different festivals from Bonnaroo to CMJ, and I wasn't sure if CBGB's would be just another fest trying to cash in on the historic venues name. But at the same time CBGB's is the birthplace of punk. Its where it all began and to be associated with it in some small way was an honor. The venue was packed and the crowd loved us, so it was a success. I wish I could have stuck around and seen some of the other bands play the fest, I would have loved to see agnostic front, but we had a show in Virginia to get to. The ride to Virginia wasn't that interesting. It was hot as balls and we were out in the country for the majority of the ride. We we're scheduled to play the Belmont house of smoke which was very hospitable, they filled our entire table with ribs, and all kinds of fried foods, it was amazing. The people there were so nice and we made over a hundred bucks between the door and merch. Also on the bill were the hissy fits an all girl band who sounded a lot like Hole. They said we could crash at their place after the show which we were grateful for. When we arrived at the casa de hissy fits we were ready to pass out, but these chicks wanted to party till 6 in the morning, so we probably finally hit the sack around 4 in the morning. At one point in the night I woke up fully clothed in the bathtub. I tripped over some shampoo bottles and confusedly stumbled back to the futon where I was intending to sleep. I'm nit sure how I got there and why I thought it would be a good idea to sleep in the tub. Alcohol can make you do weird things.Nobody slept that well at all, and we hightailed it out of there as fast as we could. I learned later that Dave had been so frustrated with all the commotion that he left and passed out under a tree near a surrounding elementary school.

I've been pretty backed up on updating this tour blog, we just left Chicago and we're on our way to Columbus right now. This will have to suffice for now, check back soon. I've got more stories for you!


Love,
-Spencer

Tour so far!

Wyldlife has embarked on our Hot Nights/Cold Beers summer tour, and it's been interesting to say the least. We played at JR's in dirty south Philly with our buddies from Jersey City, Awkward Girls, and the show was a great way to kick it off. We got a pretty good turn out especially for a Monday night. Our mates from the High Five took us out to the Barbary afterwards and showed us a good time. I gotta say I don't think I've seen that good of a party on a Monday night, Philly sure knows how to get down. I'd like to thank Kelly,Rory, and Johnny for their awesome hospitality.
We left this morning en route to Baltimore and just as we pulled into Maryland state lines our back tire blew out. Shaken and stirred we pulled to the side and called AAA. Half an hour later a gentleman by the name of Larry Beers pulled up and gave us a hand putting on our spare. An hour later were on the road again, and a few miles down the highway the spare blows out. Now we're really freaked out. A couple hours later (thanks triple a) a tow truck arrives and loads up the big green driving machine. So now I'm sitting in the back of the tow truck typing this on my way to pep boys in Baltimore. We'll be playing the Ottobar tomorrow night! Happy 4th of July!

-Spencer

Cheez-its rule dude

This is what my friends and I do when we're bored on a Saturday night...

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