Posters advertising down 'n' dirty rock 'n' roll shows are kind of a lost art "¦ if they were ever found in the first place. Despite real talent going into their illustrations and design, the sheets often were "? and are "? produced in extremely limited quantities at best, before being plastered up on some brick wall or metal post, immediately exposing them to the harsh elements or, a week later, glued over with the next week's act.
Clay Hayes' Web site www.gigposters.com is an online repository of these fun, funky flyers, several hundred of which have been handpicked to include in his companion book, "Gig Posters Volume 1: Rock Show Art of the 21st Century."
Anyone who doesn't consider the posters to be "art" because of their disposable nature is dead wrong. And this hipper-than-thou book proves that, oversized page after oversized page. Each 11-by-14 page is perforated, so if you find one that sears your retinas "? and any self-respecting music fan will find dozens "? it's already suitable for framing. Among the bands featured: Beastie Boys, They Might Be Giants, Modest Mouse, Radiohead and The Flaming Lips. Quirk Books"?Rod Lott
