The Blank Artists 5-Year Review

This past weekend, we were privileged to celebrate, yet another anniversary with family, friends, and fans. We would like to thank all of you participating in our 5-year event and without your presence, we would have never imagined such a memorable night of good vibes and good music.

This year's anniversary reached a level of production that far exceeded any event that we have thrown in the past and our friends not only recognized this, but also openly and expediently offered their help in anyway, from decorating to running the many facets that culminate into a functioning event. We are forever indebted to your goodwill and you serve as a catalyst to our overall production. Thank you! Additionally, we would like to thank all our our performers - Matt Abbott, Madis One, Agents of Woe, and Innerphonic. You are all class acts and provided great performances across the board. Together, you represented the evolution of the Blank Artists label. We would also like to thank Tony from Bully Audio for dedicating an entire day to our audio needs. You aren't just a sound guy, but rather a great friend who just happens to have a really nice sound system. Thanks! Lastly, we would like to extend a huge thanks to Jerry and the entire staff at Park Bar. Your visionary approach towards the space and your helping hand makes us feel like part of the family. We always feel at home whenever we're at Park Bar and that is truly appreciated! Til next time.

*Photo Credit: Christine Abuel Pompa

Electronique.It Podcast 061 w/ Jared Wilson

This week, Italian online music magazine, Electronique.It, features a podcast mix from Detroit acid-house stalwart and Blank Artists beard, Jared Wilson. The nearly hour long mix features a top notch blend of classic disco and electro-funk, and also displays the insane knowledge of dance music that Jared has acquired over the years. This mix would even make Todd Osborn drool a bit. Highly recommended!

Mixed By: Jared Wilson
Length: 56:54
Format: MP3
Bit Rate: 320 KBPS
Link: Download

Tracklisting:
01. Mirage - Mirage In The Space ( Mauro D.J.)
02. B. Lamastre - The Best Disco Music (Alien Delon Extended Edit)
03. Test-One - Dreamer
04. Ruins - Crime
05. Yello - No More Words (Extended)
06. Matt Warren - Way To My Heart (5:30 A.M. Mix)
07. Ruins - Fire
08. Zwischenfall - Flucht (Special Fuzz Version)
09. Wizardz - Boogie Slyde
10. Prestige - Cheating
11. Pyramid Plus - Comin' At Ya
12. Maurice Mc Gee - Do I Do (Dub Instrumental)
13. Gift of Dreams - Funkincise
14. Vin Zee - Funky Be Bop (Instrumental)
15. The Gunchback Boogie Band - Funn
16. Suzy Q - Get On Up Do It Again
17. J.R. Funk and the Love Machine - Feel Good Party Time (Original)
18. Southroad Connection - Just Layin It Down

Agents of Woe

Agents of Woe are a band of three, rooted in New York City and Memphis, Tennessee. They are serious about the following things: short shorts, Cadillac sedans older than they, vintage science fiction, and rocking a dance music outfit that create a sui generis of futuristic soul, techno, pop and electro. The latter is what we at Blank are most excited about (although we do appreciate short shorts, luxury sedans, and old school sci-fi).

The dapper men of whom we speak are from unique musical upbringings; all in the shadows of legendary soul music label Stax Records in their native Memphis. The simile can be made that Stax is to Memphis as Motown is to Detroit, and in many ways AOW show pride in their local history as it plays out in their music.

Fronted by Richard Gamble who provides lead vocals, guitar, and synthesizers, Jon Hart adds bass and backing vocals, and Jackson Lee provides the rhythm section and additional sequencing thus completing the trifecta. The three friends together make a distinguishable brand of future soul, electro-funk where humans blow a much-needed breath of life back into dance music’s cooling core.

Hear them perform live tomorrow night, as they make a very exciting Detroit debut at the Blank Artists 5-Year Anniversary. In addition, the event will coincide with their debut release on Blank Artists entitled, "R U Ready For Love", which also features a remix from Ferrispark label head, Scott Ferguson. Listen to the original version HERE.

The Five Year Hookup

The Blank Artists 5-Year Anniversary is fast approaching and every year, we aspire to reach a level of production and branding that exceeds the anniversary events of year's past. In an attempt to follow in this tradition, Blank Artists is offering a very special limited edition download card entitled "The Five Year Hookup". The hookup will include 10 songs from the Blank Artists catalog and is included, free of charge, to all individuals attending the Blank Artist 5-year event. Five years can feel like an eternity, and this kind of longevity would have never been imagined if it weren't for the support of our fans and listeners. Therefore, we wish to return the favor in the spirit of friendship.... just a little way of saying "we love you too".

All download cards include a web address and unique password. Visit www.dropcards.com/weloveyoutoo for more information on how to redeem your music.

Scrummage Moving Pictures

This Thursday, Burton Theatre features moving pictures by the local art collective and psychedelic mad men from Scrummage University. Gaining notoriety from their previously famed Eastern Market bunker, Scrummage has sealed a reputation as one of the city's premiere artists collective and experimental noise provocateurs. Think of a flesh-eating Mayan Barbary sheep tripping on acid while trapped in a sensory desperation tank. Yeah.... they like to fuck shit way up, so I suggest checking out their premiere if you have a knack for the weird. The movies start at 9pm. Check it!

Oh yeah, and the Metro Times wrote a fancy article about the Scrummage dudes last week. Read the article HERE.

Blank Artists February 2010 Podcast w/ Pipé Scuttleworth

Pipé Scuttleworth is a clock watching dreamer, a fighter, and a thief. He dabbles in amateur carpentry and unearths and fashions sounds with a madman’s fervor in the final throws of a violent, delusional death. Pipé is a lover of horses and fixer of machines, a chef, a writer, a cyclist and re-cyclist, a former practitioner of things legal. A jack of all trades and a master of few, he is currently in search of a metallurgist to mold him into an ‘animalier,’ in hopes of translating some of his talents to the creation of metallic beasts.

The wicked aspersions mumbled here and yon about his deeds fall not upon dead ears. Oh to the contrary, the man consumes them, preternaturally twists them, adds a dash of outlandishness, and regurgitates the amplified rubbish to anyone within ear shot.

He may be a filthy son of a gun but his unique talents and temperament subconsciously and subtly ingratiate himself with others. Then, before long, your heretofore proper dandy of a little sister is cursing like a longshoreman and placing friendly bets that she can spit farther than Pipé…lovely!

Oh, yet it continues from this discomfiting level. To the hilt we must go, if you value Universal equilibrium. Perhaps it’s the Gypsy pedigree, maybe his karmic credit, or just plain dumb luck, but Pipé makes things happen, or as is often the case, suffers injury while trying. Though his tirades are sufficient to make abusive, philanderers flush pink with embarrassment, he would not deny you your bit of bread on the eve of the apocalypse, such the sweet man that he is.

Pipé does not concern himself with things shiny and freshly minted when a worn antique will do. Yet new things are warranted, and even appreciated on occasion. However, for the most part, things were made better in the old days anyhow. Things like vinyl records and analog machines and good sturdy babies. Tangible things, with stories, and lives of their own are what Pipé seeks, and god dammed if he won’t scour the good earth for those things. So check him out. He might actually make it worth your while. But never, ever forget, lest you get lambasted, he is playing for his enjoyment, you’re just there for the ride.

Mixed By: Pipe Scuttleworth
Length: 1:13:08
Format: MP3
Bit Rate: 320 KBPS
Link: Download

Tracklisting:
01. Vangelis - Reve
02. Stars of the Lid - Requiem For Dying Mothers II
03. David Bowie - Subterraneans
04. Lucky Dragons - Open Melody
05. Destroyer - Bay of Pigs
06. Boards of Canada - AMD Bishop Roden +
07. Meta 83 - End Titles
08. Four Tet - Love Cry
09. ?
10. Mathew Jonson - Marionette
11. Fernando - Scarecrow
12. Gucci Soundsystem - Lord of Mercy
13. Model 500 - Orbit
14. Four Tet - No More Mosquito
15. The Flaming Lips - See the Leaves
16. Robert Anton Wilson - ?
17. Wall of Voodoo - Mexican Radio
18. Flux of Pink Indians - Tube Disaster (J.D. Twitch Edit)
19. Ikara Colt - At the Lodge

*Photo Credit: Christine Abuel Pompa

Metro Times Presents - A Blank Generation

This week's issue of the Metro Times, features a fire-side chat with Blank Artists co-directors, Drew Pompa and Josh Dahlberg. These two ruffians got a chance to sit down with Metro Times writer, Walter Wasacz of No Spectacle, over pizza and barley wine to wax poetically about music, culture, and the city of Detroit. Read the entire article HERE.

*Photo Credit: Walter Wasacz