StevanHalen

£1.50 + pp (depending on where you are!)

This post stays at the top. Innit.

So yeah, allow me to present 'Rum-Muffel', a collaboration zine featuring myself and Isy Morgenmuffel. I wouldn't say 'split' because it's one narrative effort, rather than two separate zines. I'm really excited to finally get it printed, Morgenmuffel is one of my favourite zines ever and Isy is amazing fun to hang out with. To summarize the plot, me and Isy went on an adventure in the Highlands around February and drew some pictures about it.



Sneak preview...

Morgenmuffel Page







Rum Lad Page








They're £1 each, plus postage depending on where you are...

I also managed to fit in a two page comic in a book released by Last Hours called 'Excessive Force' -

http://www.lasthours.org.uk/excessive-force/

Oh, speaking of Last Hours, they also put together a Morgenmuffel book! It looks amazing, you should definitely pick it up :)

http://www.lasthours.org.uk/morgenmuffel/

I'm listening to Isis, the Oceanic album. It's been ages since I've given this a spin!

Pay no attention to the subject title, it's a tour joke. That is to say, makes no sense to anyone besides myself and the 3 other people who were buggering about in Ireland this last weekend. Moloch played in Belfast, Cork and Dublin recently and it was ace. Loads of great people and bands, a good time.

Speaking of which, I recently became the owner of this -



A '92 model Les Paul, which incidentally has really reminded me of how light my ibanez S series is. It's ridiculous! What's also ridiculous is the fact that I managed to get it cheaper from California than I would have done over here, even with the horrendous VAT and import fee's on top. Anyway, the new guitar plays great and will sort me out for a while yet, I'd say.


I finally got to make a front cover for Razorcake!



You can buy it here.
http://www.razorcake.org/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=570

Another recent illustration was for Subtext magazine, accompanying an article about Michelle Obama.



I spend most of the day at the day job writing long e-mails or drawing stupid caricatures of some of the people I work with - here's one.



Er, yeah.

Has it really been 8 weeks since I posted on this thing?

So, I've mainly been working on the Rum Muffel split as well as a contribution to a book that Last Hours are releasing called 'Excessive force'. I was also very honoured to be asked by Alex to draw her a cover for Brainscan. It took a few goes, but we made it in the end...



A nice surprise was to make an unexpected wee appearance in Carrie McNinch's 'You can't get there from here' comic zine. I love her work, so as you can imagine it made me chuckle no end.



I have more to post and announce, but I'm running late for a gig...

... I went to see my friends Luke and Jodie get married. It was slightly surreal, but then not so. They've already been together for best park of 9 years! It was a grand day, there was booze and bouncy castles - I had a quick go but called it a day after it felt like my brain was crashing against the inside of my skull. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I felt like I was going to die. Booze + bouncy castles = bad times.

Also, my friend Jon sent me some old issues of a zine called Jellybrain - one of my favourites from the 1990'S, based in Nuneaton.





Whilst I was back home I visited my grandparents and spent a lot time routing through old photographs (which they said I could have! Win!) - amongst them was this one of their wedding day -



Lol and Sylvia, ladies and gents.

I also found a mix of Burning the Prospect's album on Feto records, pre-metal production. Now, before I say anything else, I love the cd - it's crushing, but this mix, before Feto got their hands on it suits them so much more! There's also a few tracks I remember hearing live which I didn't know they recorded. Dead smart.

Inspired by this text message -

'A man just said he liked my Gorilla Biscuits shirt and I thew him the horns, WHY WOULD I DO THIS?!'

Tee, hee, hee.

So yeah, Supersonic.

Army of flying Robots - Wierd to see them in a festival environment but raging all the same. Going to miss them.

Sunn0))) - Fucking loud.

Iron Lung - Similar feeling as robots, they seemed to take the whole thing in their stride and delivered with ferociousness as ever. The drummer was quick firing back at hecklers, he's a witty lad that one.

Thor's Hammer - They were ok, the singer was getting a lot of attention. Greg and Stephen were well into it.

Corrupted - Aside from the drummer having some problems (which weren't his fault - stupid drum riser), they were incredible. A lot more dapper than I was expecting too.

My left ear is actually hurting a little bit, looking into some more expensive earplugs...

Yeah...



Finally bought my Supersonic ticket last night. Sunn0))), Iron Lung, Army of flying robots and Corrupted amongst others. Get the fuck in there.

The Valhalla Pacifists/Burning the Prospect split may well be one of my favourite uk splits for a good few years now. Splendid.

Must stop eating so many bourbons.

Working full-time this week, bah. My lack of sleep has produced many a post-it note doodle. Or two...



Listening to Dimlaia again, this band is (were) so good.

Small illustration for Famil in Bandung, Indonesia. He's making a zine with the theme 'night creatures'. So I drew him a bat.



Saw Kylesa last night, complete with their drummer-duo. My favourite part was when they played blastbeats simultaneously, completed it with a fill and then launched into the next song in perfect time. Berzerk.

Moloch have finally sorted out a recording date - 22/23rd August. We're putting down a couple of tracks for the split with tour buddies Thou, from New Orleans. The last track is our set closer, it's ending is so, so bleak and horrible (in other words, great fun). It's probably responsible for the destroying my hearing (even more so), due to the excruciating torrents of feedback. Duane (who drove us around on tour, also plays in Dietpills) described it as 'Bad boy', whilst someone else mentioned it sounded like my guitar was actually yelping in pain. I think that's a good thing.

I'm also looking at getting some new speakers - http://professional.celestion.com/guitar/products/classic/detail.asp?ID=32 - which I think Orange use in their cabs. I reckon with these I can get some massive low end frequencies :)

This picture, along with the punx picnic in Rum Lad is being printed in a book which will accompany a record by a one man band called 'Young Governor' (Ben Cook from Fucked up, No Warning, etc - www.myspace.com/younggovernor) alongside other illustrators from across the globe. It's being released by my friend Braulio, in Portugal through his label 'Sleep city records'.



Things are...ok. Having a lot of trouble adapting to a situation which seems to be against me right now. Finding myself becoming more reclusive as a result. Could be worse, I suppose. I'm currently trying to drown a few things out with one or two Hot Water Music records. I love this band so much!

Oh, and this is for Amber 'Culture Slut'.

For Boulty and Eddie's gig.



Currently sat in my room listening to Godspeed. Yesterday I had a pretty lazy Saturday of wandering around town, but I did come back with a dvd of 'Network' - a film about a News reporter whose mental illness and depression is exploited by his cable network, making it into a grotesque feature of it's own. It's bleak, but worth a watch.

I also bought some fretboard cleaner and new strings for my acoustic, I don't think the strings have ever been changed. Now, not only does it sound really warm and bright, it also smells of lemon.

Had tea at the Sumac's People's Kitchen too, had my fill and enjoyed pleasant conversation outside in a the cool evening air (for a change)

Rum Lad being read in Canada. By Amber.



It is TOO hot. I'd like my room to stop feeling like an oven, please...

...Tour was rad.



Henry splashed me.

So, Moloch and our new friends Thou from across the pond are touring the UK this week. The dates look like this -

20 Jun 2009 20:00
Nottingham - Chameleon w/ THOU, ROT IN HELL

21 Jun 2009 20:00
Newport - Le Pub w/ THOU

22 Jun 2009 20:00
Brighton - Hobgoblin w/ THOU

23 Jun 2009 20:00
London - the Grosvenor w/ THOU

24 Jun 2009 20:00
Liverpool - Korova w/ THOU

25 Jun 2009 20:00
Henry’s cellar bar - Edinburgh w/ THOU

26 Jun 2009 20:00
The Arc - Glasgow w/ THOU

27 Jun 2009 20:00
Cremorne Hotel - Sheffield w/ THOU

Come and visit, maybe? I'll be carrying lots of zines including -

- Rum Lad 4
- Rum Lad 3
- Bomb Lizzards
- Rick

- Now Then

- Cat socks

- Cat Chops

- Keepers


- Plus, some badges of birdies.









Moloch, Feast of Tentacles and Thou all have shirts and records for you to buy, if you so wish.

Last night we played at the 1in12 Club in Bradford with Gruel, who I have been looking forward to for so long.





Total over the top theatrics, Martin is an amazing performer! They've just had a record released, which you should check out if you're into Swans and the like. Imagine if Sunn0))) had more of a sense of humour about themselves and you'd be pretty close to the live show.

Thou destroyed the place afterwards, they tune to F sharp. Ouch.



Bang on.

I've been so busy these last 2 weeks and it's not looking like it's going to let up for a good while yet. Basically, I'm going to have to work full time hours in the day job for a couple of months, which means I get less time for myself (i.e. for drawing projects). It's funding a couple of tours I have in the works for next year (which will be revealed!). I'm so excited to be involved in them, so for now - this temporary shitty situation is an evil I have to cope with right now. I'll have to burn the candle at both ends for a while :)

There's been another emotionally exhausting event recently dominating my life, involving a family member being admitted into hospital and enduring 6 hours of intensive surgery. I'm pleased to announce that things are looking up, due to some amazing progress on her part.

For issue 51. The following 3 are 'Razorcake HQ'. In other words, Todd's basement!







So much to say right now, but I'm absolutely shattered from a gig in Sheffield last night (turned up with the intention of merely watching the bands on, ended up playing because 2 of said bands had pulled out. We were lackluster to say the least, haha). One thing I will mention is that Moloch are going on Tour with the Doom titans, Thou from the U.S. in a week or so. The dates are as follows -

19.06 - Bradford - 1 in 12 Club
with Gruel.

20.06 - Nottingham - Chameleon Arts Cafe
with Rot in Hell.

21.06 - Newport - Le Pub
with Spider Kitten, Ghast.

22.06 - Brighton

23.06 - London

24.06 - Liverpool - Korova
with Lazarus Blackstar, and Dragged into Sunlight.

25.06 - Edinburgh - Henry's Cellar Bar
with Burial Hex, and Haar.

26.06 - Glasgow

27.06 - Sheffield
with Jew Dis

Tour!

Here's the finished front cover for The Fight's LP, called 'Maldicion' ('curse' in Spanish). Listen here www.myspace.com/thafight

Great band a good chaps!



And a t-shirt logo.



Most of my belongings are in boxes right now, i'm moving to another house next week which is both frightening and exciting. More of the former at the moment, but I'm sure things will come up Milhouse eventually.

Recent Listening : J Church (always), Hatred Surge, N.N, Needles, SFN, Freedom, Effigy, Conquest for Death, Gas, Regulations, Discharge, CTR ( Amazing over the top Japanese Punk, no idea how to describe it, really upbeat, quirky, yet a little sinister music, with GISM type vocals. So good!)

Yesterday I bought some stickers with cat's on them. Because I could.

Look at this bad boy.



Topped with 'cheezly' mozzarella (which is probably one of the better vegan alternatives to cheese, that I've tried anyway), Artichokes, olives, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. A definite good time.

Other things -

Made a brief appearance at Notts uni as a guest speaker, talking about freelance work. Apparently what I told them was very 'pragmatic'. I was paid and more importantly, got a free lunch. I've also been invited back, so I think that means I did ok.

Had the pleasure of hanging out with some international zine folk recently, namely Alex and Rob from Portland. It was awesome, it's been a while since I've had some proper zine geek ups! Also experienced what can only be described as a 'robabout'. Those that know, know.

Watched the Iron Giant with Robb (who was visiting from Dublin) and Sarah, welled up (ha!).

Spent £69 posting Rum Lads to various corners of the world. Fuck.

Picked up a the latest 'Modern Hate Vibe', one of my favourite UK zines right now I'd say.

Bought a Meatlocker record from Chris's distro, it's so raging, I can't believe I haven't owned this sooner.

Nearly died on the way to play a gig in Leeds, due to torrential rain, skiddy motorways and stationary cars in the middle of a busy road. Heart. In. Mouth.

Saw Army of Flying Robots and Capitalist Casualties at the Chameleon. Best gig of the year, so far.

I don't have a better quality scan of this right now, but I can't post here without showing you something, at least...



Out...when I get it finished :)

Later this week I'm off to the Lake District for a few days - Ambleside, amongst other places. I understand that William Wordsworth had a couple of houses there. I'm a bit excited.

Got a few things in the pipeline which I can't reveal yet...

Nazi Popes can fuck right off.

Send £1.50 + stamped sae to

Steve Larder
Flat 3
135 foxhall road
Nottingham
NG7 6LH

Paypal is also good to stevejipwit@hotmail.com

Also,

Another band portrait of Gosia, from The Fight (Poland), look them up! Http://www.myspace.com/thafight.



Just finished watching 'Let the right one in', the Swedish Horror film. So, so beautiful yet horribly disturbing! My jaw actually dropped at one point. A little disappointed to hear that there's going to be a English language remake released 2010, by the director who made Cloverfield. It just seems so unnecessary!

My flatmate was putting this on, but seeing as he's leaving Notts at the end of the month, I've taken it on (with a little help from a few nice folk).

Rum Lad issue 4 is on it's way to the printers, I'll get 600 copies back on the 1st of May. Hooray!