* Watch the new Matt & Kim Lightning tour documentary.
* No Sleep Records is releasing a Ltd Edition Braid 7" split with emerging band Balance and Composure. The record features 2 tracks from each band. You can pick it up here.
* Manchester-based The 1975 premiered a new song on Soundcloud and announced a bunch of US dates.
NEWS OF THE DAY * Rise Records signs The Jealous Sound. All of their stuff wil be re-released in deluxe versions. The band heads out on tour this Winter with Balance & Composure and Daylight. @riserecords
Portland-based RAMP Gallery [www.rampgallery.com]has one of the most amazing gig poster and flyer collections around. It's a lot of fun to browse through the collection and flash back to a lot of good memories. Starting tomorrow, 12/6, RAMP gallery is hosting a show of Pat Graham's photography - which is nothing short of amazing.
I had a chance to find out more about the gallery and it's founder, Paul Herring over email.
* For those that aren't familiar, can you tell us a little bit about RAMP? What it is, where they can find you and what makes you different from other galleries?
Paul: RAMP (Rock,Alternative, Metal, Punk) specializes in what might be best referred to as an "up and coming" genre. Flyers have been collected, traded, bought and sold for many years; but it seems they are starting to be perceived as closer to fine art than they ever were in the past. So I don't mean to suggest that we are the first to collect and offer this material- we are most definitely not. That said, it does appear that we have one of the largest offerings of this often hard to find ephemera; particularly when one considers that we do not focus on pop and classic rock. Ramp tries to always lean in the direction of what was considered alternative music, at least what was considered alternative pre-Nirvana. We do have some classic and pop related material, but again, it's not our focus or passion. We currently host the website, but are looking for appropriate space and may have a physical store in early 2013. The hard part is that, on a certain level, I don't want to part with most of the flyers. The Silkscreen posters, which we also carry, I am far less attached to - They basically fund my flyer habit. In terms of art, they are beautiful and fun to look at, but I have such a passion for flyers, which dates back to the mid 1980's when I was using them (displayed on telephone poles) to determine where I was going to spend my evenings out. We also feature other forms of art that we feel is appropriate and of interest to our audience. For example, RAMP is hosting a gallery opening on Dec 6th for an amazing photographer by the name of Pat Graham. Pat has shot music related subject matter for 20+ years. We are really excited to be able to work with Pat on this showing.
* How did you get here? Can you give us some background about yourself? Do you have a career in music or arts management?
Paul: It's a hobby turned semi-profession. My background, from a career perspective, is in the corporate world; most recently at Fender Musical Instruments, and prior to that, apparel companies. I've always played and instrument (primarily guitar) and played in a few unmemorable bands when I was younger.
* The RAMP collection is just incredible. When did you start collecting? Is it all your personal collection?
Paul: Well, as I sort of noted above, I began collecting a long time ago. I started pulling flyers from poles at the conclusion of the events they were promoting back in the mid 1980's. By the early 90's my walls were covered in flyers. Then in the late 90's I "got over it", only to find myself interested again a few years ago. But I got serious about it this time: archiving and creating a site to display and sell those which were/are not part of what I consider to be my personal collection.
* Some of my favorite Pac NW bands from the early-mid 90s are Hazel and Heatmiser. I love that La Luna print in your collection that features both bands. It also appeared in the CD packaging for Hazel's "Are You Going To Eat That?". What are some of your favorite bands and posters?
Paul: Ha! That's funny... That flyer was one that I gave to one of my college roommates who had it proudly displayed on his wall. I was a big fan of Heatmiser. I thought they wrote incredible music. Mic City Sons remains one of my favorite albums. That particular flyer was designed by a woman by the name of Chanda Helzer. Her art is, at least what I have seen of it, very recognizable. Mike King, who is a very prolific flyer designer here in PDX, always gives props to Chanda's work when we run across something she designed. That always counts for a lot - when a flyer designer digs your work. Oh, and I should add that I am assisting Mike on a book of his art, which will include a large number of his flyers and posters, that we are targeting for release in December 2013. Some of my fave's? Screaming Trees/Tad/Nirvana at Pine Street, Sprinkler/Heatmiser at x-ray, Poison Idea/Mudhoney/Napalm Beach at Pine Street, Poison Idea/Gits at the OK Hotel, Vomit Launch/Love Battery at Blue Gallery, Elliott Smith/Bird Dog at La Luna, Negativeland at Blue Gallery, Accused/Forced Entry at Oz, Redd Kross/Soundgarden at the Central... I'll stop myself, but I could keep going...
* I have a very small collection of posters but its growing. One of the challenging things with a growing collection is storage. What is some advice for beginner collectors for storing prints? Any specific materials you use?
Paul: Well, anything is better than thrown in a box, which is what I most often see. Personally, I flatten, remove tape using some form of solvent, then stack, each poster stacked in reverse of the one below, in resealable mylar sleeves. I keep them stored in appropriate-sized brown "shipping" boxes alphabetized for effective access should I attempt to locate a specific flyer. I'm sure there may be others who go to more extremes, but I do try to treat them as the important works of art that I believe they are. I think the important things are to keep them clean, flat and unwrinkled, and stored in a relatively dry environment that is not subject to constant, dramatic, temperature swings.
Thanks a lot Paul for taking the time to do this Q&A..
For more information on the Pat Graham show and RAMP Gallery visit www.rampgallery.com
