The Trusty Knife

The Trusty Knife made up of Zack Pieper, Brock Gourlie, Ross Bachhuber, Spectron, and Annie Killelea is a self described pop band. Like so many Milwaukee bands they are heavily influenced by the past. I don't know if it's something in the air, but be it hip-hop or rock Milwaukee bands tend to have a laid back retro sound that lands somewhere between the 80's and 60's. The Trusty Knife carries on the tradition of creating strong melodies that echo the classic rock of the 60's. To their credit I can't pin down one influence that stands out more then any other, or obscures their voice. They're able to blend it all together to form music that's sounds familiar and different.

Although the energy of the album "The Trusty Knife" doesn't match the energy of their live performances the album gives you a chance to hear the pure melodies without them being drowned out by at times strange and somewhat over indulgent vocalizing of lead songer Zack Pieper. It seems when he sings live he can go a little nuts.

Songs of note are "Jack In the Box," "Goliath Son," "It's All Built In," and "Flash in the Pan." These are the kind of songs you could play over and over again and never get tried of hearing.

Fahamu Pecou is the Shit or so he says

Fahamu Pecou, an Atlanta based artist inserts himself into his art feeding our need for images, questioning our need for images and questioning our ideas about image. If you see a black man on the cover of a rap magazine verses an art magazine how do you perceive him? Pecou is interested in how branding, and propaganda influence culture and thinking. He explains in his artist statement:

"Thinking through the process of media propaganda brought me to my current work with magazine covers. Playing on the public's psychological reaction to magazines, and preconceived ideas about who should be in them, I began projecting my image and ideas on the covers of magazines. I further abstracted the concept by juxtaposing my character's in your face, hip-hop bravado on fine art magazines."

He presents the easily cliche hip-hop persona. You may even think you recognize him in his many posses on various magazine covers. Like propaganda you begin to believe what you see; that this is someone you should know about. And you should know about Pecou the artist. Is he only talking about the persona of Fahamu Pecou when he describes himself as "the most beautiful and brightest boy in the land" on his cover for Fader magazine? In an interview for FormatMag.com he mentions that magazines often request his covers. As it was for Warhol, fame is the key. Pecou plays heavily on the notion of fame for the sake of fame through his persona and in turn plays on our desire to know who he is as an artist and somehow become part of the scene he is creating.

Gallery Openings and Closings

There's been a lot of panic and concern over the state of the arts in Milwaukee. Galleries are closing within a couple of years of opening. I'll admit I tend to put things off, but I'd expect a gallery to last a good five years before it closes up. But what's even more surprising is they keep opening. Just as the Armoury Gallery closed it's doors another has popped up. Caggio: An Art Experiment just announced the opening of it's first show on June 5th to the pleasant surprise of a lot of people who've perhaps unintentionally written off the ability of Milwaukee artists, curators, and art enthusiasts to keep art alive in this city. And let's face it, a gallery is a business and running a business can be a difficult operation. Many business fail. I can only hope that Milwaukee has enough people who are willing to step up and say yes I want to open a gallery and yes I'm willing to do the research so I know what I'm doing.

Walkers Point Center for the Arts Annual Members Show

Now for a little shameless self-promotion. Come see the show! Come see the show! Walkers Point Center for the Arts is opening its members show Friday, June 5 and my art will be on the walls. I got a peek at some of the other submissions and I think the exhibit is going to be extremly varied. Here's a look at some of my work.

The show runs til July 2, and admission is free.