Fun_RolloverRifle

I hate the word "blog" and I hate the idea of having one, especially making more than one post a day, as if anyone gives a poop what you have to say. I justify having this site because it's never been about the words, it's been about the art: I'm providing a (study) break for people to check out some drawings with no expectation that anyone actually reads the text, that way the only time people lose is the time it takes to look at a picture, which isn't a lot.

So I don't want this site to be any more than me telling stories about the art, and since I'm going to be booked up for the foreseeable future with running published work on Fridays, Mondays, and Wednesdays, there will be no room for "Fun" posts any more. I don't want to post on more days, so I'll just throw in Fun posts now and then.

Which brings us to Yale-a-Palooza 2, which changed its name to something else this year. Anyway, it was yesterday, and I camped out for as much of it as possible while drawing today's ZLM, but also sketching some of the artists during breaks.

Up first, pictured above, is the front man for The Rollover Motive. He debuted two new songs and something of a 'fro. The song about Dan was particularly wonderful. He played BS, too, which was incredible! Excellent set all around! To my dismay, I've never been able to sketch him in action very well, but this one's an improvement, kinda.

The only other drawing worth sharing is this one, of (former?) co-front man of Rifle. I gave it an honest effort, but...well, it was very tough to get into the set, although his on-stage antics were entertaining. He's got quite a unique voice, almost like Beast Boy from Teen Titans, which is pretty cool, but I get a heavy Bob Dylan sorta vibe from him, and I can't stand Bob Dylan (or the Beatles, or Bruce Springsteen--which apparently means we're supposed to go to fisticuffs, according to his Herald A&E review of Springsteen's last album; you are un-American, sir). I've been waiting to use this pun for a while, so here it goes: after hoping for an improvement from the last time I saw him perform, I was bummed to find it was more of the same old spiel. Boom!

Anyway, highlights include a former Sandy Gill Affair member performing a massive expansion on the great Jake Pop Medley, meanwhile debuting some much stronger pipes on the recently solo artist. Suitcase of Keys also put on a fine show, although I didn't really feel that usual kick from my favorite track of theirs, "Fallen Leaves," when the bass picks up. Still a lot of fun.

Finally, I was bummed Laura Z. didn't play. I wanted to make up for last time, so I was getting ready to draw a real nice sketch of her playing, so that I could present it to her after the show, but she ended up not hitting the stage, unfortunately.

So it goes,

Reuxben

Fun_Snoozin'

I'm no longer living the superhero adventures at Yale, being a miserable little human in California until summer's end, but as far as Clark Kent compensation goes, I did just get Photoshop, which is pretty all right.

It's an older version than I'm used to working with, but I pulled up an old drawing to get some practice in. Anyway I met this guy back in Japan last summer, and he's swell. And his website, "SongTwit" is much improved, very handy.

I had a feeling this drawing's debut post would be popular because it had a bunch of Yalies in it, and if there's one thing I've learned at Yale, it's that Yalies are super-hams. Haha! Seriously, I get a bunch of (presumably) self-searches in my little traffic-tracker dealie. But it was also one of my most popular posts ever because it featured a cult--er, "improv group"--and improv'ers love passing self-congratulatory links around. To be fair, it's fun drawing people and then seeing them and their pals visit. I'm happy to entertain.

Since it's the summer wasteland, I'll tell you how to find yourself on this site: I rarely mention names in the bodies of posts, but I tag noteworthy personalities in the labels section. So if you want to find yourself, just click a label and replace the URL ending with what name I know you by. Or just search yourself in the search box up top. You ham...

Reuxben

Fun_TheThoseGuys

To break from drawing, I drew this guy I met in Japan. Turns out he's not just a music enthusiast, but is also in a band called Rifle!

Baa: Someone once mentioned that they recognized my style, which makes me laugh because I don't feel I really have a "style" yet, just a collection of methods for different occasions. So for kicks, I like to sniff out my style by consciously applying "style" to warp a subject, like this guy.

I suspended my Ex!t boycott for their senior show to check out these two Ex!t seniors, fellow and former Recordians. I always wanted to draw this guy because he has such a distinct look, and he looks so easy to draw, but I have never been able to really get him. He's graduating, so no more chances, dangit.

Fun Facts: After I paid him my entrance fee, he said, "Thank you, sir," in a way that says, "I vaguely remember you, but I think you may clearly remember me, so this could--wait, yes, yes, it did just get uncomfortable in here."

Entrance fees're the main reason I loathe Ex!t. Benji could have owned their entire gang single-handedly, but the Crayon only charges on parents' weekend (logical).

Anyway, I actually worked directly with this guy last year on the Record. He's quite funny, has mad geek cred (Mana burn and d20s?!! Yes!), and he is actually a hecka underrated artist!

He really shoulda drawn more for the Record; I can think of several art pieces that should have been assigned to him.

Fun Facts: I exaggerated with the hair, but he's quite fun to draw (flashback).

The other reason I dislike Ex!t is the names! What is up with the "wacky" stage names?!

Cough,

Reuxben

Fun_ExitPurpleRichRifle

This past weekend was actually pretty exciting. I had planned on staying in and contemplating where my life went wrong. But there were a whole four things to get to: the Ex!t Players' show, the Crayon's show, the Miron concert, and then the 90s music event.

First, I'm no Ex!t fan. They seem to think they're the best improv at Yale, and maybe they are since Benji graduated, but come on, charging $2? Benji alone made Crayon shows worth charging, yet they were always free for some reason. So I went to the Ex!t show (see a player at left) just to make sure, and yeah, their only memorable event is still just "Jeopardy!"

And while I still crack up over tons of old Crayon sketches, some years old even, the only Ex!t thing that sticks out is last year Mr. Litt (as Babe the Blue Ox) picking a Jeopardy! category: "I'll take ox that are not blue, for how I pity them."

So after Friday's Ex!t show, I went to the Crayon's Saturday show, which they voiced in complete darkness.

Extra cool that they picked my suggestion, "Pokemon," for their theme, and I got a sad dose of joy in correcting their errors under my breath.

...Machop evolve into Machoke, not Machamp...

I saw Benji at an Ex!t show last year and since have always wondered what goes through his head when he watches others improv, especially Ex!t.

Anyway, after that, I blitzed over to TD in time to catch Richard Miron (at right, during the Ex!t show) and Oliver Hill play an incredible set. It was actually emotionally moving stuff, but the audience was a bunch of drunks who wouldn't shut up.

If you're at a concert, you should be there to listen to the music; if you're going to talk, just get out--the door was like five steps away.

But these guys were definitely the best.

The TD venue had some weird chairs. Including a giant dodgeball.

The second band was pretty good, but I could have done without the Christopher Reeve joke.

...as well as the aimless between-song chatter student bands are contractually obligated to make.

I met the guy at right in Japan and had no idea he was in Rifle! Pretty neat.

I really tried to like the band, but I just couldn't get into it and left early.

They sound-checked a Weezer song, so I may have missed out, but I mean, they just blasted their music, the room was tiny to start with, and my sketches weren't coming out too nice anyway.

At left is an audience member who has got the exact hairstyle I've been trying to capture for some time now.

So on the way back from TD, I stopped by the 90s music dance party.

They'd finished all the good tunes already.

Last year's was ridiculous.

Reminded me of Freshman Year.

Reuxben