Updated: Dec 8, 2022
Speakeasy Tattoo, Los Angeles. For what is typically referred to as “the slow season” in the tattoo industry, things sure seem hectic! Can you believe in only a few weeks it will be 2021?? If only my 8 year old self could see me n
Take a look at Scott’s fine art and tattoo work, and it almost mirrors what he considers his most inspirational bands. First, we start at the root. The base. The foundation of it all. A group that needs no introduction from the likes o
So like any piece of Scott’s art, the foundation is but a layer from which to build. And just like that, without Sabbath, there would be no Queens of the Stone Age. Building off the skeleton that is Sabbath, Queens of the Stone Age takes this framework and fleshes it out in a fuller, more produced way. Like Sabbath, Queens plays heavy, riff-driven rock, upping the tempo and driving a pe
This brings us to the ultimate encapsulation that is behind the mind and art that is Scott Glazier. The behemoth and brain child of certified madman Maynard James Keenan:
TOOL.
What can I say?
What can anyone say?
What is TOOL? On paper, Tool is “an American Alternative Rock band from Los Angeles, California.” Wow. Gee whiz. That sure does it justice…..Tool is one of those bands that defies convention and refuses to be pigeonholed into any one genre. Utilizing influences from elements of metal as well as prog-rock, Tool forms a psychedelic soundscape that is much a mental experience as it is an auditory experience. Maynard himself has sited utilizing elements of anything from Bauhaus to Depeche Mode to King Crimson to Rush
Its like I said. Scott’s musical tastes mirror his artists approach: a strong base and foundation that is refined and fleshed out and ultimately something that transcends and defies convention. It is art better experienced than simply viewed. Are you experienced? I’ll leave you with that this week. Next week, as a Christmas treat, I will try to succinctly and briefly convey my own musical inspirations, as wildly varied and eclectic as they may be. Have a fantastic weekend everyone. And don’t forget! All Speakeasy artists are booking for 2021 so submit your submission today!
Updated: Dec 8, 2022
Well
Speakeasy Tattoo, Los Angeles. Here we are again. Another week, another round of confusing lockdown orders and mid 70s. What an age in which we live! This year is one giant time vortex. There are no months. There are no seasons.
But enough of that. Life is heavy enough as it is without a bunch of doom and gloom.
In these trying times, we need some things to help us relax, be distracted, and just lose ourselves.
As promised last week, today let us explore what resident Speakeasy artist Nicole Petrou goes to as her auditory escape.
From a very early age, Nicole found solace in the classics. Beautiful voices like Nat King Cole, Etta James and Johnny Mathis. Certainly not your average playlist for a 15 year old, but Nicole is c
Like Nat King Cole, Etta James’s impact on music and popular culture can still b
And Johnny Mathis. What can I say that does Johnny Mathis justice? Were it not for Covid times, Mathis was still touring this year, at 85. Like the others, Mathis’s style ranges anywhere from Soul, R&B, jazz to pop, Brazilian, Spanish & Disco. Feeling seasonal? Mathis has SIX Christmas albums for you to choose from!
So with these artists in mind, it is pretty obvious why Nicole has such a smooth flow to her work. But it doesn’t end there! Oh no no no!
These days its not at all surprising to hear Gnossienne No. 4. Composed by Erik Satie in 1891, Gnossienne No. 4 is a haunting yet lovely piano piece that, though written in the late 19th century, wasn’t published until the late 1960s. Composed tonally in D minor even though its key signature is empty, the piece features a bass line centered on its minor key, the piece has an eerie but beautiful sound. A perfect sound to both inspire and relax.
And lastly, we have Nicole’s favorite modern band, Coldplay. Who hasn’t heard Coldplay? Have you not heard Coldplay? Who are you? Coldplay formed in London in 1996. This was the height of the so-called “second British invasion” of the mid 90s, with Oasis dominating the charts and selling out massive arenas of tens of thousands. And while Oasis is almost as well known for their working class, Northern hooliganary, Coldplay took a softer, more romantic approach. It was their 2000 song “Yellow” that hyper charged Coldplay’s upward trajectory. And yep, they to offer you some seasonal cheer with their recording of “Have Yourself a Merry Little
So! Looks like you have our week’s playlist set out for you! Hopefu
Now enjoy your weekend and make sure to get that Christmas shopping out of the way and support small businesses (not amazon!).
Also tomorrow is my dog’s birthday so everyone raise your glass to Topsy’s 9th!
Welcome back, friends, family and fans of Speakeasy Tattoo, Los Angeles! It’s that season again! Things tend to get rather hectic and stressful for a lot of people around the holidays under the best of circumstances. This year? Well, need I say more?For that reason, I think it would be a nice opportunity to slow things down a bit. Usually I like to bring you a long-winded history lesson on here (I blame college), but over the next few weeks, I’d like to change it up slightly.
Let’s talk inspiration for a bit. With tattooing, or any visual medium for that matter, inspiration is usually pretty recognizable on an aesthetic level. But art isn’t purely visual. It can be a very personal experience. One can be driven by a countless number of things in ones life that translate into the art they create.
One thing that plays a vital role in the artists’ work, here in the underworld, is music.
This week, we are spotlighting resident Speakeasy artist Jesse Gomez. Jesse takes a lot of visual inspiration from nature. Just take one look at the natural flow of some of his amazing pieces and that much is apparent. But, when asked what his most inspirational albums were, one can see touches of these influences in his work as well.
First off is the Long Beach Ska classic, 40oz to Freedom by Sublime. Some may be shocked to learn that Sublime actua
lly formed in 1988. It wasn’t until 1996, almost a decade later and months after front-man Brad Nowell’s tragic death, that they got mainstream radio airplay and recognition. Calling Sublime a “ska” band almost feels diminutive because their music infuses elements far beyond the limited genre of Ska, including infusions of hip-hop, reggae and dub, making for a chill So Cal classic. And one cannot mention 40oz to Freedom without mentioning the accompanying album artwork that inspired just about every young skater in the 90s. Would it come as any surprise that the now-famous psychedelic mushroom sun face image was created by a tattoo artist?
Opie Ortiz is still working today at Still Life Tattoo in Seal Beach, CA.
Next up on the totem of Jesse’s musical foundation is The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by, you guessed it, Lauryn Hill. You would be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with the Fugees. With her debut solo album, Lauryn Hill truly showed that she was a breakout star of the group. Fusing reggae and hiphop along with 60s style R&B, Lauryn explores the turbulence in the Fugees, as well as past love experiences and her own pregnancy. The album itself is another chill, immersive experience to just get into the vibe and groove.
Lauryn segues us perfectly to Jesse’s final pick. The classic and often criminally overlooked Oogum Boogum by Brenton Wood. Born in Louisiana in 1941, Brenton grew up in Los Angeles, attending high school in Compton. In college, he began cultivating his songwriting skills and became a competent pianist. Brenton’s smooth vocals, similar to Curtis Mayfield, perfectly glide over classic 60s soul and Southern R&B, giving a bit of a “beach music” vibe to it. Perplexingly, the album never broke the Billboard top 10, peaking out at 34 on the hot 100, but if you want a timeless and smooth, classic, this album is for you.
So hopefully this will not only give you a bit of insight into Jesse’s artwork, but will also give you some new music to groove on for the next week. And when you are ready to have a tattoo groove, hit
Stay tuned next week when we take a look at what makes Nicole’s head bop! Take it easy, kids!