FRIENDS.

Pret-ty elated to finally share what's been brewin' in the Rotter and Friends kitchen the past couple of months.

We are proud to present the first look at our Summer collection + collaboration with furniture wizards Nightwood as we debut some home wares this round that feature limited edition wood block prints, hand painted posters, and wood burn drawings (which have been a true life marker to make). In addition to the housewarming vibes, we have produced a limited edition tee shirt paying homage to the holy Gene Clark and his opus from 1974, No Other. Rotter and Friends have been in existence for over six seasons now and almost every year we receive an email from someone requesting a Clark piece. I'll never forget when R + F soldier Turquoise Wisdom passed on this record to me many years ago and how my heart sank by it's power-some people can't handle the heavy sleazy spiritual gospel ride, but I have nothing but gratitude for a record that comes in handy most when the mind is seeking a sea change. Bah! Where are my tissues????





Special thanks to R + F chief photographer Hal Horowitz, and our dear friends/models Aja and Brad. These pieces will all be available early next week and if you have any pre-order requests, please hit up: info@rotterandfriends.com

All the best.

xx

FRIENDS.

Hope this finds you in a good starry iced cubed space. Wanted to share this SPIRIT exercise as a bunch of us R + F soldiers have been completely kazooing out to the world of ex-Poppy Family member Terry Jacks' solo jams from 1974 era. My record angel Chris shared "It's Been There From The Start" a couple weeks ago and I fell face first onto the floor in excitement. I've always been a fan of Poppy Family, "Seasons in the Sun" is a true CBS FM thumbs up, but this is hitting heart levels the way Terry Reid's "Ooh Baby (Make Me Feel So Young)" did ages ago.

I pulled 3 sunny zingers to share, though we are not responsible for the strange 'tubed visuals that accompany the magic (play and look away!). Perhaps an all denim clad stroll with spiked smoothie in hand can work as a fine experience with T. Jack's summer sparkle jams. ENJOY and reflect...




Speaking of tarts, had to share this hilarious piece I did for an upcoming project that we can share more info about in time..!


winks, clinks, and thinks.
xx

FRIENDS.

It's been over a week since wisdom has been spread on the internets-APOLOGIES. We are feverishly updating the new collection for summer and I will also be launching a new portfolio site at the end of the month, let us just say-its been banana pants. Combing through the prehistoric bunnies that were dancing through the old files, I came across this wordless comic done in early 2003 that I had to share. As a detriment to my 23-year old self the plot shall not be discussed, but you can get an idea of the sweet vibes. Hope it makes you smile...



Wishing a GREAT weekend horizon for you.

PS. Speaking of horizons, check out this gorgeous mix R + F soldier Zach Cowie (aka Turquoise Wisdom) made for dublab called Ride The Sky HERE.

xx Jess

FRIENDS.

Summer Breeze-hope it's makin' you feel fine and blowin' through the iced coffee of your MIND. (wow)

Had the hold button on this one for a while but had to share a Part ONE sneak peek of the Black Sabbath comic I made especially for my golden bud Jill Bradshaw's MAGAZINE PARTY being released in early September. Making this was a serious blast and pays homage to one of the holiest band and album klassics of all time, Master Of Reality. Each stanza incorporates a track name as we follow the drama, suspense, and turmoil of two denim clad lovers simply Romeo and Julietin' in the 70's..Hope you ENJOY:

The instrumental that will always hit the spot...

Within the next two weeks we will be able to announce and reveal some new designs and projects we are elated to share-please stay tuned and wishin' starry times.

xx

FRIENDS.

In the spirit of cartoon companions (see our below Dio post), thought I'd share this insanely amazing clip of Basketball Jones written by the holy whimsical stoners themselves, Cheech and Chong. Harping "Love Jones" by Brighter Side of Darkness and the art of Ralph Bakshi, the record released in 1975 featured heroes like George Harrison, Carole King, and Billy Preston. The Blossoms and Michelle Phillips performed vocals as cheerleaders on this track. Break out the swaying roller coaster arms, pour the coffee, light up a pencil and enjoy this gospel'd klassic:

xx

FRIENDS.

Had to wave a handkerchief in the air for the fantastic Ronnie James Dio, who passed away today at the age of 67. Lead singer of stellar bands like Rainbow, Dio, and the HOLY Black Sabbath, Dio was a master of metal performance and the chief proprieter of "devil horn" hand gestures for angst ridden 'hedz everywhere. Since Dio's story can be found quite prominently in the headlines today, I thought I'd share a little rarer zinger that has been a huge influence since I was a young Rot tot.

"Love Is All" is the theme song to the Butterfly Ball and The Grasshopper's Feast, a conceptual rock opera album for which became super successful in 1975 from the cartoon companion to this song. Totally psychedelic and memorable, do get into the vibes of the juxtaposed animals (ladybugs with bird heads) marching and drunkingly cavorting on to the ball-wonder what bubbly madness went on there....

"Love Is All" was the sole influence on my tee shirt collection for The Gap's Product RED last year. The biggest goal for the drawings was to exude the joy, sprightliness, and animation that the tune does-I hope it does just that for you...


Here's a clip of a documentary on the importance of the song including interviews with Ronnie James Dio himself..

So long and thanks for the inspirations..

xx

FRIENDS.

Had to share this conceptual mind melt that I had discovered via the great Zakee Shariff's blog last week. If in the London area, do stroll over as this looks like a memorable one. I think the video here speaks for itself:

A summary from the Barbican:

French artist Céleste Boursier-Mougenot creates works by drawing on the rhythms of daily life to produce sound in unexpected ways. Boursier-Mougenot’s installation for The Curve, his first solo exhibition in the UK, takes the form of a walk-though aviary for a flock of zebra finches, furnished with electric guitars and other musical instruments. As the birds go about their routine activities, perching on or feeding from the various pieces of equipment, they create a random and captivating soundscape.

xx

FRIENDS.

I got hit hard in the noggin this morning as I received a bottle with a nice note inside from my favorite artist Shari Reich that I thought I would share just in case (gasp) you were feeling the same vibes. However.....HAVE no fear-we will be launching the new goodies in June which will include new heroes + some majorly requested re-pressings. Do be patient with us and know how much we appreciate YOU. As for Shari, well that's another story. -winks!-

Chamomile wishes and earl grey dreams...

xx

FRIENDS.

When your feelin' the need for the heavy-and I mean HEAVY gnarly monster psyche sloodge, there is no other place to go than Fraction's Moon Blood record from 1971. Dark owl-eyed sex fuzzed demon drones, there were only 300 originally produced and copies run for about $3k and a black eye at most rare record conventions.

I personally own a fake fendi copy/bootleg of the album, which was produced with a red foil cover and pull out moon, but thankfully Mexican Summer will proudly be officially re-releasing the beast next week with a previously unreleased 10 inch bonus piece. Can't handle it!!

Check out these behind the scenes photos from the holy R + F printers of Blue Collar Press who have done a seriously beautiful job recapturing the packaging magik.


You can pre-order the madness HERE. This leather jacketed track called "Come Out of Her" is, well, no words- just light a pen, turn off the lights, and roll out...

A few words about Moon Blood from the holy 'head Steve Krakow of Plastic Crimewave/Galactic Zoo Dossier:

There are very few albums in the psych/punk/hard rock/private presses strata that garner the sort of universal awe and accolades that Fraction’s almighty Moonblood LP does, and even fewer records in the world that could be dubbed ‘Christian Rock’ incur such fierce devotion. Indeed some records just meteorically lift themselves out any genre tag with brilliance and sheer defiance--and Moonblood is surely one of them.

This workmanlike description in no way prepares one for the pure tortured genius the session wrought. Particularly noteworthy is Beach’s vocals—as commonly stated, the spirit of Jim Morrison is conjured in his deep baritone, which gives way to unparalleled pained howls, at times bathed in delay which trails into the abyss. Fascinatingly enough, Beach cites the much punker Love as his fave LA band over the Doors, and also gives influence-nods to proto-everything rockers The Yardbirds and to Dylan, whose dark word tapestries surely inspired Beach’s lyrics (though lines from The Doors’ “L’America” pop up on the LP) Whatever the case, the man clearly has a vision, as even the stark sleeve concept is Beach’s own.

xx

FRIENDS.

My office mates are seriously rolling their eyes right now, as this track is on pretty heavy rotation here on the Rott 'puter, but regardless, I thought I'd share this spirit exercise- as who doesn't love a good afternoon horizon with the sexy eyebrow wiggle jams of Black Merda? I love this calm song "That's The Way It Goes" and dream of sitting with feet up on a porch in Hudson Valley staring long reflective distances and apple munchin' away...

In other zoo news, big gratitude vibes to the kind folks at country boot cut blog When You Awake (head to their mix section asap), who hosted a giveaway of our Linda Ronstadt tee. Enter HERE.

Hope all is well in the land of YOU.

xx Jess