THE WORLD’S FIRST FREE TATTOO AND PIERCING LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION
january 2009
volume 9 issue 4
#1oo is here!
e finally did it! 100 issues ago, in my very first editor’s note I stated that we would turn the publication into a glossy magazine as soon as we could. Eight years and 100 issues into the life of PRICK, the day has come. We started out as a loose leaf, local Atlanta rag. Nothing fancy at all, just (unknown to me then) groundbreaking. With the popularity and circulation of the magazine growing from Atlanta to the southeast in just a few months; we fancied it up a bit by getting it stapled and having the edges trimmed and adding a ton more color. Soon after that we became primarily a southeast publication, the popularity and exposure kept growing and growing. We are currently available in 2,000+ locations across the U.S. and select locations overseas. Thanks to the support of our readers and advertisers we are truly a national/international tattoo & piercing lifestyle magazine featuring world famous artists and bands. I feel that going glossy, though it's obviously a smaller size, would better reflect and represent the quality of our content and supporters. And we are still FREE! Speaking of glossy, if you are in the Atlanta area, come out and celebrate our 100th issue with us at Club Halo on January 26th. Check out the ad on this page for more details.
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Enjoy this 100th issue. I hope you like the new look. Chuck B. H.P.I.C.
CONTENTS 8 PRICKIN’ AROUND 13 SHOP OF THE MONTH Club Tattoo
16 TATTOO SHOW Tallahassee TattooFest
27 TATS AND TUNES In This Moment
35 HOT INK 39 PHAT RIDES 43 TATTOO SHOW Paradise Tattoo Gathering
51 MUSIC NOTES 52 PRICK PICKS 53 PRICK BULLETIN BOARD 55 RANDOM PRICKS 56 COOL SHIZZLE 59 ARTIST OF THE MONTH Meg McNiel ON THE COVER: Maria Brink of In This Moment photographed by Sylvia Hagar
PRICK MAGAZINE STAFF CEO / PUBLISHER / EDITOR IN CHIEF: CHARLES D. BRANK (AKA CHUCK B.) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: SUN RIM BRANK VP OF OPERATIONS / ONLINE EDITOR: GEOFFREY STEPHENSON MUSIC & MEDIA EDITOR / COPY EDITOR: LISA SHARER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: LISA SHARER, MAX BRAND, SEAN DETTMAN, SYLVIA HAGAR, CALU, WILLIAM THIDEMANN, CHRIS SCHARFFENBERG, CASHEENA FRISON, GARRETT TYSON RANGE, KRISTIAN MESSER, ANDREW GREENBERG, ASHLEE MCCANN, LYNDSEY SARGENT, ZAC HOBBS, REYAN ALI, BRYNNA YENTZ, JOHN VALLIERE CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: MAX BRAND, SYLVIA HAGAR, BRETT MAYFIELD, JAMES LINDLEY, KRISTIAN MESSER, KRISTA NEWSOME, JENNA ERWIN, JON OGRYDZIAK DISTRIBUTION / DEVELOPMENT: MAX BRAND, BRIAN FISCHER, OSSUR, CHRIS SCHARFFENBERG, ERIC SNODDY, DICK GOZENYA, RICHARD BAGUR (N.C.) ADVERTISING: COURTNEY KING, LISA SHARER, CALU, SYLVIA HAGAR
PRICK ADVERTISING & GENERAL INFO: (770) 723-9824 CONTACT PUBLISHER CHUCK B. EMAIL:
chuckb@prickmag.net
CHECK OUT OUR AD RATES AND SPECS ONLINE AT: SEND CORRESPONDENCE TO:
www.prickmag.net
PO Box 381,Tucker, GA 30085
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. ADVERTISERS INDEMNIFICATION: All advertising is subject to approval before acceptance. PRICK Magazine and Chuck B, Inc reserve the right to refuse any ad for any reason whatsoever, without limit. All advertisers in PRICK Magazine, for fair and valuable consideration, including but not limited to the printing of each advertiser’s ad, the receipt and suffering of which is hereby acknowledged, hereby agree ad hold PRICK Magazine harmless with respect to any claim made by a third party against PRICK Magazine, as a result of publishing said advertisement in said periodical. Said indemnity includes, but is not limited to, any claims by any party claiming that the publication of the ad violates any trademark, design mark or that it violates an individuals likeness or violates any fair business practice act, and includes indemnification of PRICK Magazine for any and all expenses in incurs in defending any said claim, including attorney fees and court costs whether said claim is successful or not successful plus any judgement that might be rendered and any settlement of such claim or judgement. Advertiser warrants and represents that the description of the product or service advertised is true in all respects. PRICK Magazine and Chuck B, Inc, assume no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. PRICK Magazine makes no recommendations as to the quality of any service provided by any advertiser. All views expressed in all articles are those of the writers and are not necessarily those of the publication and Chuck B, Inc. Publication assumes no responsibility and no liability for unsolicited materials. All letters and their contents sent to PRICK Magazine become the sole property of PRICK Magazine and december be used and produced in any manner whatsoever without limit and without obligation and liability to the writer thereof. Copyright© 2008 Chuck B, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part or storage in any data retrieval system or any transmission is totally prohibited and violates copyright law.
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HALO Tattoo Industry Night by chuck b.
prickin’ around
alo is not a new club to the the Atlanta Atlanta scene, scene but it is one of the latest and hottest to recognize that the tattoo and piercing community is a large slice of the party culture pie. Club sales and marketing manager Orlando Ramirez and tattooed club vixen C.J. came up with the idea to not just have another party theme but to make a networking night for the tattoo community. The club is very visually stimulating and serves such a gathering well. Some of the things that make it a networking party are having the show sponsored or hosted by various tattoo studios and related artists, professional photographers are brought in and a photo area is set up for tattooed models to show off their tattoos, and piercings and the heavily tattooed are treated like VIPs. This month come out and party with PRICK as we celebrate the 100th Edition on January 26th. It's on a Monday so tattoo Shay Cannon and Josh of Liberty Tattoo kickin’ it in the VIP artists can come out without having to give up a generally busy Friday or Saturday night at the tattoo studio.The party is sponsored by Van Gogh Vodka and Worthmore Jewelers, so come sip on some high-end spirits, network, get photographed for PRICK, PRICK and win some bling! Throwing this kind of party in a sheik downtown nightclub like Halo only continues to elevate the tattoo community and the art form itself. Though you might thoroughly enjoy wearing dirty jeans and a wife beater and your beer of choice is quite often Pabst Blue Some of the Liberty Tatt Ribbon, it's also nice to get cleaned up every once and a while, drink oo posse getting loose in the mixed drinks, and mingle in a club environment. Check out their Web VIP section site Halolounge.com for upcoming monthly tattoo industry networking parties and other events. H
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C.J. shows her Flirting with Disaster tattoo 8 PRICK MAGAZINE
Halo marketing manager Orlando (gray shirt) with some of the lovely tattooed models that came out for the party and photo ops
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Dj Menelik kept the par ty movin’ to all the newest s#&t! Halo’s own Whitney (lef t) showing her love of tattoos and vide o games
Legendary Atlanta Goth Promoter J-Sin was in the house
Tattooed model and and former PRICK Hot Ink Demanda Lavette
club tattoo by max brand
shop of the month Part One: THe Piercers
ith a name like Club Tattoo, you might not guess that Sean Dowdell's four shops are world renowned for their elite staff of piercers. With two locations in Tempe, one in Mesa, and one in Glendale, Ariz., these shops have become home to the best micro-dermal and surface piercings available. Plans are even underway to spread the wealth to Las Vegas with a fifth shop opening soon. Being published in dozens of magazines, providing art for a slew of aftercare ads and maintaining a business partnership with Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, we were thrilled that Sean was able to sit down and answer a few questions for PRICK.
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Tell us a little about your history with Chester Bennington and how the two of you became partners in a shop. Chester is one of my closest friends. He and I played together for seven years in a band called Grey Daze right up to the point when Linkin Park was formed. Our band split, he ended up being a huge rock star and I remained in the tattoo and piercing business. I focused all the energy that I had for music into the tattoo and piercing industry. He became a full partner in Club Tattoo about six years ago and helps my wife Thora and I build the brand’s direction.
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Everyone knows that Club Tattoo has been a published award winning shop for years, but are there any particular awards or accomplishments that stand out to you? I don't put too much stock into our awards. Awards are very objective and sometimes very political. I am proud of them—don't get me wrong—but I don't judge who we are or what we have done solely on my artists’ awards. That being said,
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Matt Geiogamah and David Page have been winning quite a few awards around the country over the last couple of years, and that has been really cool. As far as accomplishments, I am proud of the micro-dermal course that Trevor and I have taught around the country and now put out on DVD. The micro-dermal that I designed with Metal Mafia is a huge accomplishment. The large scale piercing projects that have become well known around the world is a great accomplishment for me and my crew. My biggest feat is being a good father to my kids, Carston and Brennen, and a good husband to Thora. My family is the most important thing I have. Being an innovator in new piercing styles and techniques, including surface piercings and micro-dermal implants, how do you decide what new materials and techniques will become a permanent part of your repertoire? The materials are dictated to us.We haven't invented any new materials, we have just chosen to use the best titanium grades and implant grade stainless steel available for each particular product we chose to use.Techniques, now that is a good question. I would have to say that if there is a new (or newer) technique that is to be used in the studios, I try to perfect it or at least have a really good grasp of it. Then all the piercers meet and discuss it, and we add our input on ways of improving it so that everyone is on the same page with our clients. This gives us the best and most consistent results. The piercers and I meet once a month as a group. Burni Ellis, my head piercer, is awesome at getting everyone on the same page.
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All of your piercing artists have a hand in the large scale projects that you do. How does the collaborative process work, and if there are ever differences in opinion, how are they resolved? My piercing staff is quite diverse and they all have grown very accustomed
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to sharing with each other and myself. I think I led the charge in getting them involved with certain projects.That alone was a great barrier destroyer. When they saw me being able to include them and not stroke my own ego, they wanted to share their knowledge. It became quite productive. As far as having disagreements? There aren't too many. Everyone is able to share their opinion and we all come to an understanding of what will work best for a given situation.The egos get checked at the door when we are doing projects. Otherwise it wouldn't work. I have to give props to my piercing crew. They are the best that I have ever had the opportunity to work with. These guys rock and give me inspiration every day and are probably a huge reason for my pseudo notoriety: Burni, Chris, Matt, Mercedes, Brent, Jeff and Headrick. You can check out all of our work at Clubtattoo.com. You have offered a seminar on micro-dermal implant techniques at conventions across the country. How has the turnout been, and what kind of response have you received from piercers who are learning about this new procedure? Trevor and I have had great success with the seminars. I average about fifty to sixty piercers per class. Our largest class was eightythree piercers in attendance, and our smallest was thirty-one. My biggest complaint is that I wasn't able to travel to some of the more remote places around the world. I have a few shops that wanted me to come teach in Mexico, or Canada, or the Netherlands, and I simply couldn't get it to financially pan out to travel that far for so few students. Because of this, I've decided to put the seminar out on DVD, and it is being distributed through Metal Mafia now. This allows me to teach all over the world without traveling. It also let me make a great connection with Metal Mafia and provided me with the time to design another Micro-Dermal Anchor, which I think is the best on the market.They have just been released through Metal Mafia and are of the highest grade titanium. My piercers love them. I have gotten nothing but positive feedback from the people who have taken the course; however, there will always be haters. What should we look for as far as the future of Club Tattoo? We are opening our fifth store inside Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile shops in March of 2009.This has taken Thora, Chester and me over three years to put together, so we are very excited about it. Thanks, Sean. We hope everyone has a chance to check out your newest shop, we encourage all piercers to get their hands on your micro-dermal DVD and we hope everyone will look over your entire staff of piercers and tattoo artists at Clubtattoo.com. H
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Cliff from Tampa, Fla.
Tattoo by Jim Cooper, winner of 1st Place Female Back, and 2nd Place Large B&G
MC Radical Randy hosts the show while getting tattooed
tallahassee tattoofest by max brand
tattoo show
sually when PRICK is talking about Bruce Ripley, or Tattoofest, it's all about Tampa, Fla. in the beautiful month of March. Well, not this time. The weekend of October 9th through 12th found us on a short trip to Florida's capital where Ripley teamed up with his son David for the 1st Annual Tallahassee TattooFest. Familiar faces and featured artists were just some of the attractions available at the gathering held in the Tallahasse Civic Center, home of Seminole Basketball. The fest was also a destination for sci-fi and
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Tattoo by JP of Tattudio, winner of 1st Place B&G Tattoo of the Day on Saturday
Chris Blinston of Big Brain 2
Nicole getting some balls from Aaron
Caitlin is a freshman at FSU, and has corset piercings by Zarah of Fine Art For Life
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The After Inked crew showing off their new aftercare product
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Tattoo by Gradt of Advanced Tattoos in Tallahassee
Tattoo by Kristel Oreto from Florida, and a Tattoo of the Day winner on Friday
Tattoo by Jim Cooper of Pensicola Tattoo
tallahassee
Tattoo by Darrin White from North Carolina
Tattoo by Tony Ciavarro and Tattoo of the Day winner on Friday
tattoofest
horror flick fans, with names like Peter Mayhew (Star Wars' Chewbacca), Courtney Gaines (Children of the Corn and The Burbs), and Jonathan Breck (Jeepers Creepers) on hand to sign autographs and talk movie shop. Highlighted by the sideshow of the Enigma and Serena Rose, and a daisy chain of artists including the legendary Lyle Tuttle lining up to tattoo the Enigma, this fun weekend of tattoos and fellowship should have no problem drawing an even bigger crowed next year. Keep an eye out for information on future TattooFest events, and we'll see ya there! For more information, go to www.tattoofest.com. Tattoo by Joe Huhtala of Pensicola Tattoo
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Tattoo by Chris Blinston of Big Brain, 1st Place Winner of Tattoo of the Day on Friday
Tattoo by Jason Stephan
Michelle’s tattoos are by Tom Doublestein of King Street Body Gallery in Cocoa, Fla.
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Scotty of After Inked got this tattoo from Loco of Darma Tattoo in Miami
Jonathan Breck, The Creeper from Jeepers Creepers
Peter Mayhew, aka Chewbacca
tallahassee tattoofest
Tattoo by John Casey of Fine Line Tattoo, winner of 3rd Place Large Color
Elizabeth Dibois’ arm by Shawn Booth, and hand by Robert Johnson of Hollywood Tattoo
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Tattoo by Aaron, 1st Place Winner of Tattoo of the Day on Saturday
Tattoo by Pat of Lucky 7 Tattoo in West Palm Beach
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Tattoo by Sue Hawkins of Out West Tattoos, winner of 1st Place Best Fantasy
Tattoo by Jeff Paetzold from Elgin, Ill.
Tattoo by Tony Ciavarro of Stinky Monkey Tattoos, a Tattoo of the Day winner on Saturday
Tattoo by Nick Minervine of Inx Body Art
tallahassee tattoofest Tattoo by Aaron who is on the road
Courtney Gains best known from Children of the Corn, and The Burbs
Tattoo by Jason Stephan from Cocoa, Fla.
Camden Toy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and over 100 other films and TV shows
Aurora and Angi representing Steadfast Brand
Low and Earl of Lucky Draw Tattoo did this collaborative tattoo on Friday
Pat of Lucky 7 tattooing Kristyn
Darby’s back is tattooed by Chris Drummond of Inx Body Art Studio
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Tattoo by Trevor Wilson of Lucky 7 Tattoo, winner of 1st Place Large Color
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Tattoo by Misty of R&R Tattoo in Valdosta
Lyle Tuttle tattooing The Enigma
Bruce Ripley tattooing The Enigma...Bruce’s first time tattooing!
Dave Nestler tattooing The Enigma...Dave’s first time tattooing!
The Enigma and Serena Rose kept everyone entertained all weekend
The Enigma and Serena Rose aren’t afraid of power tools
tallahassee
tattoofest
Tattoo by Grumpy Chris of Taylor County Tattoo
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Tattoo by Nick Minervine of Inx Body Art
Eliza has tattoos by Lance Norris of I Drive Tattoo, and won 2nd Place Oriental, 2nd Place Large Color, and 1st Place Overall Female
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by lisa sharer photos by sylvia hagar makeup by micheline pierre
ever underestimate the power of "do it yourself" marketing and the epic amount of reach that MySpace can give to any band. Maria Brink will tell you that herself. Front woman for In This Moment, Brink attributes many of the bands successes on the hard work that was done for them—by them. Today, you can catch In This Moment performing with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie, Metallica, and many more. Their upcoming plans include nothing but touring relentlessly, and working hard to reach their goals.
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Their first album, Beautiful Tragedy, proved to be one of the better metalcore albums of the year. Brink's combination of screaming and soft vocals as well as some heavy breakdowns brought windmills and moshing from far and wide. Many people were intrigued by their innovative and compelling music, which had them flocking to see what the buzz was about. Their newest album, The Dream, has taken a slight turn in a different direction. It still has all the old In This Moment that we love, but adds something that Brink calls a more challenging component. "We wanted to just grow as much as we can and in all areas, as musicians. We worked with Kevin Churko, and he really just pulled the best out of us. And I
Maria Brink’s hands and knuckle tattoos by Connor Garrity 2 6 PRICK MAGAZINE
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(L-R) Howorth’s “In This Moment” and sparrows on neck by Trevor Bonkers at Tattoo Revolution in California, Fabb’s dragon tattoo, Fabb’s koi by Rudy at Skin Flicks, Landry’s “Lafayette Star” was his first tattoo, Landry’s “Dirty South” tattoo
know I'm not screaming as much on the new album, but it's just that screaming is a little bit easier for me. Singing was always more of the challenging part—to hit and hold those notes—especially live. So I really wanted to challenge myself more, I wanted to show more diversity with my vocals, so I did." Admittedly, they've moved onto a more rock album with heavy metal influences.
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Fabb’s legs by Connor Garrity
Other than growing in music, Brink tells about how they would like to grow in success. "We're still a new baby band." She clarifies by saying, "I mean we're doing good, but worse compared to people that headline an arena. We have a lot of work to do." Their aspirations are endless, but so far they're work has not gone unnoticed. They have made great strides in a short period of time. Her advice to other bands out there is golden. "Just to really concentrate on whatever it is you want to do and be and sound like, and not worry about what everyone is doing and sounding like. I think that's where people get a little stuck. Get your MySpace page going, because it really is the now-a-day demo. Anybody hears any rumor about any band, the first thing a label is going to do is go [directly] to their MySpace page." More specifically about the woman behind the band,
Howorth’s hands by Rudy Madena
Brink lets us in on a day in the life. "The things that I love in my off time are I love going to my son's football games, I love yoga, I love going to the movies, I love going to the book store, getting a decaf latte, chilling out, I like painting, I collect old dolls, like old vintage dolls with big weird eyes and smashed heads. I try to [relax], because everything is so on the go for me and so crazy. I guess I'm a workaholic." A travelling workaholic with a family sounds like a difficult feat, but Brink makes it work. "[My son is] old enough to know if he's missing me enough or he wants to come on the road, he'll come on the road. He really just gets it, Brink’s “Davion” by Manu and he is in Peru, “Forever Jonathan” and heart by Rudy proud of me
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and I'm proud of him. We balance it out. Sometimes if I miss him bad enough, I'll fly home on an off day just to go kiss him and see him." Her son is not only the reason for all her hard work, but also for her body art. "My very first tattoo was a little infinity symbol on the lower part of my back, it's microscopic. I got it for my son, because whenever we leave each other or Brink’s neck by Connor Garrity get off the phone or anything we say 'forever, infinity.'" Obviously, from there the work has become much more extensive. "I think tattoos are beautiful and I think they visually create or they really show an individual and who they are, and it's a way to express yourself and what you love. It's like a painting on your body. It's art on your body, it's beautiful." Almost everyone in the band (save Blake Bunzel) also display proudly their affinity for body art. There are some matching tour tattoos, as well as some extrinsic work that was done in Peru. Chris Howorth has a sleeve that he attributes to a “mesh from my childhood.” As well as a compliment to the band,“In This Moment” stamped across his neck. Jesse Landry shows a wide variety of flavor in his pieces with a tribute to the “Dirty South” on his arm, a tribal piece on his leg, and a realistic piece in honor of his grandBrink’s tattoos by Connor Garrity father on his chest. Jeff Fabb shows his bright side with a colorful koi, as well as his dark side with some black and gray words written down his legs, “love” and “pain.” Just as they share the small tour bus space together, they also share the same taste in artists. Manu has tattooed more than one of the members as well as Connor Garrity. The band that tattoos together stays together. And with this amount of tattoos, we have much more beauty, tragedy, and dreams to come in this band’s future. H For more information, go to www.myspace.com/inthismoment. 30 PRICK MAGAZINE
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pretty things
peepshow Photos courtesy of Pretty Things Peepshow
hot ink
he Pretty Things Peepshow, a vintage style vaudeville burlesque sideshow, will be on a national tour in January and February 2009. PRICK sat down with these lovely ladies to get all the dirt on this hot new show.
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Pretty Things is made up of some of the best performers in burlesque and sideshow. These performers have worked both together and separately all over the world and their tassels have more miles on them then a ‘57 Chevy! Some of the show’s more notable accomplishments are the Vans Warped Tour, OZZFest (with Ozzy Osborne) and The West Coast Riot/Metal Town Music festivals in Gothenburg, Sweden. They have appeared on HBO's Real Sex series, Miami Ink, The Girls Next Door, The Discovery Channel, TLC and QVC and have been in music videos for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Dave Grohl and Lemmy’s band, Probot. Burlesque dancers, Go-Go Amy and Bettina May, are both world famous vintage pin up girls and hot sexy SuicideGirls. These lovely ladies make up the brains and the beauty behind The Pretty Things Peepshow. After being booked on the same Canadian tour a few years ago, they teamed up and have since taken the burlesque and pin up worlds by storm, appearing in many magazines and performing on countless stages all over the world.The girls also run a class on vintage pin up modeling called "How to be a Pin Up Girl," a how-to class and photo shoot where everyday ladies learn to release their inner bombshell. “We're changing the world one roller set and tassel twirl at a time,” says Go-Go Amy. "We may not be curing cancer by taking pin up photos and putting on amazing shows, but we are going to make you feel good about yourself. Happy people make the world a better place."
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With brains for business and bodies for trouble these vivacious vixens are two ladies you're going to want to get to know. Burlesque and Pin up are making a huge comeback in the underground scene. Many of these iconic images are making it back in the mainstream by way of movies, TV, and printed media outlets. So what sets these girls apart from the sea of others like them? "The Pretty Things Peepshow is more than just glamorous strip teasing ladies, we are a throwback to classic vaudeville shows with comedy, amazing feats of sword swallowing and fire-eating, and singing—all with a modern, sophisticated edge," says Bettina May, as she proudly shows off photos of the other cast members. Joining them on tour will be two dames of danger from the Coney Island Sideshow and the Brothers Grim Sideshow. Miss Heather Holliday, the sword swallowing sensation, is the youngest of her kind to hit the Coney Island stage. If her beauty doesn't knock your socks off then her acts sure will! She'll take twenty-eight inches of solid steel and swallow it right down her throat. She also has the ‘bright’ idea of eating a light bulb on stage, a feat which is accomplished, as she says, "by sticking to a strict diet and having total disregard for dental health." Miss Angelica is the sideshow's sexy tattooed siren. She eats fire, breathes fire, and licks flaming torches like you would lick an ice cream cone. She cracks whips quicker than you can crack a smile and performs a walk up a ladder of razor sharp swords on her bare feet. One wrong step and it's filet of sole. Not only does Miss Angelica perform some of sideshow's deadliest and most daring acts, she is also tattooed from head to toe. It is said that she's had more needles stuck in her than Keith Richards.Topping off this fabulous cast is the host with the most—the best in the biz—Mr.Vincent Drambuie. You may have seen him on stage at the Coney Island Pin Up Contest and at the London,Vancouver, or Chicago International Burlesque Festivals. His wit is as dry as a rat pack martini, his humor as sharp as James Dean’s switchblade. He entertains without offending, amuses without alarming. He'll have your sides splitting and your glasses raised high. This man is comedy at its best. Another fun part of this show is their Stage Maid Contest, where the performers open up the part of the stage maid or the pickup artist to the public.The lucky winner of each local contest will get all dolled up in a sexy French maid’s outfit and will join the girls on stage for the show, aiding in scene changes and assisting Vincent Drambuie in his comedy routines. So where, you may ask, can you see this amazing show? The tour will start out in New York, and then head down the coast to hit Asbury Lanes in New Jersey, The Palace of Wonders in Washington, DC, The Rock Shop in Fayetteville, NC through to Atlanta where they will be doing a big show with Musical Mayhem Productions, then across the South through Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas,Tex., to Los Angeles.They will then head up the coast to the San Francisco area. There are many more show dates and locations than we’ve listed here, so check out their Web site for the full tour schedule: Prettythingsproductions.com H
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HOMETOWN
HOT RODS by Chuck B.
phat Rides
ucker, Ga. is a quaint little industrial town just outside of Atlanta. It's not trendy or famous but it is where PRICK is physically produced. PRICK is about the only thing that has anything to do with tattoos and piercing within its city limits. It's a small town. PRICK could be the most widely known thing that has ever come out of Tucker, although the high school football team is well ranked.
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There is one thing, however, that Tucker has been known for many years over.That one thing, although it is small scale and primarily localized, is very cool: the Tucker Cruise In.Turns out that a large amount of classic car collectors ended up living here and they organized their own cruise-ins.These cars are just a few of the sixty or more that filled Main Street once a month over the summer/fall season this past year.Though there is little else to do in Tucker but live, we could not help ourselves but to show some of its resident hot rods. My personal favorite was the black, chameleon painted, '69 El Dorado lowrider, but I could be a little biased on that one because I know the owner well. H
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Tattoo of the Day on Tony Ezzell done by Nate Beavers
Justin Webb’s Tattoo of the Day by Nate Beavers
Foo dog Tattoo of the Day on Jessica Gunter done by Jeff Ensminger
paradise tattoo gathering by jenna erwin
tattoo show
mongst the hills of Western Massachusetts, the first ever Paradise Tattoo Gathering took place.The four-day event that was geared towards artists and true tattoo lovers.
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The gathering included seventy of the world's best custom tattoo artists, along with seven
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E.T. on Ed Kreszcz done by Lou Jacque
Gabriel CeCe stops to smile for camera while tattooing Gayle Easton
Best Coverup on Dan Terlik by Tim Neil
Kimberly Reed tattooing Robyn Couturier
Kara Kenny done by Chris Allen
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Nicole was the winner for Overall Female
Dog on Devlin Baird done by Cecil Porter
Lord of the Rings on Dan Welsh-Oshawa by Mike DeVries
Wife’s hand holding his heart on John Pyles done by Mike Devries
paradise tattoo gathering
Paul Johnson’s tattoo by Dan Plumley
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discussion boards, and numerous forums.The event, put on by Hell City Tattoo and Neuma Tattoo Machines, attracted artists throughout the world to come and learn from such greats as Max McAndrews, Mike DeVries, and Nick Baxter, while guests came to watch and get tattooed by artists such as Durb, Alex De Pase, and Hector Cedillo. During the gathering, Hell City introduced a judging software called Crasx. Crasx allows instant results and judging criteria's such as contrast, shading, and
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Alexi Eunog’s tattoo was the first tattoo done in America by YangZhuo
Texas sleeve Best Woman’s Sleeve on Alissa Brunelli done by Durb
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John Pyles’ Best Male Sleeve (above) done by Mike Devries
paradise tattoo gathering color on a scale from 1 to 100. Chris Longo the Mayor of Tattooville stated, "It's the best system out there." Amazingly, Crasx Software was created by Matt Ramir, an eighteen year old high school student from Chicago, Ill. All together the Paradise Tattoo Gathering allowed for artists and tattoo lovers to come together in a relaxed environment that they could enjoy and be inspired. H
Rose on hand of Noelle Lamonica done by Dave Kruseman
Gypsy girl tattoo on Chloe Vahessa done by Hector Cedillo
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For more information, go to www.tattoogathering.com or tattoonow.com.
Best Large Color on Mike Della done by Nick Baxter and Carson Hill
Bang gun on George Sosa-Miklakos done by Jime Litwalk
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Rachael Frank’s chest tattoo by Dan Henk
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Todo tattooing Cora Bradd
Sean Peters tattooing Jessica Wolk
Gina Marcill getting tatooed by Tony Ciavarro
paradise tattoo gathering
Hector Cedillo
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American History sleeve Best Large Black & Gray on Chris Drickman done by Jamie Cross
Chris Allen tattooing Kara Kenny
Virgin Mary Best Small Black & Gray on John Pyles by Mike Devries
Marilyn Monroe on Shawn Murphy done by Mike DeMasi
Hector Cedillo tattooing Chloe Vahessa
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the top ten cds of 2008 Reviews by John Valliere
that you didn’t hear on the radio!
1. THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM - The ‘59 Sound - [SideOneDummy]
Like apple pie for your ears, The Gaslight Anthem’s The ’59 Sound is pure blue-collar Americana. If every band made music this good nothing would ever get done because the entire country would be too busy singing along to do anything else. It might be folk punk or it might be rock ‘n’ roll; whatever you call it, it’s the catchiest and most honest rock album of the year.
2. DISFEAR - Live the Storm - [Relapse]
By far the most relentless album of the year, Disfear’s Live the Storm is a sonic juggernaut. Like Motorhead, only crustier, its wild and rampant pace is matched only by its ferocious delivery. Tomas Lindberg of At The Gates supplies the vocals, which are accented by high-energy gang shouts and lots of speedy guitars. Have no reservations about this one-it's worth your money.
3. LA DISPUTE - Somewhere at the Bottom of a River Between
Vegas and Altair - [No Sleep] Upon first hearing this disc one might be inclined to compare La Dispute to Mewithoutyou; and while they are similar in sound, it’s La Dispute’s passionate fury that puts them at the top of the mount. Out of breath tirades belted out in full-force play off urgent guitar riffs for a powerful and mature sound that builds progressively throughout this album to critical mass at the end of thirteen tracks. But be warned it’s not for everyone.
4. TRAP THEM - Seizures In Barren Praise - [Relapse] This band is so awesome I wanna run out and get pregnant just so I can offer my first born as a sacrifice to them. So savage, so destructive, so chaotic, so loud, fast, and angry… Oh my God, did I just listen to the album or have sex? There's no question about it, this is a must have album. 5. 36 CRAZYFISTS - The Tide and Its Takers - [Ferret]
If any band is due its fifteen minutes of fame it’s Alaska’s 36 Crazyfists.They’ve been fighting the good fight since the 1990’s and all the clawing and scratching has finally paid off with the release of The Tide and Its Takers. Drawing on everything from Shadows Fall to Every Time I Die to System of a Down, this album is metal at its finest and hardcore at its best.They make metalcore seem like it's new again, and are a tough act to follow.
6. GOJIRA - The Way of All Flesh - [Prosthetic]
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be a fly on the wall back in the old days when they used to perform frontal lobotomies on metal patients without anesthesia? Gojira can take you there.A truly mind bending and demented experience, The Way of All Flesh is riddled with some of the most complex elements of thrash, hardcore, and metal of the year.
7. SUMP PUMPS - Revenge of the Sump Pumps - [8-Bit] Proud to smear the lines between punk and new wave, the Sump Pumps bring back some of the musical playfulness birthed by bands like the Dead Milkmen, the Queers and Devo. Simple song structures, fun lyrics, and upbeat melodies are only part of the craze. The Pumps go all out as they scream and add a touch of ray gun Casio keyboards.The entire album is peppy, jocular, and energetic.
8. MOVING MOUNTAINS - Pneuma - [Deep Elm] Moving Mountains’ Pneuma is an album with a sense of purpose and atmosphere that's intellectual and sincere: think of the Cure's Disintegration or early Cursive without the shrill vocals. There's lots of down time with little more than light bells and looming synths to fill the void. But the lyrics are loaded with subtle literary references so you have lots to think about during the silence. Who knows, if you listen to it enough it might actually boost your I.Q. 9. STAY SHARP - Four Songs - [Monkey Wrench]
Stay Sharp sounds like the kind of band who has an Ian MacKaye air freshener in their van. And God bless 'em for it! Their vibrant, fist pumping hardcore punk style is timeless. Shrugging off all the glitz and glam associated with "hardcore" and "punk" nowadays, Stay Sharp's Four Songs is like a ten-minute trip back in time. The songs are fast and riotous.They run together and make you forget that punk is now a style that can be bought at the mall.
10. WILLIAM CONTROL - Hate Culture - [Victory]
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Okay Aiden sucks, but when your day job is making music for unappreciative, snotty little me-first teenyboppers, your night job had better be cathartic as hell.You probably won’t hear it on the dance floor at ‘80s night, but the dark and gloomy dance inspired rhythms are, without a doubt, catchy and danceable. And though veterans of the real Soft Cell/Depeche Mode generation will probably be too stuck up to give this a shot, it is quite meritorious - and well executed.
OLEHOLE HoleMole
[Undergound Communique Records] OleHole hit the ground running last year turning the proverbial heads of music fans and critics alike last year, long before they had even began to record a record. Luckily for all of us, their debut LP HoleMole is worth every ounce of the hype. What makes OleHole their record so fantastic is how hard it is to define its genre. There is a ton of influence going on in the songs that make up HoleMole; there is a lot of DC post-punk going on, combined with some patented Mid-western graveled and gutted vocals, and even sprinkled with some elements of grunge rock. Fans of melodic and meticulous songwriting need look elsewhere, as HoleMole is all over the place, jumping chaotically from sound and style, all the while creating a sound completely unique to their own. Without question, OleHole has released one of the most creative and original records this year, which is good for all of us, because HoleMole is really just a fucking incredible record. - Zac Hobbs
MAN AT ARMS
A Waste of Time and Space
[Joyful Noise] Modest Mouse could have gone this route, if it wasn't for the whole wanting to be rich thing. Sometimes keeping it complex is the simplest answer, at least if you're Man At Arms. Warm and fuzzy melodies are for pussies: this duo pole vaults over musical convention with sterile repetition, complex drumming, and lyrics that would make Stephen Hawking's battery run dry. - John Valliere
EARLY MAN
Beware the Circling Fin EP
[the End] No more original than the mullet/cop 'stache combo; but no less effective in saying I will kick your ass from here to next Tuesday, Early Man lives up to their name by playing explosive, riff laden late '70s style Neanderthal metal.These songs will be much more comfortable on VH1's Metal Mania than on Headbanger's Ball. Is that a good thing? I think so. - John Valliere
THE ANSWER
Never Too Late EP/DVD
[the End] When Jimmy Page says, "If you want to see what Zeppelin were like in the ‘70s, go see The Answer," what else can anyone say to reiterate how amazing this band really is? The Answer is by far the best ‘70s style blues-rock band of the 2000's and Never Too Late is just the disc to prove it. In only four songs and a brief video you'll be a fan for life. - John Valliere
VULTURES UNITED Dirt Hearts
[Basement] As roughshod bitter hardcore with a violent edge, Dirt Hearts suffers from a problem that affects a lot of young hardcore bands. While the guitar parts tend to show off a glimmer of angry goodness once a song, a drum sound might be particularly incisive here and there, and the gnashing vocals always stay on fire, the unrestrained lyrics tend to turn things off.The stream-of-consciousness confessionals get to be a little too dramatic at times with lines like "Your ghost cries out my name / I'm so fucked," and "I'm catching up with a broken heart," and nearly every song is written in the same first-person perspective that says a lot without going anywhere. If the lyrics were edited, cut in half, and better interspersed throughout the music rather than running right through,Vultures United could be a major contender in the hardcore game. - Reyan Ali
fucked up
The Chemistry of Common Life [Matador] Fucked Up play an unusual sort of hardcore that no one else can really pull off, and it's probably for the best that no one else ever bothered trying in the first place. Going from flutes and tepid guitars to cranking sounds and burly vocals within five-plus minute songs might be kind of jarring and sometimes absurd. However, it is certainly a welcome change from the rest of the '80s hardcore revival flock on the basis of its existence alone.The real question here appears to be whether this twist is a gimmick to add more gasoline to their flourishing hype or actually vital to the album's content. In truth, it's a little bit of both: FU would still be a notorious force without the odd instrumentation, but the prominence of those unlikely elements are proof positive that this is a band actively working to stand above the stereotypes of their genre and do something fresh - Reyan Ali
beneath the massacre Dystopia [Prosthetic]
Another one of those bands that plays on a superhuman level, Beneath The Massacre is better than your boyfriend's band. They can play faster, they have more fingers, and their drummer has four arms and four legs. I once saw their singer backstage - he's Mephistopheles and he traded in all the souls he's taken on commission for a stainless steel voice box. No, but seriously, these guys will kill you. - John Valliere
scream hello
Everything Is Always Still Happening [Red Leader] Scream Hello is a hard cookie to crumble, in as much as they don't really sound like any one other band.They sort of sound like early to mid '90s indie/emo, but not really enough to honestly and genuinely compare them to the likes of No Motive, The Juliana Theory and early Get Up Kids. What makes this full length memorable, however, isn't what it borrows from other bands, but moreso what it creates for itself; Everything is Always Still Happening is a solid, no strings attached indie rock record. Scream Hello doesn't bog down their tracks with too many frills and bells and whistles, and very rarely will you ever find an over-produced three part harmony anywhere on this record.The final product is nothing more than an honest, genuine and organic contribution to a somewhat sterile and watered down genre. And because of that, this album is one of the better records to be released last year. - Zac Hobbs
the bronx
The Bronx (III) [White Drugs] As far as American rock music goes, all you need is the Bronx. Gutted and stripped down to the bare essentials, the Bronx (III) without any question embraces the true rock spirit set by classics like AC/DC, but modernizes the sound and brings it to the year 2009. The rhythm section is utterly exceptional and the guitar work blends classic riffs with modernized rock creating very intrusive and uncompromising progression. One of the highlights of the Bronx (III) is the vocals. Matt Caughthran bellows through the most abrasive yet oddly melodic vocals possibly ever recorded; his vocals are simply mind-blowing. Listen, you don't really need to be reading all of this, as this review is just a real fancy way of saying that the Bronx is the best fucking rock band making music right now, and the Bronx (III) is the best fucking record to come out in 2008, and will probably be better than anything that comes out in 2009. - Zac Hobbs JANUARY 2009 WWW.PRICKMAG.NET
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Tattoo, music,art events, contests & more that you can’t miss!
REEL BIG FISH On Tour in January Reel-big-fish.com
Legendary ska-punks Reel Big Fish are still at it and will be spending all of January out on the road with Streetlight Manifesto. Dates and venues are both posted on each band's MySpace page.Also, Reel Big Fish plan to release a new record of covers entitled Fame, Fortune and Fornication, which should be out on January 20th. [Zac Hobbs]
FUCKED UP
On Tour in January Myspace.com/epicsinminutes 2009 has just kicked off and what better way to bring in the New Year than with a ringing in your ears? Toronto's hardcore band, Fucked Up, will be embarking on a month's worth of touring starting in mid January, spanning the whole US and a couple dates in Canada. Don't know about Fucked Up? Well imagine if Minor Threat and other classic hardcore punk bands wrote eight-minute epics. No mater what way you cut it, by the end of the year, we're pretty sure everyone will know about Fucked Up. [Zac Hobbs]
MIAMI TATTOO EXPO January 9-11
Miami Beach Convention Center Miamitattooexpo.com
Need an excuse to escape the winter cold? Well, why not head south for the Miami Tattoo Expo? Combining world renowned artists, live tattooing and piercing, seminars, custom and vintage cars, hot rods and choppers, live entertainment, contests and awards, unique vendors, and plenty of special guests, the Miami Tattoo Expo is certainly the perfect event to warm up your cold, miserable winter. Single day passes are $20, and full weekend passes are only $50. Check out their Web site for more information. [Zac Hobbs]
H PRICK BULLETIN BOARD H ALL THINGS PRICK,tattoo conventions, events & more
January 8-11, 2009 Cigar City Tattoo Convention The Cuban Club - Tampa, Fla.
January 9-11, 2009 Miami Tattoo Expo Miami Beach Convention Center Miami, Fla.
January 17, 2009 Bruce Bart Tattooing Grand Opening Party Newly renovated and expanded shop Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. location Brucebarttattooing.com (954) 564-1865
j anu ary
January 15-18, 2009 Rick’s 13th Annual Tattoo Convention - Green Bay,Wisc.
Feb. 27 - March 1, 2009 Philadelphia Tattoo Convention Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Philadelphia, Pa.
January 23-25, 2009 Baltimore Tattoo Arts Convention Sheraton City Center Hotel Baltimore, Maryland
March 26-29, 2009 10th Annual Tampa Bay TattooFest Doubletree West Airport Hotel Tampa, Fla.
February 13-15, 2009 6th Annual Salt Lake City International Tattoo Convention Salt Palace Convention Salt Lake City, Utah Feb. 27 - March 1, 2009 14th Annual Motor City Expo Detroit Renaissance Center Detroit, Mich.
PRICK on InkedNation Visit our spot on InkedNation at Inkednation.com/prickmag PRICK on MySpace Visit our spot on MySpace at Myspace.com/prickmag
PRICK Girls on MySpace Visit our PRICK Girls spot on MySpace at Myspace.com/prickgirls
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SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL January 15-23 Slamdance.com
Think Sundance is a little too hoity-toity for your pseudounderground-indie taste? The 15th Annual Slamdance Film Festival is dedicated to new filmmakers in every genre and topic and from all over the world, may be just what you're hungry for.Taking place in Park City, Utah during the same week as Sundance, Slamdance uses the opportunity to cash in on the media frenzy to help promote up and comers in the film industry. With everything from silly shorts to dramatic films and documentaries, there's something for every film snob's taste.Tickets, which can be purchased at Slamdance.com, range in price depending on the film, but a portion of each ticket sale goes to Recycle Utah to help keep the state green and kickin'. [Lyndsey Sargent]
IN THE COMPANY OF THIEVES January 24th
MySpace.com/urnpop - Atlantabench.com
"In the Company of Thieves," the first solo show by Atlanta pop artist and man-about-town Chris Hamer, is blasting imaginations off this January. Hamer, known for walking the line between sick and sweet, cartoonish and cruel, will host the event January 24th from 8 p.m. until midnight with live painting and music from Mice in Cars and It's Elephants. This all ages spectacle is a great chance to kick '09 off right with a little music, a little beer, and a little lowbrow culture. Best thing yet, it's free. [Lyndsey Sargent] 52 PRICK MAGAZINE
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SEE MORE news & eventS AT PRICkmag.net
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rock THE INK
AFTERPARTY by jon ogrydziak
random pricks
he Red Room of Providence, RI has been one of the best-kept secrets until now. Home to the afterparty for Rock the Ink 2008, this speakeasy style bar was embedded with the crew of H2Ocean and the teeming mass of people that filed in after days full of music and tattoos. One of the highlights and a special favorite of PRICK, everyone was made to participate in "more Jager." Beautiful women, flowing alcohol, and great people made the party an amazing affair. Laden thick with celebrities of the tattoo world as well as the music scene,The Red Room catered to the nightlife that everyone was expecting to get a taste of. There's nothing better than drinking away the exhaustion of a festival, and H2Ocean did it up right. With their beautiful models, and their extremely good taste in parties, this group brought down the club. An upscale crowed in a laid back atmosphere made for one classy, tattoo fantastic party. H
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For more information, go to www.h2ocean.com or www.rocktheink.net.
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cool stuff # prick approved
reviews by lisa sharer
metalocalypse
please god save us
inside the tattoo circus
$29.98 - Adultswim.com
$29.99 - Strhess Press - Sthresspress.com
$39.99 - Schiffer Books - Schifferbooks.com
season 2 - adult swim This new two-disc release features nineteen episodes of the best death metal band in the world -- Dethklok. Season two continues the hysterical exploits of the partAmerican/part-Scandinavian band. Watch and attest to the greatness of this show.
kitsch ‘n’ kouture $40.00 - Kitschnkouture.com
by derek hess & kent smith
Initially created as an avenue for Derek Hess to vent his political dissatisfaction, this book is intended to educate and inspire its readers.The book addresses an array of topics, including everything from politics and religion to Sponge Bob. Insightful, witty, and thought-provoking.
retro-a-go-go
$82.00 - Lucky13apparel.com
$34.99 - Retroagogo.com New tee from rabid retro and vintage image merchant Retro-a-go-go featuring a tattooed mermaid on an anchor. This classic tee will always be in style.
grease, gas & glory jacket
This traditional anchor from the retro revival collection is perfect for any occasion. Comes in Gun Metal or Gold and is fit for any budget.
Lucky-13 Grease, Gas & Glory men's work style jacket with embroideries. Keeps you warm, and cool, in the winter.
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This massive book by PRICK contributor Kristian Misser presents nearly 100 of today's top tattoo artists. Included are the best of their works in words and images; there's literally pages upon pages of amazing art.An impressive collection and worthy of top praise. Pick it up.
lucky 13
anchors away Nnecklace
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by kristian misser
JANUARY 2009
mermaid t-shirt
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meg mcniel artist of the month by lisa sharer
iding away in Phoenix, Ariz. Meg McNiel has found her niche. Learning as much as she could along the way, McNiel has worked in a tattoo atmosphere for years. From the young age of thirteen, she knew that inevitably body art would be a part of her life. Primarily focused on Traditional American work, McNiel has proven to be a great tattoo artist and a stand out woman in a male dominated industry. A family woman, a tattoo artist, and a desire for much more, McNiel is an interesting character. Recently, she let us in on a little bit of her story.
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How long have you been tattooing, and how did you get your start? I've been tattooing about five years, I think now. I've always wanted to tattoo; I tattooed myself with a needle wrapped with thread on my ankle when I was thirteen (I still have it). When I was sixteen, I got one of those little homemade tattoos I had done covered up at a real shop. They didn't card me, and they thought I was eighteen. After my third tattoo there, the tattooist working at the time asked if I wanted a job. So I worked there for years doing all the shop stuff: making needles, drawing, cleaning tubes, even filling in black for him on larger tribal pieces.
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That shop was in Bellevue, Wash. I eventually did some traveling and settled down in Bellingham, Wash., and had my two rad boys. About five years later, I started working at another shop in town. I already knew the ins and outs of daily tattoo shop life, so I asked the guys to show me how to tattoo. I never got an 'official' apprenticeship, but they always answered my questions and showed me things. I ended up moving to Phoenix, Ariz. before I really knew anything more than how to set up a machine and some very basic tattooing. So when I got to there, I got a job at Divinity Tattoo, working for Paolo Acuna. He definitely taught me how to tattoo, how to listen to my machines, how to lay a good, solid line, how to make perfect needles, and why they need to be certain ways to achieve certain things. What's your favorite thing about tattooing? Getting paid to do something I would do for free. I love tattooing. Who are your influences? Wow, I admire so many people and am influenced by just as many. I really like Steve Boltz and Miguel Montgomery, all the guys at Hard Luck Tattoo, Chris Winn, Mike Wilson, Rick Walters, Mike Malone, Sailor Jerry, Owen Jenson, Bert Grimm...
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so on and so on... What advice would you give a budding artist? Man, I don't know. I've seen a lot of people start and not make it, or give up. I think I would tell them to remember why they want to tattoo and hold on to it, because it's a hard long road, and nothing comes easy. It's hard work, and it's actually work. I think people get into it thinking it's going to be easy and fun all the time, but it's still a job. If you could have any other job in the world, what would you do? I'd want to own a restaurant/bar, so I could work with my brother every day. That or be a professional woman of leisure…whichever. How do you find being a female in a male dominated industry? It's rough for sure sometimes, but it doesn't bother me too much. All my best friends are guys or guy tattooers, so I'm used to them. But, you definitely need tough skin and the ability to dish it out as well as take it. What do you do in your spare time? Paint, hang out with my kids, friends, and dog. I like to laugh and have a good time. I'd like to start traveling more in my spare time, too. How do you feel about the commercialization of tattoos? Everyone's gotta pay bills, you know? Anything else you want our readers to know about you? I'm constantly and always learning... H For more information, go to www.myspace.com/meg_mcniel.
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