Daily Edition: Standard Stag, 7.19.12

STANDARD daily edition

(eco) excentrique

standard stag thursday, july 19, 2012

Thinking Outside The Xbox

Rocking Space patrick Jones

One of my favorite documentaries is Sam Jones’ “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart,” which follows the making of Wilco’s legendary 2002 album “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” Besides capturing Jeff Tweedy and company during a tumultuous recording session in pristine black and white, Jones gives special attention to the band’s Chicago loft. For a musician, it’s almost pornographic: vintage guitars, keyboards, basses, drums, amplifiers, and equipment all beautifully maintained and organized in a gorgeous turn of the century high -rise.

As a musician of ten years, and one who has known dozens of likeminded folks, I can assure that very few of us are nearly as organized or diligent as Chicago’s indie rock kings. Like any live/work space, a musician’s loft must be conducive to both creativity and practicality. Let’s explore some of the essentials for a musician’s loft, in hopes that, maybe, we can make even Wilco a little jealous. But where to start? Creativity is all about synthesizing influences into a new work and sometimes you need some inspiration from those who came before you. A well-designed show print, like this one by Hatch Show Prints, is a silent reminder of the artists that continue to impassion you to make music.

1

1. Reclaimed Teal Oriental Rug from VivaTerra - Any drummer will tell you that a rug is absolutely necessary to prevent a drum set from moving. Any oriental rug will do, but this teal and brown one is made of reclaimed plastic bottles and packaging materials. The price isn’t so bad for us struggling artists!

2. Way Basics Design A Cube Tall Bookcase from Bookcases Galore - I have lots of stuff, so shelf space is constantly on my mind.

This shelving system is a simple and cool place to store albums, gear and the various trinkets that pile up around creative people.

2

3

4

3. Guitar Wall Mount from Connolly - Maximizing floor space in a musician’s loft is crucial. Most instruments, gear, and accessories are floor-bound, and that’s not even counting the masses of ugly cables and wires necessary to power everything. Guitars and basses are safe to hang up, and even add some aesthetic niceties.

4. 3200 Turbo-Aire Electric Fan from Seabreeze - Musicians are hot. Literally (sorry, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity). As anyone who’s ever been to a show can attest, playing an instrument generates unreal amounts of sweat.

Portable fans are beyond a necessity for cramped practice spaces.

This fan’s design and energy efficiency keeps musicians cool and energy bills low.

spotlight on:

yikes!

Not to scare you or anything, but studies show the average woman absorbs 5 POUNDS of toxic chemicals each year — just from her beauty products.

These chemicals can include LEAD, a neurotoxin found in 61% of brand-‐name lipsticks.

Maybe it’s time

to make over your beauty routine…?

Get help today!

Featured on “The TODAY Show” & SELF’s “earth-‐loving site we heart,” EcoStiletto delivers sustainable fashion, beauty, vegan & celebrity updates — plus sustainable swag to subscribers.

We gave away a whopping $17,000 worth of goodies in 2011. Could you be one of 2012’s lucky winners?

Sign up, already!

ecostiletto.com