XLR8R

Video, music, drawing, graphic design, sampling–hell, even coding websites–it’s all art. That is the mantra being sung, spoken, and howled by a particular breed of avant-noise band, whose output bursts forth in giant waves of multi-format audio and images. Brian DeGraw and Lizzie Bougatsos of percussive neo-pagans Gang Gang Dance apply the same layers of goth grit and raw power to their art as they do to their trance-inducing live shows. Brian Chippendale’s fear of white space is echoed both in the chaotic drum assaults he creates for Lightning Bolt and his sugar-rush comics. Lungfish’s iconic leader Daniel Higgs is increasingly interested in the cosmic intersection between uncomfortable blues and leftfield mysticism, and explores this junction through sight and sound. Black Dice’s psychedelic thrash dub finds a counterpart in their retina-melting collages and video projections, while the skronking free-jazz surprises of Skeletons and the Kings of All Cities’ Lucas are echoed in the audio/visual jumble sale that is the band’s website. From Boredoms to COUM Transmissions, this liminal space ain’t nothing new, but it sure is exciting. Join us as we explore the creative process with a gaggle of present-day art-punk’s most exciting noisemakers.

Vivian Host

Primal Scream
Lightning Bolt’s Brian Chippendale creates chaotic, and often comic, worlds of music and art.

Brian Chippendale bestows bursts of messy details and an often-improvised technique on everything he touches… which is a lot of things. Known for the manic drumming and processed vocals he creates as half of artcore rockers Lightning Bolt, this primal beatman also collaborates with Forcefield’s Matt Brinkman (as Mindflayer), releases solo CD-Rs as Black Pus, and even played drums on Björk’s Volta album. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a key member of the Fort Thunder collective, Chippendale’s also an accomplished visual artist, whose detailed comic books and intricate, explosive Lightning Bolt album covers explore the same textured intensity as his music.

The graphic novel Ninja (PictureBox Inc.), released last November, is a perfect representation of Chippendale’s frantic, cluttered style. Painstakingly assembled from drawings, silkscreens, and collages from the last five years, along with samples of his childhood comics, the enormous 11” x 17” hardcover follows the adventures of a black ninja as he wages battles against villainous characters and ominous social issues over chaotic, heavily doodled backdrops.

Chippendale says he cares more for the characters than the storyline. “One of the major roots of my comics is character design,” he explains. “It’s become more of a social commentary, but it’s still these silly characters walking around in a half-horrible/half-good world.”

Chippendale’s recent art projects stem from his lifelong love of comic books. In junior high, he began drawing comics with his friends before his RISD work took priority. “I quit drawing comics all through college,” he explains. “I got into crappy, [collegiate] ‘serious’ art.” But he couldn’t stay away. Now, like a true nerd, he lines up nearly every week for the comic book shipments. “I read all that crap,” he admits. “I was away for five Wednesdays on this last Lightning Bolt tour, so I’m going to go in this Wednesday and there’s going to be a crapload of X-Men.”

Aesthetically, the similarities between his work and mainstream comics are few, but his love of characters bridges the gap. “I highly doubt Marvel’s going to call me up and say, ‘We really need you on this idea,’” he says, “But if I want to draw stuff about real characters, I’ll just do it.”

In Ninja, his love of pop culture shows–the book features appearances from Lego men, Cap’n Crunch, and Spongebob Squarepants. Such references are not ironic, says Chippendale. “I’ve been collecting Spongebob stuff without ever seeing an episode of the TV show. In my room, I’ll look around and there’s just these guys looking back at me. Having a bad day? Look at this Spongebob pillow–he’s smiling! He’s not having a bad day!”

Balancing prolific careers in music and art at the same time may seem daunting, but Chippendale says it’s a necessity. “I feel like I’m losing touch with myself when I’m not drawing, like I’m drifting through life without digesting anything. It physically grounds me to play the drums each day, and it mentally grounds me to draw each day.”

With the recent re-release of his Maggots comic and work in the PictureBox art show at the Biennale in Athens, Greece–plus a new Lightning Bolt album and more CD-Rs from Black Pus in the works–this year is shaping up to be one of Chippendale’s busiest. “It sounds amazing, but it’s funny,” he confesses. “I’m actually torn, because I kind of want to sit in my room and just draw comics.”

Josiah Hughes

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