The Walkmen and Etsy form a DIY dream team

The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.

0 comments

The Walkmen and Etsy form a DIY dream team

POSTED: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 7:36 PM
Filed Under: Music | Shopping Fashion
You know Philly-by-way-of-Brooklyn band The Walkmen as moody Velvet Underground-like swells with the occasional spring in their step. And you know Etsy, as the online DIY marketplace where one-of-a-kind stuff rules. It looks as if the big E has gotten together to make and offer limited edition packages that use the Walkmen's upcoming new album Lisbon as inspiration. Three Etsy artists — Beauideal, LittleTired and Sheepshead — designed the silkscreen print inserts (that come with the record), an album poster and a t-shirt, respectively, for the band. You can see it all at the Walkmen Etsy shop. All orders must be submitted by Wed., Sept 10th to ensure arrival by Lisbon by its Tue., Sept. 14 release date. Read the Etsy designer descriptions after the jump...
ABOUT THE DESIGNS: Etsy Artist Beauideal Silkscreen Insert for 7" Description: The artwork inserts are inspired by the beautiful pavement designs, mosaics, and motifs found throughout Portugal. This specific design mirrors the actual elaborate pavement pattern in Cais Sodré, a vibrant port and train station in Lisbon. It's one of the most active places in the city with people meeting, waiting, parting, rushing to work or home, or crossing the river for beautiful views of the city and nightlife. It's filled with stories, romance, and emotions, sparking the design for The Walkmen's Lisbon single. The artwork inserts are hand screen-printed using 3 colors on grey heavy weight paper. For more from Beauideal please click http://www.etsy.com/shop/beauideal?ga_search_query=beauideal&ga_search_type=seller_usernames. Etsy Artist LittleTired Poster Description: The patterns contained in this composition are partly mimicked from decorative tiles used throughout Portugal and partly inspired by them, made in my own artistic language. The almost unequivocal saturation of decorative tile and brickwork found in Lisbon alone is reason enough to marvel at this grand old city. Mingled amongst these vibrant patterns one can also denote imagery that represents elements of The Walkmen's music that is similar in vibrancy and brilliance. Each poster is silk-screened by hand using 3 colors on heavy 100lb cold-pressed paper. For more from LittleTired please click http://www.etsy.com/shop/littletired?ga_search_query=Little+Tired&ga_search_type=seller_usernames. Etsy Artist Sheepshead LISBON inspired Cork Tee Shirt Printed on American Apparel: Cork is wonderful thing. It doesn't just stop up your wine bottles and make bulletin boards, it's got a ton of other uses including making saxophones sound nice. It also played an important role in science. Robert Hooke discovered cells in 1665 while examining cork under a microscope. The Walkmen might not have a saxophone player in the band, but this cork cell tee was made especially for the release of their new album, Lisbon. Portugal produces half of the world's cork, and The Walkmen have produced 11 great new songs on Lisbon.
Silver Coast Sea Glass
Posted 2010-09-01 14:25:10
I like Angela Surf City I heard on Myspace. 
What a good idea to connect Etsy artists and muscians in this way.
Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 7:36 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
0 comments
Comments  (0)


About this blog
Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Blog archives:
Past Archives: