GAT's Gift Guide!

For those of you who like a challenge and wait until the last push before Xmas to get all of your shopping done, Girl About Town is here to help.  Here are our recommendations for gifts for the musically-minded from sources near and far:

Sikscreened records by local artist Josh Gittelman


Using old LP records as the canvas, artist Josh Gittelman screens images of iconic African-American musicians over the vinyl.  Spotted at Conspiracy Theory (910 N. 2nd Street in No. Libs), we spotted Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, ODB(!?), and assorted jazz greats.  The art comes is various color schemes, and each piece is unique due to the seemingly random nature of the record pairing.  (GAT purchased one red Billie Holiday over a classical music compilation).  The record costs $45, which is a bargain considering you are supporting a local artist, getting a one-of-a-kind treasure, and doing good for the environment as the records are re-purposed to something new.

"Peace Is Burning Like a River" CD by Bitter Bitter Weeks (High Two)


Local darlings Bitter Bitter Weeks released this album over the summer, and you hopefully got it for yourself.  Now it's time to buy it for the ones you love. This is the third release from Brian McTear and company, and McTear and partner Amy Morrissey have really honed their craft from years of working on their own music as well as everyone else's with their production studio Miner Street Recordings.  Their client list is a who's who of the Philly music scene and it shows in their songs, with guest performances by members of Mazarin, BC Camplight, Apollo Sunshine, and The A-Sides.  The songs on this record are spare yet jangly, vulnerable, warm, melodic and hopeful.  And couldn't stand to receive a little hope this holiday? $13, available through High Two Records.

Download This: Bitter Bitter Weeks - Danger In The Halls

Andy Summers photography book: "I'll Be Watching You: Inside the Police 1980-1983" (Taschen)


Surely everyone has a relative that was a teenager in the 80s and who dug The Police.  This is a great collection of photographs taken by the band's guitarist Andy Summers over the most crazy years of the bands meteoric rise.  There are over 600 photographs of the band on tour and having fun, and most have never before been seen. The book has even more credibilty as it's published by Taschen, one of the world's best art book houses. The hardcover book is $39.99, but for hardcore fans you can get the limited edition "XL Format", which comes in a slipcase and is signed by Summers himself for $400.

Queen Bee "Stylus" Tote


Portland, Oregon's Queen Bee makes vinyl bags with cute cut-outs for the ladies, this one featuring a record player.  Coming in four colors (grey, red, blue, white) and a generous size of 15"W x 13"H, this bag is big enough to tote home your recently purchased records and flea market finds.  The "Stylus" style also comes as a trucker (messenger bag) and lined with striped cotton. $86 online.

Largemammal Prints


Largemammal Print is graphic designer and illustrator Kevin Mercer, who has been making show posters for area promoters for the last five years.  His work is highly collected among show poster fans, and now you too can own some Largemammal prints and bestow some on your family and friends as holidays gifts.  Mercer's website features many of his creations for sale, as well as other art goodies.  Show posters are from Philly shows at the Troc, North Star Bar, The Church, etc.  Bands are both local and international, including Dr. Dog, Arcade Fire, Stereolab, The Decemberists, TV on the Radio, Low, The Teeth, Sleater-Kinney, etc etc.  Posters mostly run $20, some are less.

Wilco Holiday Bundle


The Wilco World online store has several holiday bundles for fans to purchase as gifts for yourself or your loved ones.  GAT recommends the Wilco CD Catalogue Combo for gifting.  This is a Wilco tote bag filled with all the band's album releases: AM, Being There (2 cd set), Summerteeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, A Ghost is Born, Kicking Televsion (live in Chicago), and Sky Blue Sky.  Perfect for getting your younger brother to move away from Dave Matthews and Counting Crows and into some Jeff Tweedy. $90, Wilco World.

Comments

[Bridget]

I gave that identical Bright Eyes poster as a gift last year...big hit. Great recommendation.