Current Projects

I have been busy with a bunch of stuff lately, and tend to forget how many things I am actually undertaking at any given time. So, I figured I would list them out here to help wrap my head around and let you know what I am up to.
Also, because I am bad at regular updates, this is my semi-regular info purge.

- POCKET BOOK V
Pocket Book V is finished. We just completed printing and binding them. Akina hand-stitched every single one.
http://andrewjamescox.bigcartel.com/product/pocket-book-v

- ANDRAUS
New band with my brother Austin. Thrash/doom/ambient/psych/electronic/metal
We've started recording. It's the first time I have been satisfied with the sound quality of drums I've recorded myself.

We also printed shirts:
andraus.bigcartel.com

- Helms Alee / Young Widows split
I did the cover art for the forthcoming split from my pals Helms Alee and Young Widows, to be released by Sargent House.
http://hellomerch.com/products/helms-alee-young-widows-split-lp-12-vinyl

- AXED CROWN
Axed Crown is my solo musical project. I've had a debut LP languishing in near-completion for a couple years now. I finally recorded drums for one song, "Overturn," that's been almost done for a while, and I think it is finally complete. Just need to tweak and add a few bits, and the record will be good to go. It's tentatively titled "Amnesty."
axedcrown.bandcamp.com

Here is the rough demo for "Overturn"


- HENRY & GLENN FOREVER & EVER
I have a short comic in the upcoming Henry & Glenn Forever & Ever TPB. It's basically Henry as Hellboy, and they fall through the floor of their house into a forgotten practice space. I'll post a preview soon. Also, the book's foreword is written by Rob Halford. ROB HALFORD. of JUDAS PRIEST.
Pre-Order It Here

- CHEAP EATS
I'm also working on Cheap Eats, a short cooking show featuring delicious recipes for the broke and lazy. It's for KCHUNG TV, KCHUNG's entry in the Hammer Museum's Made in LA 2014 Biennial.

- HEAVY DUTY
Oh yeah, I also have a monthly show called Heavy Duty on KCHUNG radio. It focuses on hevay music for lightweights, and airs the fourth Sunday of every month.
kchungradio.org

- I'm in the middle of writing a short script about a metal band putting on a show at their parents' house. Hopefully I'll finish it this month and have it shot and edited before summer is over.

- I already wrote a feature length script for a post-apocalyptic ghost movie called Mountain Ghost that's influenced by The Road, Princess Mononoke, Red Dawn, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Intending to but not really working on pre-production (designs, storyboards, etc). Might produce it as a comic first.

- On the far back burner is a short zine/riso book called Black Days. Black metal days of the week. Sunday is a burning church, Monday is black coffee, etc.

- Probably some other stuff I am forgetting/procrastinating on. For some reason I still feel unproductive a lot of the time. Let me know if you need a video, or a drawing, or music. Because I am not busy enough.

I blame the internet.

Open Network

The video I directed for Helms Alee is in this art show at Cirrus Gallery, opening tonight (like right this moment, as I am typing this. Sorry for the late notice.) Thanks to Aaron Wrinkle for including me.

ONCE EMERGING, NOW EMERGING: OPEN NETWORK  

March 10- May 5, 2012
  
Opening Reception
Sat. March 10th  7-10pm 

     

Hinged to the website oncenowexhibiton.com, the exhibition presents itself with gestures on technology, community, innovation and performance. A comment on networking, the exhibition and website highlight important examples of artists bringing ideas of collaboration and presentation to the forefront of contemporary art. Artists and groups include: Artists and groups include: Artobjectculture.net (Lucy Chinen and Emilie Gervais), Chris Burden, Andrew Cox, Alan Dunn, Michael Decker, Eternal Telethon, Corey Fogel, Jack Goldstein, Peregrine Honig (Bravo's Work of Art), Mariah Garnett of Human Resources and Geoff Tuck (Notes on Looking), Actual Size artists: Ali Bailey, Scott Benzel, Guy de Cointet, Larry Bell, Doug Edge, Cayetano Ferrer, Katie Herzog, Laura Owens, Ed Ruscha and Barbara T. Smith plus artist submissions from oncenowexhibition.com

Cirrus Gallery

542 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013

Tuesday- Saturday 10am- 5pm

(213) 680-3473

cirrus@cirrusgallery.com
www.cirrusgallery.com

HELMS ALEE - "8/16" music video premiere on VEVO

So, the video I directed for HELMS ALEE's "8/16" is finally out. Not only that, but on the front page of VEVO, which means it is getting millions more impressions than I ever would have imagined.

I had a lot of fun making it, especially going up to Seattle and shooting with the band (total DIY friend-fest. We owe a bunch of people hugs and favors.) It was stressful at times, but I was always sure we were working on something awesome. I am extremely proud of how it came out.

Ben told me about the idea for the video when the band was on tour with Boris around the time my video for Torche's "UFO" came out. Which means this was waaay before any of us knew that Beavis and Butthead was going to be back on TV.

So months go by, the band records Weatherhead and we pick up discussion of the video. At one point I proposed shooting them as live action versions of Beavis and Butthead, mostly because I was nervous about animating. We settled on the concept of the video pretty much as it came out, and I suggested trying out Kickstarter to get a decent budget to make the video (when I made the Torche video, what little money we spent came out of my own pocket). I'd do some things differently in hindsight, but mostly it went really well, and we got enough money to do the video.

Shooting the video and editing were smooth, and animating was too, but it is always a pretty slow process. I did all the drawings by hand then scanned, colored, and arranged them digitally. It took longer than I anticipated (as usual). When I gave the band an ETA I doubled how long I thought it would take and ended up being right on the money. It could have been done more quickly, but making videos isn't my full-time job (yet?).

So in the time it took to make the video, Beavis and Butthead returned to MTV, grunge returned to the fashion world, and at Trader Joe's I've started hearing the songs whose videos we re-created. 

Excellent timing.

video link: http://youtu.be/GmcX97Y3vE4

"8/16" comes from Helms Alee's second full length album Weatherhead.  Produced by Matt Bayles in the winter of 2011, and released the following July, Weatherhead finds the band expanding on what AVClub calls 'impossibly catchy heaviness'.  Tours with Torche, Big Business, Boris and Minus the Bear have helped the band, and now Weatherhead, put grunge right back on the map.  

The girls and boy of Helms Alee will be on tour this March with fellow Northwest resident, Thrones:

03/03 Bellingham, WA @ Jinx Art Space w/ Sloths, Tearamanapart

03/31 Seattle, WA @ Comet Tavern w/ Thrones

04/01 Vancouver, BC @ Iron Roads Studio w/ Thrones

04/03 Bellingham, WA @ Shakedown w/ Thrones

04/05 Arcata, CA @ Alibi w/ Thrones

04/06 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern w/ Thrones


Buy HELMS ALEE stuff in the Hydra Head Shop

Helms Alee "8/16" music video - Kickstarter

I am directing a music video for Helms Alee. I have been working on pre-production and animation for a few weeks, and we just launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the budget.

There are rewards for pretty much any size donation, so please consider helping me realize my dream of making a music video without paying for everything out of my own pocket.

Watch this slightly embarrassing video, then please donate.

Helms Alee Preorder Shirt

I did a drawing of Helms Alee as Beavis and Butthead, which is now the exclusive preorder shirt for their new album Weatherhead. You can preorder the shirt, 2xLP, and CD in the Hydra Head Shop. Go to the 2xLP or CD page to stream "Elbow Grease."

Also here is a sketch I did on a cardboard spacer that went in a package to Fairon: